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GEF Appoints New CEO
On June 8, 2006, the Council of the GEF appointed Mrs.
Monique Barbut, a French national to a three-year term as its Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman. Mrs. Barbut, who is currently the Director of the
Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), succeeded Mr. Leonard Good.
Mrs. Barbut began her duties at the GEF on August 2, 2006.
“
It is a privilege to be appointed CEO of the GEF, the world’s leading
financier of projects to protect the global environment, “said Mrs.
Barbut. “In partnership with GEF member countries, I look forward
to building on the GEF’s core strengths and increasing its impact
with respect to the implementation of international environmental agreements.”
The President of France, His Excellency Mr. Jacques Chirac, congratulated
Mrs. Barbut on her appointment. In a letter, he offered her felicitations
on her unanimous appointment to lead the GEF, and reaffirmed France's
commitment to the global effort to protect the environment.
As a member of the French government delegation, Ms. Barbut was a key
player in the financing negotiations at the 1992 Earth Summit in
Rio, and played
an active role in the creation of the GEF.
"
Monique Barbut's appointment brings valuable skills and experience to GEF,
which are vital for strengthening the Facility's effectiveness," said
Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank Group. "We look forward
to working closely with Barbut and her team to ensure that the world's
poor benefit from sustainable development while protecting their natural
environment."
Mrs. Barbut has a distinguished track record of public service.
Prior to joining UNEP in 2003, she served as Executive Director
for Caribbean,
Pacific
and Indian Ocean activities at Agence Française de Développment
(AFD), France’s principal executing agency for foreign aid. Mrs.
Barbut also had a long distinguished career in France’s economic
development bank, la Caisse Centrale de Cooperation Economique.
“
Monique Barbut brought a wealth of invaluable experience in the field of
international sustainable development finance and management to UNEP,” said
Shafqat Kakakhel, Officer in Charge and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP. “As
a key member of UNEP’s senior management group she will be greatly
missed, but as one of the implementing agencies of the GEF, UNEP looks
forward to working closely with her in our joint efforts to combat environmental
degradation.”
“
We were unanimous in our recommendation that Monique Barbut was the most
qualified candidate to lead the GEF,” said Ad Melkert, Associate
Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and chairman
of the international selection committee. “Through our role as one
of the three implementing agencies of GEF, UNDP is committed to the mainstreaming
of global environmental concerns into the national development strategies
of all developing countries, and we believe that Mrs. Barbut’s appointment
will greatly further this work.”
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