The North-South Dimension as a Criterion for the Selection of Heads of the United Nations Development Organizations

Abstract

This paper aims at reflecting the importance of the geographical parameter, as a determinant criterion in the selection process of the Heads of the most significant International Development Organizations and at the same time highlights the North-South dimension, mostly observed from the 60’s. The research is based on collecting and processing primary data (between 1945-2015) regarding to the 10 most important International Development Organizations, that play a key role in the formulation and implementation of Sustainable Development policies, which pertain to the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic, environmental).

To begin with, a reference to the several classifications of the UN State Members (e.g. geographical, developmental) is being made and then follows an analysis on the role and the selection criteria of the Heads. Afterwards, comes a presentation of the processed data in order to establish the significance of the country of origin, in correlation to its geographic and development status and in conclusion, cases of special interest are being examined.

The basic findings of this research stress that the majority of International Development Organizations’ leaders come from numerical minorities (such as Developed Countries or members of the Western Europe and Others Group). This fact points out that the powerful, in political and economic terms, countries still have a great impact on nominating the Heads of International Development Organizations, which are of a great interest for the Developing Countries of the South.

Keywords: United Nations, Secretary General, International Development Organizations, North-South Relations, Geography, Sustainable Development

JEL Classification: F33, K33, O19