Remarks at the launch of the Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) review of the World Health Organization
Delivered by Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Theodore Allegra
Geneva, November 13, 2017
Good afternoon.
Thank you, Ambassador Lorenz, for your introduction, and thank you all for coming today.
This is an important time to embark on an important evaluation of an important organization.
On behalf of the United States, I would like to express my appreciation to the team here representing MOPAN; the officials and staff of the WHO whose work will be so valuable to the success of this effort; to the representatives of member states whose collective oversight – and insight – gives us the information we need to inform and influence our capitals; and, especially, to DG Tedros and his team for their support of this review.
Throughout the international system, the United States is always interested in a clear understanding of the performance and the impact of the multilateral institutions it supports. This is particularly significant in an organization such as WHO, given the high level of support the United States provides, and the value we place on WHO’s critical work in global health.
It is of course an especially propitious time for this review, given the leadership of a new proactive, energetic, and committed Director General, and the even more recent appointment of very strong executive team. We trust that all of you will bring fresh eyes, fresh ideas, and fresh insight to your work.
The basic task before this group is to ensure that WHO is a relevant, responsive, transparent, and accountable organization for the future. For the United States, this means in particular a sophisticated review of WHO priorities in emergency response, polio eradication, maternal and child health, and nutrition.
MOPAN assessments will play an important role in this effort in two key ways: helping members meet domestic accountability requirements by generating relevant and credible information about WHO; and improving organizational learning and effectiveness within WHO by supporting dialogue between it and its donor partners.
As always, when we put our minds together with our resources, we can always achieve greater efficiencies and greater effectiveness. That’s what MOPAN is all about. Eighteen countries sharing the cost of multilateral assessments saves resources, and ultimately means that more resources are available for international organizations to deliver on their core mandates.
Along with Luxembourg, the United States is pleased to serve as institutional leads on the MOPAN assessment of WHO. It will be those in the room most responsible for its success, so thank you again for your attendance today. We look forward to your active engagement.