Last Wednesday, incoming United Nations Resident Coordinator for PNG presented his credentials to Foreign Affairs Minister, Rimbink Pato. Mr Gianluca Rampolla replaces outgoing UN Resident Coordinator, Roy Trivedy, who left the country in December last year.
Mr Rampolla discussed with Minister Pato prospects for strengthening the strategic partnership between the government and the UN in realising the Sustainable Development Goals, and priorities for national development and peacebuilding.
He presented Minister Pato with the Letter of Credentials from UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, appointing Rampolla as the new UN Resident Coordinator for the country.
“I am humbled and honoured to work with the Government to support the people of Papua New Guinea at this historical juncture, with the Government hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) meetings this year and the opportunity it provides to boost the work on the Sustainable Development Goals,” Mr. Rampolla said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato said the PNG government has built a fantastic working relationship with the UN System, and that the Foreign Affairs Department has enjoyed a very constructive engagement with the United Nations.
“I hope we continue to work together on all the issues Papua New Guinea is concerned including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Bougainville referendum, human rights, and gender,” Minister Pato said.
Prior to Mr Rampolla’s appointment as UN Resident Coordinator, he served in several field assignments in Africa, Europe and the headquarters in New York, USA.
Mr Rampolla looks forward to working with the 14 UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in-country as well as the Government and development partners on implementing the UN Development Assistance Framework 2018-2022. The Framework, aligned to Papua New Guinea’s political cycle, represents the UN’s partnership with the Government in the areas of Inclusive Human Development & Equitable Services; Inclusive & Sustainable Growth; Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, Biodiversity Conservation, Strengthened Climate & Disaster Resilience; and Promoting Inclusive, Governance, Justice & Peace.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator is the highest-ranking UN official in the country. This role is crucial to the success of the United Nations in reaching the goals in each country it serves.
