Clément Duhaime discusses the evolution of the mission and activities of la Francophonie as an international actor and as an organization that supports its member countries in promoting policies of economic and social development.
A native of Trois-Rivières, Clément Duhaime has had a 25-year professional and diplomatic career closely associated with la Francophonie. He was a Quebec Delegate General to France and personal representative of the Premier of Quebec at meetings of la Francophonie from 2000 to 2005; was a permanent representative of the OIF to the European Union in Brussels from 1997 to 1999; and was special counsel in charge of cooperation policy and budget for the Secretary-General of la Francophonie, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in 1999. As the Administrator of the OIF, his chief responsibilities have been the execution, facilitation and management of multilateral intergovernmental cooperation. Appointed by Abou Diouf in 2005, he has served in that role since 2006, and in 2009 was reappointed for a new four-year period.