Former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) is a candidate to become director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He has the support of the Belgian government.
De Croo reportedly has a good chance of becoming the director of the UNDP, as the current director, Achim Steiner, is leaving after six years. He was approached by people within the organisation to put forward his candidacy, De Standaard reports.
He has the support of current Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot (Les Engagés), with whom everything has been discussed, the latter's office confirmed to The Brussels Times.
Director of the UNDP is a top job: the third-highest position in the pecking order in the United Nations. Now that the United States is withdrawing from USAID and the UN organisations, it is looking for a new director with a political profile and a strong network.
As a former prime minister, former Minister for Development Cooperation and former Minister of Finance, De Croo has the right credentials. He also knows current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres well.
However, it is not sure that he will get the job: there are at least three other candidates. It is an open vacancy, which will close on 9 June.
The UNDP is based in New York and provides developing countries with advice and support to combat poverty.
