Jan Pronk

Jan Pronk
Pronk in 2010
Special Representative of the United Nations in Sudan
In office 1 July 2004 – 10 December 2006
Secretary-General	Kofi Annan
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Jan Eliasson
Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment
In office 3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002
Prime Minister	Wim Kok
Preceded by	Margreeth de Boer
Succeeded by	Henk Kamp
Minister of Defence
In office 6 February 1991 – 3 March 1991 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Relus ter Beek
Succeeded by	Relus ter Beek
Minister for Development Cooperation
In office 7 November 1989 – 3 August 1998
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers (1989–1994) Wim Kok (1994–1998)
Preceded by	Piet Bukman
Succeeded by	Eveline Herfkens
In office 11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Kees Boertien
Succeeded by	Jan de Koning
Member of the European Parliament
In office 13 March 1973 – 11 May 1973
Parliamentary group	Socialist Group
Constituency	Netherlands
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 19 May 1998 – 3 August 1998
In office 17 May 1994 – 22 August 1994
In office 3 June 1986 – 7 November 1989
In office 16 January 1978 – 18 August 1980
In office 8 June 1977 – 8 September 1977
In office 11 May 1971 – 11 May 1973
Personal details
Born	Johannes Pieter Pronk Jr. (1940-03-16) 16 March 1940 (age 84) Scheveningen, Netherlands
Political party	Labour Party (1964–2013)
Spouse	Tineke Zuurmond ​ (m. 1966)​
Children	Carin Pronk Rochus Pronk
Residence(s)	The Hague, Netherlands
Alma mater	Rotterdam School of Economics (BEc, M.Econ)
Occupation	Politician diplomat economist researcher nonprofit director lobbyist activist author professor
Website	www.janpronk.nl

Johannes Pieter "Jan" Pronk Jr. (Dutch pronunciation: [jɑm ˈprɔŋk]; born 16 March 1940) is a retired Dutch politician and diplomat of the Labour Party (PvdA) and activist.

Pronk studied Economics at the Rotterdam School of Economics obtaining a Master of Economics degree and worked as a researcher at his alma mater and the Economics Institute from July 1960 until May 1971 and was also active as a political activist in the New Left movement. In the 1971 general election Pronk was elected to the House of Representatives on 11 May 1971 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for development cooperation. Pronk was also selected as a Member of the European Parliament on 13 March 1973 and dual served in both positions. After the 1972 general election Pronk was appointed as Minister for Development Cooperation in the Den Uyl cabinet taking office on 11 May 1973. The cabinet fell on 22 March 1977 just before the end of its term. After the 1977 general election Pronk returned to the House of Representatives serving from 8 June 1977 until his resignation on 8 September 1977 before returning on 16 January 1978 as a frontbencher and spokesperson for development cooperation and agriculture and fisheries. In July 1980 Pronk was nominated as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) taking office on 18 August 1980. After the 1986 general election Pronk returned to the House of Representatives on 3 June 1986 serving again as a frontbencher. After the 1989 general election Pronk was again appointed as Minister for Development Cooperation in the Lubbers III cabinet taking office on 7 November 1989. After 1994 general election Pronk continued his office in the Kok I cabinet. After 1998 general election Pronk was appointed as Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the Kok II cabinet taking office on 3 August 1998. In October 2001 Pronk announced that he would not stand for the 2002 general election and declined to serve in new cabinet position.

Pronk continued to be active in politics and in August 2002 was appointed as Special Envoy of the United Nations for the Earth Summit 2002 serving from 1 September 2002 until 31 December 2002, and also worked as a distinguished professor of International Development at the International Institute of Social Studies from January 2003 until July 2010. In June 2004 Pronk was nominated as the first Special Representative of the United Nations in Sudan serving 1 July 2004 until 10 December 2006.

Pronk retired from active politics at 66 and became active in the public sector as a non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government. Following his retirement Pronk continued to be active as an advocate and activist for human rights, the anti-war movement, social justice and for more European integration. Pronk is known for his abilities as a skilful negotiator and effective debater and continues to comment on political affairs as of 2024. He holds the distinction of as the second longest-serving cabinet member since 1850 with 17 years, 114 days.