Newly appointed UN chief helped award $500,000 prize to Annan

By Mark Turner, Hugh Williamson and Fiona,Harvey 
April 29, 2006
The Financial Times
Original Source: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4e17da58-d71d-11da-b64c-0000779e2340.html

Achim Steiner, the incoming head of the United Nations' Environment Programme, was given his new job three months after he served on a jury that awarded a $500,000 prize to Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general.
Mr Annan's acceptance of the Dubai-backed Zayed prize for global leadership for the environment prompted critical inquiries at the time over whether it was appropriate for asecretary-general to accept an award sponsored by the leaders of a UN member state.
But the revelation that Mr Steiner was on the committee - a fact that was available, but not highlighted until now - has prompted new questions about what standards should apply to senior UN officials to avoid conflicts of interest.
In the wake of the oil-for-food and other scandals, the UN has faced growing scrutiny over how appointments are made, and favours traded, between UN and UN-affiliated officials, politicians, businessmen and non-governmental organisations.
UN officials have ex-pressed discomfort at Mr Annan's acceptance of the prize, although they insist the money will go to a foundation to fund agriculture and girls' education in Africa.
Environmental analysts and diplomats did not question Mr Steiner's suitability for the job, but were surprised a German candidate won. Klaus Toepfer, the current UNEP head, is also German and also sat on the Zayed prize jury.
There was early speculation [when the job came up] that he [Mr Steiner] was a candidate, but it was not expected that he would get it as he was German, said Steve Sawyer, climate change policy adviser to Greenpeace International in Amsterdam.
But the new UN practice says that appointments should be on merit, so that must have applied. I'm sure that Kofi Annan had to do some persuasion with some developing country colleagues [to get Mr Steiner accepted].
Mr Sawyer said Mr Steiner, who is head of the IUCN World Conservation Union, was a friend and colleague. He's very experienced and we will be supporting him.
UN officials claim the appointment of Mr Steiner marked progress towards merit-based appointment, rather than jobs for candidates favoured by powerful countries.
Mr Steiner denies any conflict of interest, arguing that he was on the prize committee in his IUCN role.