Page 7 - DIVA_1_2018
P. 7
strengthen this "ecosystem" because we have been asked by under way. There are several other activities that rm hap-
Member States to improve our "products". Forthat, we have py about and that we still have to work on.
to do manydifferent things, including "social engineering":
it does not do to have a citywhere half ofthe citizens do not Part of changing the narrative is opening up the Palais
talk to the other half. You need social cohesion ifyou want to our fellow Genevans to an extent that has never been
to have a system like we have working to its maximum. done before. I think that's a good thing, in terms of what
We live in a very fragmented and difficult world right now I mentioned earlier, making sure that we have a cohesive
where the international system, in particular the United environment in which we work, in which people talk to
Nations system as a whole, needs to be supported by the each other, enriching each other's lives. Happy citizens
nations that it serves, and therefore by the politicians and are more productive citizens both within the United Na-
those who decide on the support, on the fu'iancing, on the tions and outside. So, rm very happy about how we have
investments and on what to do. This is all a coherent entity, managed to do the opening up, and now we just have
but we need to put the pieces together in a better way. The to do more, not only in Geneva, but in Switzerland and
way to do that, in my mind, was to change the narrative, further down, outside the borders, in terms of how we
to make sure that everybody understands what we are do- interact but also in the language we use in explaining to
ing here, so that they get its importance, its impact and its people what we are doing. I think that through that we
relevance for their personal lives. Every single one of them have also improved the coordination and collaboration
is touched by what is happening here, even if they do not among the many different actors here, both within the
know it. The moment everybody knows it, naturally, the United Nations system and among our partners, whether
support will flow because people will understand that they they be NGOs, the business community or other interna-
have a personal stake in making sure that this "ecosystem' tional organisations, so that there is a much greater sense
functions at its maximum. of unity, a sense of a family in terms of the international
community.
Q: Youhave now been the Director-General of the Uni-
ted Nations here in Gerieva for several years, and your That is increasingly important as we have embarked on
mandate has just been extended. What do you corxsider the implementation of the Sustainable Development
your major achievemetxtso farF Goals. We must prove to the world that we are able to
I mentioned to you the narrative change, and that is still deliver what they ask us to do. We have to earn trust. And
IN TER N ATIO N AL DI PLO M AT - DIVA 5