A PROJECT WITH A VIEW
Stanis?aw PIGO? ????????
Keep smiling attitude. Experienced consultant & trainer.
The most beautiful view is from a distance, preferably through a window of the “time vehicle” that could bring us to the project completion date, presently March 2029, with all ￡65 million drained.
The UK Ambassador in Vienna has all the reasons to celebrate. UNIDO has voluntarily subjected to the Government of UK, under terms comparable with trade deals from times of the so - called British Raj on the Indian subcontinent. Two agreements were signed in November 2022.?#Brexit from?#UNIDO?happened in 2012. As a non-Member State the UK has secured a sheltered position of "the back seat driver" to shape / control UNIDO policies according to the British interests globally, exploit valuable resources as well as possibly to gather intelligence, while contributing zero to the Organization's regular budget.
Her Excellency, the UK Ambassador grants an audience to UNIDO DG, May 15th 2023 Photo : UK Mission Vienna on X .
This LinkedIn blog article is about the programme funded by?the Government of UK to be implemented in partnership with UNIDO in coming 6 years.?Check for updates, when more public information is available. Scroll down to see a selection of sources / related links.
The Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility project information is presented on the UNIDO Open Data Platform, including the Clean Energy Innovation Facility (CEIF) - RMB Service Summary Sheet.
The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) approved/pledged the funding through its Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), now a main UNIDO's partner along with Ayrton Fund ( Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy?BEIS existed until 2023 when it split to form a few new entities, including DESNZ).
The UKaid Development Tracker presents information and documents related both to #A2D / #A2DFacility and #CEIF, also through the IATI Aid Transparency d-portal. Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D) Facility Business Case Report exposes all conditions the UNIDO management subjected the Organization to.
January 19th, 2024
#A2DFacility: UNIDO DG and the British Embassy Vienna Ambassador have never talked about this public document provisions, when presenting Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility.
1. UNIDO is all about #FinancialTransparency and #UNValues, isn't it?
2. The A2D Facility Secretariat established within UNIDO have a fabulous administrative budget of GBP 11.8 million (M), financed three-way for 6 years:
i. GBP 4.0 M provided by the UK Government, going mainly for remunerations and travel (including a lucrative UNIDO contract of Facility Manager in Vienna for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero officer, #DESNZ - previously BEIS - is the main UK implementation partner );
ii. GBP 3.6 M, a gift from UNIDO e.g., reduction of standard project support fee from 13% to 7% at expense of UNIDO Operational Budget , "A2D parasitism"/ sunk costs for UNIDO;
iii. GBP 4.2 million, the reduced 7% fee, covering the Secretariat various logistic / administrative costs at UNIDO HQs.
More than 18% of funds will be swallowed by the Secretariat, a gluttonous monster cell established within UNIDO HQs: potentially the best Center of Excellence for #EconomicEspionage ever.
4. If the UK had been a Member State, it would have contributed its 7.42% annual share to the Organization’s Regular Budget (RB) this biennium and further: estimated at least at GBP 35.1 M until 2029 (depending on the future annual RB growth rates).
5. The Secretariat costs and UNIDO's RB unrealized assessed contributions sum up to GBP 46.9 M (sic!). For the world superpower's Serious Fraud Office (UK) this is probably peanuts, but how much of good could UNIDO do for #PovertyAlleviation through #Industrialization in the Least Developed Countries #LDCs with that mountain of cash? Instead of supporting energy transition of the fifth largest global economy - the United Kingdom!
6. Since inception of #A2D, an intensive publicity campaign - run by British Embassy Vienna and #UNIDO - has implied developing countries will benefit grossly from the project's GBP 65 M funding. Is it really so?
7. For thriller lovers this public report can make a hair-raising weekend reading. But people with a soft human side may ask: How have UNIDO staff members (DG, MDs, D & P5 senior staff, CFO & others) who proudly associate themselves with A2D felt, if they read the Report at all ? No any moral hungover? Not a thing? Nothing?
Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D) Facility Business Case - full report
January 19th, 2024
#A2DFacility: A lucrative UNIDO contract awarded to the former officer of Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (#DESNZ).
1. Since inception of the Accelerate-to-Demonstrate #A2D project, an intensive publicity campaign, co-ordinated by British Embassy Vienna and #UNIDO has implied developing countries will benefit from the project's GBP 65 million funding.
2. How big and costly will the A2D Facility Secretariat become? Costs of staff quoted in UNIDO ToRs normally don't reflect actual / full costs to the Organization / the Project, as they exclude expenses for office facilities, travel expenses and daily subsistence allowances as well as (possibly) other typical UN civil servant benefits.
3. The UK Government published full report on Accelerate to Demonstrate Facility Business Case that exposes all conditions the UNIDO management subjected the Organization to. Institutionally, the project's main UNIDO partner is the #DESNZ of the UK Government.
4. The post was advertised by many of the UK Government's social media accounts such as Ayrton Fund, #DESNZ, UK Mission in Vienna and through private profiles of their employees. In parallel to UNIDO website. It is also highly probable, given the size of the public funds to be spend, the UK anti-fraud and anti-corruption institutions, such as Serious Fraud Office (UK) monitor transparency of the project.
5. The #UNIDO_UK project was approved by UNIDO Executive Board and UNIDO DG, accountable in front of the Organization's Policymaking Organs (PMO). It also could be UNIDO Evaluation and Internal Oversight staff members have been involved in clearing the conditions imposed by #DESNZ for one of the biggest UNIDO's technical co-operation ongoing project.
6. UNIDO has policy of two-pairs-of-eyes for signing the personnel contracts, which means that at least 2 people take personal responsibility for the recruitment, while electronically releasing the contract.
Selected links:
UK and UNIDO strengthen collaboration through newly-established team to deliver GBP 65 Million Accelerate-To-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility - UNIDO News published December 12, 2023.
Senior Technical Advisor and A2D Facility Manager - Terms of Reference
Asia Clean Energy Forum 2023 - speaker's profile.
Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility - data and info on UNIDO Open Data Portal
January 18th, 2024
#A2DFacility: Does the UK Ambassador in Vienna carry a copy of the UNIDO Credentials?in her handbag? Will the #UK rejoin or recolonize #UNIDO?
1. Both propaganda team of British Embassy Vienna and UNIDO DG's “Nur für Deutsche / For Germans Only" managerial squad are allegedly working hard to coordinate the two VIPs costumes for the upcoming Charity Maskenball in Vienna. Chances are good they repeat tremendous success of the previous two 2023 shows they starred in.
2. However, some of the UNIDO 172 Member States as well as international media keep raising issues that may disturb self-indulgence of #UNIDO_UK publicity stunts leadership and teams. It seems that #UNRules, #FinancialTransparency, #EconomicEspionage, and devastating effects of huge financial (colonial-style) tribute inflicted on UNIDO budget by a non Member State via its Accelerate-to-Demonstrate project, are still not fully swept under the ballroom carpet.
3. Indeed, the Embassy has been quite successful in promoting a spiderweb of His Majesty subjects to tactical positions within UNIDO, from supervising the digitalization processes and IT systems to copywriting DG's speeches. #UNIDODG may enjoy having his speeches proofread at the Embassy before delivery, but what about the Project Managers' (PM) / UN civil servant status being trivialized as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero official gets the grips with UNIDO Account Holder controls, in fast-tracked mode. UNIDO Open Data Portal displays the A2D PMs names, leaving no doubts who is accountable. Haven't PMs heard about the UNOPS financial scandal and related calls for criminal accountability, while rejoicing in the TV-series-style photo session at #UNIDOInnovationLab?
4. Despite "colonization attempts" UNIDO has remained the UN System Organization ruled by its Constitution and by-laws. The Member States' Ambassadors, after presenting their Credentials, are elected (in a rotating scheme) to lead the Organization's Policymaking Organs (PMO). Presently, Their Excellencies Ambassadors of Sudan and Pakistan chair Industrial Development Board and Programme and Budget Committee, respectively. H.E. Ambassador of Italy presides the 20th General Conference.
5. It's just a start of a ball season in Vienna, but gossips are the UK Ambassador's flamboyant diplomacy has already earned her the Debutante of Jokes title for the Vienna 2024 Ball Season, in advance.
6. Like Vienna diplomatic circles, supervisors at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London know there are neither UNIDO Credentials (after 2012 #Brexit) nor ￡ 65 million in the Ambassador's handbag. The London's Ball Season is not less spectacular as the Viennese one, but when it comes to spending of heavy millions public funds the #SFO Serious Fraud Office (UK) Head is always the master of ceremonies.
Keep smiling and wait, more entertainment is coming.
January 16th, 2024
#ProgressByInnovation at #A2DFacility: Is "A Spy Among Friends Of #CriticalMinerals" a new UNIDO TV series ? How swiftly did the former UK Governmental officer get to grips with #UNIDO's and its Member States' priorities, files, sensitive data and strategic plans ??In reality, not in #EconomicEspionage movie.
1. In 2021, at the Asia Clean Energy Forum (virtual), the Head of Innovation, International Climate Finance, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) of the UK Government leaked about upcoming UNIDO_UK co-production deal. In meantime, BEIS re-structured into Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), so in a slightly different hat the Head spoke during the June 2023 Forum.
2. Few months later, the very same British Head operates inside UNIDO in yet another hat, as a new Head of A2D Facility. The transfer as quick as the UK Government access to #UNIDO's Members States files and databases, including energy transition, hydrogen projects and critical minerals of course.
3. The UK (that left UNIDO in 2012 giving a severe budgetary blow) has now established within UNIDO the so called #A2D Project Secretariat, championed by the #UK's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, financed by UNIDO budget and Ayrton Fund, all under British Embassy Vienna watchful eyes.
4. Many #UNIDO's Member States (MS) have voiced their concerns during the Policymaking Organs (PMO) sessions, complaining about the former MS?unprecedented interventions, as well as a huge financial tribute offered for the #A2D Facility at the 172 MS expense that actually might contribute to the budget for being spied on. International media claim intelligence operatives fight openly for their countries interests in Vienna, and that happens at?UNIDO premises as well.? Critical minerals global market is a battlefield for survival of many international corporations in energy transition times.
5. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the request for assistance by other UNIDO MS, hosts the next 21st UNIDO General Conference, scheduled Nov. 2025 in Riyadh; with a huge in kind and in cash #Saudi donations offered. Which hat will the British Head of A2D Facility wear on the occasion?
6. Developed economies diversify access to critical minerals at any cost, often ignoring the impact on developing ones. Future Minerals Forum, championed by the Kingdom of #SaudiArabia, aims at creating resilient and responsible mineral value chains in Africa as well as Western and Central Asia.
7. In A2D TV-series-style procurements and recruitments, the #DESNZ Heads are so good in casting themselves, aren't they? Does?such an interference create conflict of interests and violate #UNIDO / #UN rules? Of course, it does matter not only to professionals who may never get a part in "A Spy Among Friends Of Critical Minerals" series.
8. Selected links:
i. UK Mission Vienna promotional clip on X.
ii. Asia Clean Energy Forum 2023 - speaker's profile.
iii. UNIDO Member States Statements during the Organization's Policy Making Organs sessions.
iv. UK Mission Vienna on X ??https://twitter.com/UKMissionVienna/status/1735315087533969830/photo/3
领英推荐
August 30th, 2023
#ProgressByInnovation: Do UNIDO Member States have to rescue the UK manufacturing industry, by subsidizing controversial Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility - #UNIDO_UK project?
1. "As this government builds the foundation upon which Britain can thrive in the 21st century, it’s clear that we must create resilient and diversified mineral supply chains. We need lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite for batteries; silicon, tin and gallium for our electronics; rare earth elements for electric motors and so on."
2. "The Prime Minister also announced a new development-funded international climate finance programme, the?￡65.5 million Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility, under the umbrella?#CEIF?platform through?the ￡1 billion Ayrton Fund commitment."
3. Three thematic pillars will be delivered through UNIDO #A2DFacility project: A2D Cross-Cutting Pillar, (including smart energy / digitalization), ?A2D #CleanHydrogen Pillar, A2D Critical Minerals Pillar.
4. "The UK sponsors two deep-seabed mining exploration licences for UK Seabed Resources (UKSR) to explore a total of 133,000 square kilometres of the Pacific seabed." Do UNIDO environmental commitments and cooperation principles with Global Environment Facility allow supporting/promoting deep-seabed mining technologies?
5. Since 2021, #UNIDO managerial staff members, including Directors, Division Heads and Senior Industrial Experts (D and P5 level) assisted by numerous consultants have directly provided services - also sharing invaluable intelligence data - to HRM Government at expense of UNIDO regular budget and budgets of technical cooperation projects funded by other donors. The UK share of UNIDO expenditures has remained at zero level as of August 30th, 2023. ??https://lnkd.in/deBy5zbU
6. Ahead of UNIDO General Conference #UNIDOGC20, to be held at the end of November 2023, many UNIDO's Member States have voiced their concerns on how the Organization offers its services to / subjects to control of the former Member States.
July 2nd
#Müllerism?as it happens and its budgetary dilemmas, under the #ProgressByInnovation umbrella.
1. The decision on very special treatment of a non-Member State e.g., offering heavy millions in benefits to the Government of United Kingdom via #A2DFacility project may have quite severe consequences for the UNIDO budget in the future. Its Operational Budget is based on costs recovery / income from technical assistance projects and programs. By agreeing to charge Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ayrton Fund only 7% instead of standard 13%, UNIDO DG and his negotiation team (Directors, Project Managers) have deprived the Organization's Operational Budget of ca. EUR 4 million future income, apart from other long-term consequences.
2. This may be both institutionally demoralizing and damaging for UNIDO's credibility in eyes of developing and emerging economies' countries that are the Member States, contribute ca. 50% of the Organization's regular budget, and have to pay 13% overheads for self-financed projects. UNIDO DG is well-known for his notoriously populistic statements at international forums: "The rich West (North) must pay". Does he practice what he preaches?
3. How will the biggest UNIDO donors amongst Member States react to the unprecedented colonial tribute? All of them are dutifully paying 13% (except for bilateral Inv. and Tech. Prom. Offices - ITPOs agreements that bear 10% support costs). It's for all to see at https://open.unido.org/. A snowball effect may be disastrous, if Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, China, Sweden, Russia and other countries will request the same / equal treatment that was offered at the British Embassy Vienna .
4. UNIDO has some very large multilateral donors such as the Global Environment Facility or EU, that co-operate under different type of agreements allowing, for instance, huge costs recovery to budget, including even UNIDO's Staff Members remuneration, but with lower than 13% support costs charges. Yet, the economic and political subjection of UNIDO to a non-Member State, on such a devastating scale, has never happened in the entire UNIDO history.
5. The Government of UK has well prepared and pre-calculated its business deal with UNIDO; with a proper due diligence to see all benefits and risks. Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D) Facility Business Case Report by HRM Government does not leave any illusions.
6. Have UNIDO DG and his Team done the same? Something beyond costly propaganda and self - promotion campaigns. Question may be asked by the Member States during the 51st session of UNIDO Industrial Development Board on 3 - 6 July, 2023.
7. UNIDO is bigger, much bigger than any individual (group of individuals) with its mandate high above personal ambitions, vested political interests and international corporations' influence fights. Issues of financial transparency may re-sound many times during next UNIDO Policymaking Organs sessions and Member States informal groups meetings as well as in the External Auditor reports.
July 1st
Does UNIDO DG tell Member States all the truth on renewed partnership with the UK and up to ￡65 M project pledge?
1. The UK negotiated reduced fees for the delivery of A2D, strengthening the value-for-money proposition. "The UK Government has successfully secured a reduced fee (￡4.2 M) of 7% for delivering the funding to projects, which is a reduction from the standard fee of 13%, saving the UK ￡3.6 M in fees."
2. When the Federal Government of Nigeria commissioned from UNIDO a feasibility study it had to pay 13%, not negotiable. Does it echo colonial times?
3. As a non - Member State the UK will contribute ￡0.0 M (in words zero million sterling pounds) to UNIDO regular budget (RB) in coming 6 years, saving His Majesty's Government? tens of million. To serve HMG the UNIDO Member States have to "keep UNIDO alive and kicking", funding its RB to pay remunerations of DG, DDGs, Directors and Project Managers who will implement that historic , thus subsidizing the UK.
4. "The multilateral status of UNIDO allows freedom from regional or domestic political agendas with respect to programme oversight and focus, allowing a global reach.?" Does it have any business/goodwill value?
5. ??"A Multilateral Aid Review of UNIDO in 2011 highlighted governance issues that led to the UK leaving the organisation as a Member, so there is a risk that the reforms that UNIDO has put in place over the last eleven years to address the identified issues have not had long enough to see the impacts of those changes."
6. "Payments will be staged over time in smaller Promisory Notes, to reduce the financial risk in the event of performance issues with UNIDO. The funding will be split into seven smaller value PNs as may underperform against the proposed performance indicators for A2D. At the end of A2D’s lifecycle (31st?March 2029), in the absence of an extension to the Administration Arrangement, the delivery partner (UNIDO) should return any unspent funds." In Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D) Facility Business Case Report HRM Government does not leave any illusions.
7. The UK will have established the Secretariat at UNIDO HQs in a colonial style. "The Secretariat-based financing facility will cost ￡4 M, this cost will cover staffing, administration costs (such as reports and travel), monitoring and project management costs (administrative costs associated with operations, monitoring and evaluation, and communications)." The independent evaluation has ￡0.5 M budget separately reserved. Who pays costs of the Secretariat premises with related services / maintenance costs at UNIDO HQs offered for free , as 6% discount? Who picks up electricity bills, for instance?
8. Have UNIDO DG and Officials been briefed on the "Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Business Case" Report by the Gov. of UK, to be ready for possible Member States' questions at the 51st Session of UNIDO Industrial Development Board on 3-6 July, 2023?
June 30th
#ProgressByInnovation: A project with a view, and the ￡65 million budget pledged.
1. The most beautiful view is from a distance, preferably through a window of the “time vehicle” that could bring us to the UNIDO SAP ID 220 201 project's completion date, presently March 2029.
2. The background of the project is unquestionably attractive and weighty, both in substantive and in financial terms, as the UK PM described: "The new fund I’m launching today rightly honours Hertha Ayrton – one of Britain’s most extraordinary minds who drove relentlessly to improve our scientific understanding and left a legacy of innovation and creativity for which the world owes an immeasurable debt.”
3. Official guidance further impresses with pledges made: “The UK Government has?committed up to ￡1 billion through the Ayrton Fund to support clean energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) between April 2021 and March 2026. This is part of the?wider UK commitment to tackle climate change?and spend ￡11.6 billion of?International Climate Finance?(ICF) over the same period."
3. It's from that mountain of cash, a bite of?￡65.5 million comes for the ‘Accelerate-to-Demonstrate’ (A2D) Facility under the framework of the Clean Energy Innovation Facility (CEIF) platform.
4. Then the roads have crossed (again) for the UK Government and UNIDO.?Two KPMG's firms facilitated a prenuptial agreement.?KPMG UK on behalf of its client (the Gov. of UK) checked UNIDO, a client of the sister firm KPMG Finland. Lovers usually do not bother with potential conflict of interest. ”KPMG (UK) would capitalize on the ongoing assessment of UNIDO undertaken by KPMG Finland; GLO/MSR would act as UNIDO’s focal point and start by sharing the information already submitted to KPMG Finland.”?- it was decided.
5. Where do I begin to tell the story of how the great love can be? Maybe from the first date? But which one is it? Two KPMG firms had worked at least 12 weeks before November 2022.??The Government of UK and UNIDO signed two agreements (legal arrangements) on 2 and 8 November, 2022; seemingly far from public eyes. Perhaps to avoid paparazzi, especially that it was a way back into love. The UK divorced UNIDO in 2012, because - as The Economist wrote in a piece - the UK had found UNIDO “useless”.?Never say never, especially when it comes to love.
6 . The remarriage has not been fully consumed yet. The project is in a preparatory stage, to develop the business plan of the CEIF and finalize the project document for UNIDO’s approval. It has started on March 1, 2023; will last 1 year and costs USD 1.38 million plus 7% wedding support costs.
7. The renewed partnership was celebrated at the British Embassy Vienna ,??with raucous propaganda and plenty of UNIDO Staff disguised as paparazzi.?In Europe, May has been considered the month of lovers since the Middle Ages.
June 29th
Do two agreements between UNIDO and the Government of United Kingdom, signed on 2 and 8 November 2022, discriminate 's Member States ? ?#Müllerism?versus #Multilateralism?& #UNCoreValues.
UNIDO ANNUAL REPORT 2022 / APPENDIX G / Page 28
June 23rd
#ProgressByInnovation: Will the UK rejoin or (re)colonize? UNIDO ?
1. ?#Brexit from?#UNIDO?happened in 2012. If the UK was a Member State, it would contribute its 7.42% assessed annual share to the Organization’s regular budget (RB) in the next biennium, estimated at least at EUR 35.1 M (million) until the end of 2029 (at zero growth rate of RB, current prices and present membership structure. In reality, it could be much bigger.
2.? When many Member States (MS) rejected DG's budget proposals, he went to the UK Mission in Vienna to launch a?joint UNIDO – UK , with a fabulous budget of?￡65 M, to be implemented until the end of 2029.
3.??According to UNIDO Open Data Portal, the UK has so far contributed only USD 1.38 M for preparatory assistance,??excluding UNIDO project support costs.
4.??The UK Ambassador has all the reasons to be happy. UNIDO has voluntarily subjected to the Gov. of UK (former MS), under terms comparable with trade deals from from times of the so - called British Raj on the Indian subcontinent. Two agreements were signed in November 2022.
5.??Apart from not paying at least EUR 35.1 M to UNIDO's RB , the Government of UK will enjoy a special colonial style tribute: instead of being charged 13% project support costs as donors from Member States are, will pay only 7%, with a handsome discount e.g. a gift from UNIDO Operational Budget of ca. EUR 4 million. UNIDO had to allow establishment of the Secretariat inside the Organization, a contemporary version of the colonial Governor office.
6.??UNIDO staff members (Directors, P5 senior officers etc.) have rushed to social media declaring they also play a role in this fabulous story. However, they didn’t explain what they declared in their timesheets, while indicating which project (or budget line) should be charged for provision of their services to the Crown.
7.??Economic devastation the British colonialism inflicted on people of then-India (presently 3 independent countries) can be only estimated.
8.??In the so-called British India farmers were forced to cultivate indigo, getting few pennies for every quid of value added. Pennies received were insufficient to feed their families, subsistence farming eliminated ... . The rest is history, millions of people perished of hunger. Would it be too vexatious comparing UNIDO Member States (who pay and maintain “UNIDO farm” to fight hunger, support SDGs … ) with those indigo farmers?
9.??The UNIDO Management could evaluate potential devastation and long-term depletion of resources, applying its own ECBA (Economic Costs Benefit Analysis) tools. Some costs : EUR 35.1 M plus EUR 4 M, services of staff and consultants charged to RB and other projects, goodwill and intangibles offered for free, subcontracts to British companies and experts…. On benefits side: intangible value of the UNIDO DG's and staff self-promotion, 7% of USD 1.38 million … Keep counting.
Read more about A2D Facility developments in MONEY TELLS MONEY TALES , including facts and faqs asked after January 2024: part II of the UNIDO (and through UNIDO) recolonization story.
? ???Selected links: