Former Belgian PM Alexander De Croo Tapped to Lead UNDP

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has appointed Belgium’s former Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to head the UN Development Programme (UNDP), according to a letter dated October 20 and seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

De Croo's appointment awaits approval from the UN General Assembly at a yet unspecified time. “We look forward to the final outcome of the Member State process,” a UNDP spokesperson said, reflecting the agency's pursuit to eradicate poverty and foster sustainable development across 170 countries and territories.

Achim Steiner, the previous head from Germany, resigned in June amid a crisis marked by reduced donor aid and development cutbacks. China’s Haoliang Xu assumes interim responsibilities as the organization aims to overcome financial hurdles.