Helen Clark stepping down as UNDP head
Former prime minister Helen Clark is stepping down as director of the UN Development Programme in April at the end of her second four-year term.
She's told her staff that she's informed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of her intention to leave the post on April 19, AFP reports from New York.
"It has been an honour and privilege for me to lead UNDP for eight years," she said in her email addressed to "dear colleagues".
Helen Clark. Photo: Getty
Clark has been the highest ranked woman at the UN since she took the position.
She was a candidate for the secretary-general's job last year but lost to Mr Guterres.
The news of Clark stepping down has garnered plenty of interest on social media:
Helen Clark is stepping down from the UN! Is she coming home to save us? It's election year @HelenClarkUNDP!
— Caroline Angus Baker (@Writer_Caroline) January 26, 2017
Damn. Hear good news about Goodhew buggering off, now learning about Helen Clark stepping down. Talk about bittersweet moments.
— Tanya Ward-Robinson (@TattRobinson) January 26, 2017
@HelenClarkUNDP please come back and be NZ PM again!
— Steven Oates (@Steven_Oates) January 26, 2017
@bexquilliam NZ is in need of a proper PM - it's totally ok to go back to an old job, @HelenClarkUNDP!
— Diane Sieger (@blauerpunto) January 26, 2017
.@HelenClarkUNDP results for the @UN are matter public record. Incredibly hard working. Traveled the globe🌏🌎🌍 promoting Peace & Equality 💚
— Robert James Stewart (@RobJStewartNZ) January 26, 2017
– With NZN
