Worldview with Helen Clark
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
The Right Honourable Helen Clark, 8th Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provides NAFSA with an overview of the UNDP and its role within the United Nations. Ms. Clarke has been able to leverage her policy making experience as a three-term Prime Minister of New Zealand to advance the goals of the UNDP.
For 51 years, the UNDP has led the global fight against poverty for the United Nations. As a part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, is a call to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Ms. Clark connects the relevancy of the UNDP initiatives to international education in this illuminating dialogue.
About Helen Clark
United Nations Development Programme
Helen Clark became the administrator of the UNDP in April 2009 and is the first woman to lead the organization. She is also the chair of the United Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programs, and departments working on development issues. She completed her tenure as administrator in April 2017.
Prior to her appointment with UNDP, Helen Clark served for 9 years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, serving three successive terms from 1999 to 2008. Throughout her tenure as Prime Minister, Helen Clark engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social, and cultural spheres. As Prime Minister, Helen Clark was a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.
Helen Clark came to the role of Prime Minister after an extensive parliamentary and ministerial career. Prior to entering the New Zealand Parliament, Helen Clark taught in the Political Studies Department of the University of Auckland. She graduated with a BA in 1971 and an MA with first class honors in 1974.