Clark: Financial crisis no excuse for aid cutbacks

Helen Clark starts her new job on April 20. Photo / Greg Bowker

MPs gave former prime minister Helen Clark a standing ovation in Parliament today and party leaders lined up to compliment and congratulate her after it was confirmed she would be the new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) head.

Prime Minister John Key was the first to speak in Parliament, saying Miss Clark was taking up the third-highest position in the UN.

"Helen Clark should be very proud of her achievement and New Zealanders should be very proud of her," Mr Key said.

"She will be working to help establish democracies, reduce poverty, improve health care, help in crisis prevention and recovery and assist with environmental issues."

Mr Key said Miss Clark would face formidable challenges at a time when developed countries were financially stretched and developing countries were in great need.

"In other words the UNDP needs someone who can front for them, mobilise resources and give the organisation a human face," he said.

"In appointing Helen Clark they have endorsed someone they believe is capable of that task."

Earlier today Clark said her priorities will be getting the most value for every aid dollar and ensuring donor states do not cut their commitments because of the world financial crisis.

Helen Clark was unanimously approved by the 192-member UN General Assembly to head the agency that oversees a global development network with an estimated $13 billion in resources.

"For a start we have to ensure that the donors ... the Western countries who donate, don't drop back on commitments," Clark told National Radio in her first interview since her appointment was confirmed.

"You look at the multiple crises the world is facing ... whether it's the international recession, the climate change challenge, the fuel and energy crises, the water crises, the food crisis ... imagine what it feels like to be a very poor developing country. It is agony," she said.

The financial crisis "is knocking the bottom out of what was a barely livable income in any case," she said.

The former prime minister - from 1999 to 2008 - gained unanimous approval from the 192-nation General Assembly.

The UNDP oversees a global development network with an estimated US$13 billion ($23.12 billion) in resources. It operates in 166 nations.