United Nations System
Standing Committee on Nutrition

 


SCN has new Chair

Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director UNICEF, became the ninth SCN Chair on Chair 1 August 2006 when Catherine Bertini stepped down.

In her acceptance speech at the SCN 33rd Session, which was read out by Kul Gautam, Deputy Executive Director UNICEF, Ms Veneman said UNICEF had been a founding member and active partner and supporter of SCN from the very beginning. The late EJR (Dick) Heyward, Senior Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, was the first chairman of SCN. Dr Richard Jolly, another Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, chaired the SCN more recently. Over the years, scores of UNICEF staff have been active in the SCN and have contributed to making it a premier international institution for pioneering ideas and leadership in nutrition and development.

Continuing and building on that tradition, Ms Veneman was be pleased to assume the Chairmanship of the SCN for the coming two years, succeeding her esteemed colleague and friend Catherine Bertini.

The SCN’s mission to build a world where hunger and malnutrition are no longer impediments to human development is more critical than ever before. The well-being of children is at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals, and Ms Veneman said it would be an honour and privilege to work with the international nutrition community represented in the SCN to ensure that the fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty has a high priority in the world’s development agenda.

As Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, Ms Veneman was active in promoting international cooperation in food, agriculture and nutrition. During her tenure, the Department strengthened vital nutrition programmes, including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) programme, which has helped give millions of children a healthier start on life.

As Executive Director of UNICEF, Ms Veneman fully shares the SCN’s vision to promote cooperation among UN agencies and partner organizations in support of community, national, regional and international efforts to end malnutrition.

Ms Veneman concluded by saying she looked forward to working closely with all members and activists of SCN in our common endeavour to build a world free of hunger and malnutrition for the world’s children.

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