UN Resident Coordinator pledges support for country’s development
The newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Ghana, Ms Christine Evans-Klock, has said she is delighted to join UN colleagues working hard in the country to support the development aspirations of the government and people of Ghana.
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“I look forward to consolidating the role of the UN system as a key government partner in achieving development goals,” she added.
Ms Evans-Klock made the statement during a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hanna Tetteh, in Accra.
She was accompanied by Ms Susan Ngongi, the UNICEF Resident Representative, who acted as UN Resident Coordinator from March 2014 to the end of the year, and Mr Dominic Sam, UNDP Country Director.
Increased support
Ms Evans-Klock, who assumed her new position early this month, pledged increased support for the government to achieve development targets.
Welcoming Ms Evans-Klock, Ms Tetteh congratulated her on her appointment and promised the government’s support to her in delivering on the mandate of the UN system in Ghana.
Ms Tetteh and Ms Evans-Klock discussed the Ebola Virus Disease, its devastating impact on the epicentre countries, the regional implications and global response to the crisis.
They also considered the early recovery assessments being undertaken by the UN, World Bank, European Union (EU), AfDB and the Economic Commission for Africa, in close collaboration with governments of the three most affected countries.
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The discussion also touched on dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals, which succeed the Millennium Development Goals, after 2015.
Work experience
Prior to her appointment, Ms Evans-Klock worked with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for 19 years. From 2006 to 2014, she was the Director of the Skills and Employability Department in Geneva, working with member states to bridge the world of education to the world of work.
She was assigned to Bangkok as the Director of ILO’s sub-regional office for East Asia from 2003 to 2006. From 1999 to 2002 she was Director of an In-Focus Programme in Geneva managing the start-up and implementation of ILO’s new research and technical assistance strategy to promote decent work in small enterprises.
Ms Evans-Klock was a labour market economist working with the Employment and Labour Market Policies Branch in Geneva from 1995 to 1999. During the early part of the 1980s she served with UNIDO as an Assistant Industrial Development Officer and with the World Health Organisation as a Technical Officer.
She is from the United States of America and holds an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University and a PhD in Labour Economics from Boston University. She speaks Spanish and English.
She takes over from Ms Ruby Sandhu-Rojon who served as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative until March 2014.