UK minister attacks 'not fit for purpose' UN
Friday, 05 Dec 2008 09:54
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The United Nations is "not fit for purpose", international development minister Gareth Thomas has claimed.
Speaking in Kenya to UN officials Mr Thomas said the UK would set "tough new targets" for UN agencies in a bid to improve performance.
Britain wants 85 per cent of births to be attended by skilled health personnel by 2011 and for the World Health Organisation to help all countries affected by malaria by 2012.
It believes development money should be spent transparently and streamlined into more efficient bodies.
"Reform is urgent. Presently the UN is not fit for purpose to lead the world’s response to eradicating poverty and tackling the climate crisis," Mr Thomas said.
"With the world's economic crisis about to hit both developing countries and inevitably the UN, we need to accelerate the reform agenda so it can deal with these global challenges."
Public spending watchdogs have criticised the government for not ensuring its spending abroad achieves value for money.
The UK is the second-largest donor to the UN in the world.