Liberia asks IMO to recruit more Africans
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Front Page Africa
Liberia is asking the International Maritime Organization to correct the geographical imbalance in its recruitment, with Africa accounting for only 5% of its staff compared with about 45% for Europe. Maritime Commissioner Neto Zarzar Lighe defended the position in London, according to Front Page Africa.
Liberia has asked the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency responsible for maritime affairs, to correct the geographical imbalance in its recruitment. Maritime Commissioner and Director-General of the Liberia Maritime Authority Neto Zarzar Lighe made the request in London during the 138th session of the IMO Council, according to Front Page Africa.
Africa accounts for about 5% of the IMO secretariat’s staff, compared with nearly 45% for the European region and about 4% for the Arab States. Neto Zarzar Lighe called for targeted recruitment missions and outreach initiatives to give African professionals and candidates from other developing regions fairer access to vacant positions.
Delegations are examining recent data on the organisation’s human resources in particular. Liberia believes that a global maritime institution should reflect the geographical diversity of its member states in its staff, not only in its decisions and policies.
