Somalia welcomes new UN Development Programme resident representative

The United Nations Development Programme has welcomed on May 23 its new resident representative for its country program in Somalia, Jocelyn Mason, to Mogadishu.

Jocelyn Mason is joining UN Development Programme Somalia from UN Development Programme (UNDP) Afghanistan where he was acting resident representative for the Afghanistan Country Office.

"He will lead the UNDP country office on a portfolio of key development programs which support the Government of Somalia, and Somali people, to meet national development priorities, and to respond to and build resilience to drought and climate crises," the UN agency said in a statement issued in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, as reported by Xinhua.

Jocelyn Mason's career in development spans over two decades, including as country director of UNDP Mozambique from 2008 to 2012, as chief of staff for UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery from 2012 to 2014 and as directorate manager for UNDP's Bureau for Policy and program support in 2014 to 2015.

Mason takes over the role from former UNDP Somalia acting resident representative, George Conway, who after six years in the role, was appointed as acting deputy special representative of the UN Secretary-General and acting UN humanitarian and resident coordinator for Somalia.

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