United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has
appointed former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo as the new
Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The announcement follows the General Assembly’s confirmation
of De Croo to a four-year term at the helm of the UN’s lead development agency.
Guterres thanked outgoing Administrator Achim Steiner of
Germany for what he described as exemplary leadership and dedicated service.
He also acknowledged Haoliang Xu, UNDP’s Associate
Administrator, who will continue serving as Acting Administrator until De Croo
formally takes office.
De Croo in a statement after his appointment pledged to
steer the agency with a focus on cooperation, impact and inclusivity, saying
the world faces a defining moment that demands collective action.
He expressed gratitude to UN Secretary-General António
Guterres and UN Member States for entrusting him with the leadership of the
organisation.
“I am deeply grateful… for the trust they have placed in me
to lead UNDP as its new Administrator,” he said.
The former Belgian prime minister said he steps into the
role at a time when global challenges—from inequality to climate
pressures—require stronger multilateral engagement.
“I join UNDP at a moment when the world needs cooperation,
action and impact more than ever,” he noted.
De Croo highlighted the transformative power of development
programmes, saying they “give people the power to shape their own future.”
He praised UNDP’s six-decade legacy and its footprint across
170 countries and territories. “UNDP is the engine of the UN’s development
system,” he said, crediting the agency for its contributions to poverty
reduction, climate resilience, governance reforms and efforts to narrow
inequality.
De Croo said he is eager to work with UNDP staff, the
broader UN system and international partners to accelerate progress toward the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He also called for “reimagining development for a new era of
possibility,” signalling an ambition to modernise and adapt the organisation’s
approach.
“My approach will be simple—listen, partner and deliver—so
that no one is left behind.”
De Croo led Belgium between 2020 and 2025, steering the
country through the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the national vaccination
campaign, and guiding economic recovery efforts.
His premiership also covered Belgium’s presidency of the
Council of the European Union, a period marked by heightened geopolitical
tensions.
Before assuming the top job in Brussels, De Croo held
several senior cabinet positions. He served as Deputy Prime Minister for eight
years, and between 2014 and 2020 managed the Development Cooperation and Digital
Agenda portfolios.
He later became Finance Minister, where he played a central
role in fiscal policy and international economic engagement.
A strong proponent of multilateralism, De Croo has been
vocal on issues of global development, gender equality, and digital
transformation.
He has also been active in supporting humanitarian
interventions during global crises.
Prior to entering politics, he worked in the private sector
as an entrepreneur and strategy consultant.
De Croo holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg
School of Management and a degree in business engineering from the Solvay
Brussels School of Economics and Management.
He is fluent in English, French, and Dutch.
