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David Miliband faces a diplomatic test at the IRC David Miliband faces a diplomatic test at the IRC
(6 months later)
When David Miliband steps through the marble entrance of the International Rescue Committee's New York headquarters this September he will take his place at the centre of an extraordinary US power network.When David Miliband steps through the marble entrance of the International Rescue Committee's New York headquarters this September he will take his place at the centre of an extraordinary US power network.
The new chief executive of one of the world's leading disaster relief charities will have on tap the former UN general secretary Kofi Annan and a trio of US secretaries of state, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, who sit on the charity's overseeing committee. The board of directors includes executives from Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and JP Morgan while Pepsi and Pfizer are backers.The new chief executive of one of the world's leading disaster relief charities will have on tap the former UN general secretary Kofi Annan and a trio of US secretaries of state, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, who sit on the charity's overseeing committee. The board of directors includes executives from Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and JP Morgan while Pepsi and Pfizer are backers.
It is the kind of nexus of political power, international money and good causes around which Bill Clinton and Tony Blair have forged second careers outside politics. Clinton, who runs his own global health foundation, turned on his famous charm to welcome the appointment, describing Miliband as "one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time". Blair congratulated him on securing a "major international position", while adding pointedly it was "a massive loss to UK politics".It is the kind of nexus of political power, international money and good causes around which Bill Clinton and Tony Blair have forged second careers outside politics. Clinton, who runs his own global health foundation, turned on his famous charm to welcome the appointment, describing Miliband as "one of the ablest, most creative public servants of our time". Blair congratulated him on securing a "major international position", while adding pointedly it was "a massive loss to UK politics".
Miliband and Blair's paths are likely to cross in Liberia, Rwanda, South Sudan and Sierra Leone where IRC and Blair's Africa Governance Initiative both run programmes.Miliband and Blair's paths are likely to cross in Liberia, Rwanda, South Sudan and Sierra Leone where IRC and Blair's Africa Governance Initiative both run programmes.
The IRC might not be a UK household name but the contents of Miliband's in-tray are likely to shoot down any suggestion this charity job is too small for a former foreign secretary. His 12,000 staff (the Foreign Office has around 14,000) are on the ground in 40 countries.The IRC might not be a UK household name but the contents of Miliband's in-tray are likely to shoot down any suggestion this charity job is too small for a former foreign secretary. His 12,000 staff (the Foreign Office has around 14,000) are on the ground in 40 countries.
Since it was founded in 1933 to help German Jews and other people suffering under Hitler, the IRC has become increasingly rich and influential as it has built a solid record focusing on refugee crises and getting to the scene of disasters to provide help in 72 hours.Since it was founded in 1933 to help German Jews and other people suffering under Hitler, the IRC has become increasingly rich and influential as it has built a solid record focusing on refugee crises and getting to the scene of disasters to provide help in 72 hours.
The charity's last available accounts for 2011 show it had annual revenues of $389m, as well as $107m in investments, including a $98,000 art portfolio.The charity's last available accounts for 2011 show it had annual revenues of $389m, as well as $107m in investments, including a $98,000 art portfolio.
Miliband's salary has not been made public, but George Rupp, the former president of Columbia University whom he succeeds, currently earns $380,000 a year. According to its last filing with the US charity authorities it had 59 employees earning over $100,000 a year.Miliband's salary has not been made public, but George Rupp, the former president of Columbia University whom he succeeds, currently earns $380,000 a year. According to its last filing with the US charity authorities it had 59 employees earning over $100,000 a year.
While Rupp travelled six times a year, the younger Miliband is expected to do more, applying his political skills and contacts in some of the most hostile parts of the world.While Rupp travelled six times a year, the younger Miliband is expected to do more, applying his political skills and contacts in some of the most hostile parts of the world.
Former staff predicted Miliband would enjoy a working culture at the IRC that values openness and sharing ideas, but that has developed power and influence and now realises it needs to work harder building partnerships with local organisations and governments to have a more lasting impact.Former staff predicted Miliband would enjoy a working culture at the IRC that values openness and sharing ideas, but that has developed power and influence and now realises it needs to work harder building partnerships with local organisations and governments to have a more lasting impact.
Rob Bailey, senior research fellow at Chatham House and an expert in international development, said it was telling that Miliband had not chosen to pursue what he described on Wednesday as his "passionate commitment to social justice and international co-operation" through a senior job at the United Nations, such as the at the UN Development Programme, which has been run since 2009 by the former prime minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark.Rob Bailey, senior research fellow at Chatham House and an expert in international development, said it was telling that Miliband had not chosen to pursue what he described on Wednesday as his "passionate commitment to social justice and international co-operation" through a senior job at the United Nations, such as the at the UN Development Programme, which has been run since 2009 by the former prime minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark.
"Often in the UN you are very constrained by the politics of donor governments and what you can and can't say and you can't bite the hand that feeds you," said Bailey. "As a leader of an independent NGO he should have a lot more freedom to speak out on a humanitarian agenda which isn't confined by the politics of donor countries. It will allow his to become involved in areas with highly contentious politics with more freedom.""Often in the UN you are very constrained by the politics of donor governments and what you can and can't say and you can't bite the hand that feeds you," said Bailey. "As a leader of an independent NGO he should have a lot more freedom to speak out on a humanitarian agenda which isn't confined by the politics of donor countries. It will allow his to become involved in areas with highly contentious politics with more freedom."
But with a key part of the IRC's work reliant on gaining quick access to disaster hit countries often in politically fraught parts of the world, a challenge is likely to be persuading governments of disaster-hit countries of his independence.But with a key part of the IRC's work reliant on gaining quick access to disaster hit countries often in politically fraught parts of the world, a challenge is likely to be persuading governments of disaster-hit countries of his independence.
"If you are seen as somehow threatening to the government or local authority, then they can be reluctant to grant access," Bailey said."If you are seen as somehow threatening to the government or local authority, then they can be reluctant to grant access," Bailey said.
And that is where Miliband's experience as Britain's top diplomat could cut both ways. The former foreign secretary who supported the Iraq war and oversaw ongoing operations in Afghanistan is facing one of the biggest tests yet of his ambassadorial acumen.And that is where Miliband's experience as Britain's top diplomat could cut both ways. The former foreign secretary who supported the Iraq war and oversaw ongoing operations in Afghanistan is facing one of the biggest tests yet of his ambassadorial acumen.
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