OBITUARY

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32349, 15 July 1970, Page 7

OBITUARY

Sir David Owen Sir David Owen, a pioneer of United Nations technical assistance programmes for developing countries and the secretary - general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, died in London recently. He was knighted in January last for his work as an international civil servant. For most of his career, Sir David Owen worked for the recognition of international responsibility for social and economic progress.

He retired last year from hiS post as co-administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. During his short time in office as secretary-general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, he travelled extensively in Asia to study family planning programmes. He visited other countries to talk to Governments about greater financial support for the I.P.P.F. Born in Monmouthshire, he graduated B.A. from the Leeds University and M.Com. from the University of Wales. During the Second World War he . was a special assistant' to Sir Stafford Cripps, , then Minister of Aircraft Production.

iLater, he was one of the British representatives at the dissolution of the League of Nations. Sir David Owen was the first member of the United Nations Secretariat. He was the first assistant secretarygeneral in charge of economic affairs in 1946. In 1952 he became executive chairman of the newlycreated Technical Assistance Board, the co-ordinating body of the expanded programme of technical assistance. He beaded the board until 1965 when it merged with the United Nations Special Fund to form the United Nations Development Programme.