U.N. Official: Share the Wealth

Given current possibilities for making technology work, Americans must strive to do more for developing regions of the world, the executive director of UNICEF said last night at the Kennedy School.

"In the past 30 years, we have proved that ours is the first generation to be able to bring the benefits of progress to all mankind," the executive director, James P. Grant said. "If it's possible, then it does become unconscienable that you don't bring it about."

30th Anniversary

Grant's talk, which attracted an audience of about 80, was the final event in a two-day celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Edward S. Mason Program in Policy and Management at the Kennedy School.

The Mason Program draws public officials from developing countries to study at the K-School for a year, said Gail L. Gugel, assistant to the director of the Mason Program.

In a speech entitled "Putting Crises to Work for People," Grant argued that crises, like mass poverty, usually give rise to political or scientific solutions.

"Few of the really hard choices that have led to major advances in the last fifty to a hundred years have been made without a major crisis," Grant said.

He said that the crises facing the world today should also spark creative solutions. "The world looks in rather remarkably poor shape," he said. "The 1980s are hard times for most developing countries."

As an example of a crisis lacking solution, Grant said, "For two-thirds to three-fourths of the principal causes of death and malnutrition, there is a low-cost technology solution."

He stressed that improved communication and marketing are needed to put technology to use in developing countries.

The cooperation of public officials, teachers, and religious leaders is vital to getting parents to bring their children to be immunized, he said.

"On the children front we have an opportunity for breakthrough," Grant said. "It's just a question of will." He concluded by telling the audience, "A lot of people like you have to put your mind to scheming on these things again."

This year more than 60 public managers from 35 countries participate in the Mason program. The fellows have, on average, 12 years of experience in government.

Professor Emeritus Raymond Vernon said the Mason program, "is nourished by the enormous skill of its two directors. They turned it into something absolutely marvelous." Vernon said that participating in the program has a "very, very substantial impact."

Vernon noted the thorough recruitment and careful screening of Mason fellows as part of the program's success. The K-School reports that the program received roughly 1000 applications last year.

The 750 graduates of the Mason program include Carlos Salinas de Gortari, president-elect of Mexico, Pratap K. Kaul, Indian ambassador to the U.S., David Blanco Zabala, former minister of finance in Bolivia, and Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado, president of Mexico.

One alumna of the program, Beryl Nembhard of Jamaica, said "it has served me very well."

Current Mason Fellow Lt. Colonel Alejandro Flores of the Phillipines said that the program "provides me with exposure that will help me personally and [experience] that I can bring back to the Phillipines."

Flores said that returning to the academic world is like "recharging your batteries."

George Briggs, an administrator in Jamaica, said he feels the program is "very worthwhile." Both participants cite the Mason program as a unique opportunity to establish contacts in the U.S. and in other countries.