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The OECD at 50
In addition to calling for reform in the wages and labour markets, working time and retirement age and for the reform of employment security provisions and unemployment benefits, the OECD Jobs Strategy urged governments to be more proactive in taking measures to improve workers’ skills and competencies and promote innovation. While there was initially some controversy over some of its policy orientations, an assessment in 1998 of its impact concluded that many of its countryspecific recommendations had been adopted and were useful in reducing unemployment. The pertinence of OECD analysis and policy recommendations was confirmed by the growing list of candidates for OECD membership. In December 1995, the Czech Republic became the first of the former Soviet-bloc countries to join,
followed by Hungary and then Poland. In parallel, the OECD was making overtures to China, first under Jean-Claude Paye and then under his successor, Donald Johnston, a former Canadian government minister and President of the Liberal Party of Canada, who took over in 1996 as the OECD’s first non-European Secretary-General. Korea became the Organisation’s second Asian member in December 1996, and in 1997 Russia formally made known its desire to join.
Economic growth, social stability, good governance Drawing inspiration from what he described as “a triangular paradigm whereby progress is dependent on balancing economic growth and social stability through the exercise of good governance”, Donald Johnston launched the OECD ❱❱
The reform years: Building a stronger, more agile OECD by Donald Johnston
I
n 2001, the OECD was the first international
much of the following decade, the Organisation
shared between two Deputy Secretaries-
organisation to establish its financial
was in a continuing state of reform.
General. Within this new framework, other
statements in accordance with the International
Looking back, I am proud of the way in
changes followed in almost all areas.
Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
which staff coped with this period of change
and to have them audited by external
and continued to show their dedication to
overhauled and the substantive work of the
accountants. Seen from today’s perspective,
the Organisation. These were turbulent, even
Secretariat was reviewed and re-prioritised.
such an innovation might seem mundane.
traumatic, times. Severe budget cuts in the first
External communications were streamlined.
But in the context of the time, in which
three years of my first mandate reduced our
In 1996, printing, publications and media
intergovernmental organisations were under
resources by approximately 18 per cent. Over
relations were all dealt with separately, without
critical public review, it was a major step. Today,
the following years, further cuts and repeated
a common sense of direction and without a
transparency and integrity are core values of
job uncertainty at the end of each year, plus the
common logo representing the Organisation.
which the OECD can be proud.
upheaval of adapting to new ways of working,
Today, the OECD has a coherent, integrated,
added to the burden on staff.
across-the-house strategy. During my mandate,
Under the leadership of Angel Gurría, the OECD enjoys well-merited recognition and
The first major administrative change that
The structure of the Secretariat was
we introduced a number of significant flagship
stability. It has become a partner in the work
I introduced was the appointment of an
publications. We also launched the OECD
of the G20, and it benefits from modern
Executive Director in charge of Human
Forum, held in conjunction with the OECD’s
structures and working conditions and a
Resource Management, Budget and
annual Ministerial meeting, and now an
world-class conference facility. Achieving these
Finance, Information and Communication
important annual event where governments,
advances was no easy task, however. From
Technology (ICT) and General Operations –
business and civil society exchange ideas
1996, when I began my first mandate, and for
responsibilities that previously had been
and influence policy makers.