10 October 2013 – United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Associate Administrator Rebeca Grynspan called on Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Rafael E. Seguis at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on October 09.  Ms. Grynspan conveyed the UNDP’s appreciation for its dynamic and exemplary partnership with the Philippines.

Ms. Grynspan commended the Philippine Government’s national consultation process on the Post-2015 development agenda, particularly in actively involving citizens in its discussions. The Philippines is one of 66 countries tapped by the UN to conduct multi-sectoral dialogues on the agenda. She lauded the priority given by the Philippines to key elements of development agenda, namely health, education and good governance.

Ms. Grynspan also praised the Philippine Government’s partnership with the UN system on utilizing the Humanitarian Cluster Approach for cooperation on disaster response and recovery, which has been recognized as a global best practice.

The UNDP Associate Administrator also invited the Philippines to share its developmental experiences with other countries in the context of South-South cooperation, stating that “South countries are looking for South solutions” for their problems. Among the particular areas proposed for such Philippine-led South-South cooperation are inter-faith dialogue, early recovery from crises, disaster management and peacebuilding. 

Accompanying Ms. Grynspan were members of the UN Country Team lead by UN Resident Coordinator Luiza Carvalho.  Also joining the meeting was Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jesus R.S. Domingo.  Ms. Grynspan is in the country for a three-day visit, including an inspection of UNDP projects in Davao.

Before her appointment as UNDP Associate Administrator, Ms. Grynspan was the Vice President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998. END