UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Levan Bouadze, completes his mission as the Head of the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji today and will take up his new assignment in New York in mid-January 2023.
Pending the arrival of Mr. Bouadze’s successor, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Yemesrach Workie, will serve as Officer-in-Charge and an interim Resident Representative will soon join.
As he concludes his mission, Mr. Bouadze said, “It has been a privilege to serve in the region, and over the past three and half years, I have witnessed the strength and resilience of the Pacific people as they continue to work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”
He added, “It’s bittersweet to announce the end of my mission. I will miss the Pacific greatly. And I thank all our partners, colleagues, and friends for the great collaboration and friendships. I will leave with great memories of the people of Fiji and the Pacific.”
Mr. Bouadze’s mission coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Yasa that hit Fiji in 2020, and Tonga’s Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcanic eruption in 2022. Responding to these crises, UNDP has worked closely with governments, partners, and UN agencies to address its impacts through key sectors such as tourism, labour, health care, agriculture, digitalization, governance, and environment.
During his mission, the Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD) 2023-2027 for the Pacific Office in Fiji was developed for member countries that will set UNDP’s strategic plan for the next five years.
Mr. Bouadze said, “The MCPD reflects UNDP’s valuable partnership and mutual collaboration with the Governments of the Pacific Island Countries and our commitment to leave no one behind in the 2030 Agenda. I am confident my successor will ensure this for the region.”
In the Pacific, UNDP provides regional and country support to ten countries – Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – and regional support to five countries – Cook Islands, Niue Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tokelau.
A Georgian by descent, Mr. Bouadze has worked in Georgia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and the United States. Away from work, Mr. Bouadze is an avid rugby supporter and has attended some of big rugby matches in Suva. Mr. Bouadze and his family leave our shores this evening for New York.
Source: UNDP Release
