By Iliya Kure
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres Tuesday announced the appointment of Alain Noudéhou of Benin Republic, as his Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). He will also serve as United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr. Noudéhou succeeds Eugene Owusu of Ghana, who completed his assignment in July.
A statement from the UN says, the Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Owusu’s dedicated service with the United Nations in South Sudan.
Currently, Chief of Staff and Director of the Executive Office of UNDP in New York, Mr. Noudéhou brings to the position extensive experience in international development and humanitarian affairs (since 2016).
He previously served as the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the People’s Republic of China (2014-2016) and UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Zimbabwe (2010-2014).
He became UNDP Country Director in Tanzania in 2007 and served as UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Rwanda in 2004.
Before joining United Nations, Mr. Noudéhou worked in senior positions from 1996 to 2002 for then CHF International Inc., an international non-governmental organization, currently named Global Communities, Partners for Good.
Mr. Noudéhou holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
He completed his undergraduate degree at Tsinghua University in China in 1990 and speaks English, Chinese, French, and Fon.
Born in 1966, he is married and has two children