Time to go, Mr. Kemal Dervis !!!!

United Nations Development Programme and its Administrator Kemal Dervis are embroiled in scandals.

Multiple controversies surrounding project-fund allocations to dictators, corruption in procurement services, handling and operating with counterfeit currencies, funding terrorist organizations, personnel miss-management and abuses of power, as well as latest scandal with the favoritism over the girlfriend of Ad Melkert (Ms. Eveline Herfkens) are now damaging Dervis's credibility and that of the institution he heads (UNDP). Mr. Kemal Dervis may gain approval to stay on, but continuing in his post would be a mistake if he truly believes in the UNDP's mission.

Scandals have erupted lately over the role Dervis and his Nr.2 played in arranging a temporary post at the helm of the UN's flagship programme - Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) -- for Melkert girlfriend (and Party companion) -- that involved promotions and high pay for a barely part-time position at an Assistant Secretary General (ASG) level. The particulars of the deal were arranged by Ad Melkert and Kemal Dervis's Chief Of Staff Mr. Gettu -- in violation of the UNDP's personnel policies. At first, David Morrison (on behalf of Ad Melkert) denied any role in the favorable treatment, but later -- pressured from the media back in Holland and in New York -- Kemal Dervis himself conceded the wrong-doing, and admitted that it was a mistake in how UNDP handled the issue and allowed Herfkens to illegally accept payments from both UNDP and Dutch Government.

Unfortunately for Mr. Kemal Dervis, this controversy is only the most recent episode in what has been a very tumultuous tenure. His involvement in European Socialist Party and his affiliation with Mark Malloch Brown (MMB) was worrisome for many observers and many UNDP employees, and his push to accelerate National Execution Modalities and increase parallel Trust Funds as pass-thru mechanisms to accommodate many donors’ “individual interests” was seen as an attempt to protect and push further the corrupt MMB’s agenda and his clan.

In addition, the staff that Mr. Kemal Dervis and his Nr.#2 (Melkert) brought with them clashed with regular UNDP personnel and Executive Board Members. Their power and perquisites added to the friction and distrust among staffers. Finally, Mr. Dervis's decision to opt out of the UN's Ethics Office and UN Secretariat’s oversight mechanisms and the way he has handled all latest allegations inside UNDP is worrisome for many donors.

Many of them are concerned that if UNDP would continue in the path of denial and condoning internal corruption, can hurt their own image by associating with such organization. For them, the UNDP's mission is alleviating poverty; -- and UNDP should stay away from being used or for providing any form of assistance to dictatorship regimes that are directly responsible for genocide and/or the poverty and suffering of their own people. For these critics, UNDP has lost its focus and instead -- it has spread too far and without proper structures of internal control that would ensure transparency and accountability of its programmes.

It is hard to argue against greater accountability and ensuring that money intended for national development is not being pocketed by the officials of recipient governments. The problem of course is that UNDP and its two leaders (Dervis and Melkert) are no longer in a position to demand such transparency and accountability.

The UNDP's Executive Board and its members expressed "great concern" about the UNDP's future during latest Board gathering in New York. A prominent European Board Member said that: -"That time …spent discussing latest corruption and Dervis's denial to accept the situation and its impact on the institution -- rather than UNDP's Programming for the Poor -- is one indication that the scandals inside UNDP are having an impact.... Worse, however, is the recognition that the UNDP's credibility has been damaged as a result".

Another Executive Board Member and member of G77 explained:-"The current situation is of great concern to all of us. We have to ensure that UNDP can effectively carry out its mandate and maintain its credibility and reputation as well as motivation of the staff." While that may read to David Morrison like a normal statement of concern, among UN diplomats -- it is the equivalent of a slap across the face.

While all the above debate and scandals continue, in a complete status of denial - Mr. Dervis and his Nr.#2 maintains that "they can do their job". While certain personal friends here and there continue to rally pro-Dervis, many others including European and G77, have lost the faith.

Dervis and Melkert future is likely to be decided by politics -- in particular, relations between the U.S. and Europe. But great damage has been done. Dervis's lack of judgment is a distraction and a damning indication. How can the UN's developing branch demand higher standards from its client-member states and aid recipients than it does from its top executives?

If Mr. Dervis believes in the UNDP's mission, then he should step down to eliminate the cloud that now hangs over the institution.