Jan Pronk

(Scheveningen, NL, 1940) is a socially and societally engaged economist and former minister and MP for the Dutch Labour Party. In a large number of leading positions with international and UN organizations he has shown a strong commitment to peace and to fighting poverty in the world. Pronk was  the Minister for Development Cooperation in the cabinets of the Den Uyl, Lubbers III, Kok I and Kok II goverments. At the UN he held position such as the Vice Secretary General of UNCTAD, head of the UN peace mission in Sudan, and chairman of the UN conference on climate change. He is a professor emeritus in the theory and practice of international development of the International Institute of Social Studies. He is also a board member of Writers Unlimited.