Amb Kimani: Unutilised knowledge greatest undoing for UN
National
By
Patrick Vidija
| Jan 13, 2024
Kenya's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Martin Kimani now says unutilised knowledge remains the greatest undoing for the agency.
Kimani said although the United Nations remains the world's most knowledgeable organ with experts in over 170 countries, it is yet to grasp on how to utilize the knowledge.
He spoke as he exited the Presidency of the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
Kimani was on January 2023 elected to the presidency to serve for one year.
The board comprises of representatives from 36 countries who serve on a rotating basis.
It provides intergovernmental support and supervision for the activities of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS in accordance with the policy guidance of the UN General Assembly, the economic and social council, and the United Nations charter.
The Ambassador Kimani-led board oversaw and supported the activities of UNDP, ensuring that the organisation remains responsive to the evolving needs of programme countries.
During his presidency, the board largely focused on strengthening political commitment, enhancing accountability and transparency and increasing participation of developing States.
Active participation in 17 formal meetings and 3 pre-sessions, 27 bureau meetings, consensus on 25 board decisions, approval of 53 country programs, considered 432 board documents and joint field visits to Senegal and Uruguay are among the board's achievement during Kimani's presidency.
The election of Kimani, who previously served as Director of National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) came just days after Kenya completed her two-year tenure as Africa's representative at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
"I learned lots during my presidency, but one lesson stands out: The UN is the world's most knowledgeable org; eg, UNDP has experts in 170+ countries. But, it doesn't know how to utilize this vast knowledge," Ambassador Kimani wrote on his X page formerly Twitter.
According to him, if the United Nations unleashed such knowledge through technology and new working methods it would be a revolution to its activities and programmes.
"I would go as far as to say that if major philanthropists and development agencies embraced this insight of unleashing the integrated knowledge and expertise in UN funds, programmes and specialised agencies, it would be the biggest gift to humanity, beyond all their other efforts," he said.
Kimani expressed his gratitude saying he looked forward to the advancement and continuation of the work and mission to uplift those who have been left behind.
The Ambassador has recently served as the President's Special Envoy for Countering Violent Extremism, as the Director of Kenya's National Counter Terrorism Centre, and in Strategic Initiatives in the Executive Office of the President.
Prior to that, he served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi, as well as to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Kimani has also been a key voice in discussing measures to end the conflict in Ukraine.
On February 22, 2022, Kimani was lauded globally after he issued a strongly worded speech that condemned Russia for attacking Ukraine.