NEWSBRIEF: Sweden’s Petri Gornitzka Appointed New DAC Chair

PARIS (IDN) – Sweden’s Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General of the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), has been appointed as the new Chair of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

Petri Gornitzka replaces outgoing DAC Chair Erik Solheim, who recently became Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She will start her new role on a part time basis from July 11, 2016 and take up full-time duties in the autumn.

“Ms Petri Gornitzka brings the DAC a wealth of experience in international development, including in creating public-private partnerships to deliver solutions on the ground,” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. “At a time when the development landscape is changing radically I am confident she will make the DAC an even more proactive force in improving development effectiveness, mobilising more private investment and enhancing the OECD’s development agenda, including the SDG Action Plan.”

During her tenure at Sida, Petri Gornitzka contributed to maintaining Sweden as one of the most generous providers of development assistance of the 28 DAC member countries, with a special focus on the neediest countries.

Before joining Sida in 2011, Petri Gornitzka was Secretary-General of the International Save the Children Alliance. From 2003-2008 she was Secretary-General and CEO of Save the Children Sweden. Prior to that, she was Under Secretary-General and Communications Director of the Swedish Red Cross. She has also held positions within the World Economic Forum and is a member of the 2030 Water Resources Group Governing Council.

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. The Development Assistance Committee within OECD is the most influential arena for discussions between donors on development cooperation. Together the members represent totally $160 billion in annual Official Development Assistance (ODA). [IDN-InDepthNews – 8 July 2016]

Photo: ONE WORLD – No Hunger | Credit: German Development Cooperation Ministry

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2016 IDN-InDepthNews | Analysis That Matters

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