Dr. Clos (l) receives the credentials from H.E. Mr. Geoff Tooth
The Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos, has called for multi-year framework cooperation agreement between UN-HABITAT and the Government of Australia in order to ensure predictable relationship and to involve all relevant stakeholders in the country.
Dr. Clos made the call today while receiving the credentials from the new Permanent Representative of Australia to UN-HABITAT, H.E. Mr. Geoff Tooth. The Executive Director said that such a relationship should also involve the private sector.
Dr. Clos assured the envoy that with cooperation, UN-HABITAT and Australia can do a lot to improve the lives of people around the world. He stated that UN-HABITAT is one of the few agencies working in Somalia and appealed for Australia’s involvement in the country.
Mr. Tooth congratulated Dr. Clos on his appointment, noting: “We have heard a lot of things about you as a reformer and an activist.”
He informed the Executive Director that his country can share its experience in water development with other countries. He noted that Australia was planning to increase its development assistance budget and that it intends to work throughout Africa. According to Mr. Tooth, Australia is “increasing its staff on its African projects from 4 to 16 persons. We are looking at all of Africa.”
He said that Australia already had a strong presence in Somalia, where Somali refugees returning from Australia were already helping to develop their country.
