VIENNA – United Nations employees in the Austrian capital have “valid concerns” about suspected nepotism in the appointment of IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s wife to "a role at the UN Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and how a daughter of his got a role at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation," as reported by Italian Insider, the well-informed newsletter Blue Smoke says.

 “For the past several years, an Italian-English language newspaper, the Italian Insider, has been engaged in a prolonged legal battle regarding alleged corruption and nepotism at the Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO),” said Blue Smoke, a newsletter tracking senior UN appointments https://www.passblue.com/article/blue-smoke-2023-10-16-sounding-the-alarm/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=novashare.

 “Their two most recent stories allege related incidents of nepotism at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA),” the newsletter, part of the Pass Blue digital report, said.

 “Blue Smoke approached several contacts in Vienna to try to verify these claims. We found a lot of support for IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi — particularly his work to prevent a catastrophe at the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, under siege by Russia — but we also sensed valid concerns regarding how his wife received a role received a role at the UN Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and how a daughter of his got a role at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation,”the newsletter said.

 It remains to be seen whether donor countries to the CTBTO will raise those concerns as Cinthia Echavarria Grossi, the fun-loving wife of the IAEA director general, is tipped to be promoted from her existing P5 sinecure to a still cushier D1 post as director of the CTBTO International Data Center, UN sources say.

 Grossi for his part had been campaigning behind the scenes to become the next UN Secretary General though whether his efforts to secure comfortable billets for his wives and eight children through the UN spoils system might count against him is an open question.

 jf