Kemal Dervis (56), a former Turkish Minister of Economic Affairs, Member of the European Convention and World Bank executive, takes office as the new Administrator of UNDP as of 15 August 2005. He will start his term as the UN gears up for the 2005 World Summit from 4 to 16 Sep. 2005. A central feature of the Summit will be a review of progress towards the MDGs.

A world-renowned economist, Kermal Dervi is the first person from a country that receives development assistance to hold the top post at UNDP. He is expected to build on the internal reforms successfully instituted by his predecessor, Mark Malloch Brown, and further enhance UNDP’s role in helping developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Kermal Dervi will also succeed Malloch Brown as Chair of the UN Development Group, which coordinates the international assistance and reconstruction work of UN agencies.

Prior to joining UNDP, Kermal Dervi was a member of the Turkish Parliament. In 2001 and 2002, as Turkish Minister for Economic Affairs and Treasury, his reforms ended his country’s deep financial crisis. His policies sparked sustained growth and helped Turkey become eligible for European Union membership. During his 22-year career at the World Bank, Kermal Dervi served as Director of the Central Europe Department, where he coordinated the support of the Bank and donor community to the peace and reconstruction process in Bosnia. In his role as Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management there, he helped develop the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers initiative, aimed at expanding reforms in the poorest countries with the inclusion of civil society in the policy formulation process.

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