Beginning this month, Ms Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe, takes charge of the role of Coordinator of the Regional Commissions during 2022. During a handover meeting held today, 24 January 2022, the incoming Coordinator, Ms Algayerova took up the baton from the incumbent, Ms Dashti, Executive Secretary of ESCWA. The Coordinating Regional Commission takes lead in fostering dialogue among the executive secretaries and steering the strategic direction as well as priorities for the joint work of the Regional Commissions. It also represents the Commissions' positions at high-level meetings in the framework of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the General Assembly, and those convened by the Secretary-General.
In her remarks during the handover meeting, Ms Dashti provided an overview of the work of the Coordinator in 2021, highlighting achievements, ongoing activities carried over to 2022, good practices and lessons. Ms Algayerova in turn thanked Ms Dashti for her leadership and the extraordinary work in 2021 both on the coordination and representation fronts. She also thanked Ms. Dashiti for the visibility and the momentum created around regional innovations 鈥� all the while shining the spotlight on and making a continued case for regional cooperation as a critical building block of effective multilateralism.
Ms Algayerova expressed her commitment to build on the work of ESCWA and committed to advancing the priorities of the Regional Commissions, notably in rethinking the international financial architecture; advancing a green and resilient recovery; fostering connectivity, trade, and resilient supply chains; and harnessing of digital technologies and innovation in support of the SDGs. The Coordinator also singled out the operationalization of the relevant proposals in the SG鈥檚 report, Our Common Agenda, as a focus area for scaling up and propelling ongoing initiatives of the Regional Commissions for greater impact.