UNDP Resident Representative presents credentials to Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs

March 18, 2019

From the left: UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. Selva Ramachandran, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Aldirdiri Mohammed Ahmed. Photo: UNDP © 2019

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative (RR), Dr. Selva Ramachandran, presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Aldirdiri Mohammed Ahmed.

During the presentation, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, March 18, 2019, the Minister congratulated Dr. Selva for his appointment to the new role of leading UNDP’s development work in the country.

The two also discussed priority areas of collaboration between the Government of Sudan and UNDP. The RR reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to partnering with the Government in the implementation of its development agenda.

Prior to his appointment as UNDP Resident Representative in Sudan, Selva was Country Director in UNDP at Sudan since July 2015. He also served as the Country Director of UNDP Libya (2014 to June 2015); Chief of North East Asia and Mekong Division, Regional Bureau of Asia & Pacific, New York (2010 to 2014); and Country Director of UNDP Yemen (2007 to 2010). He was the Chief of Regional Programme for Regional Bureau of Asia & Pacific, New York (2004 to 2007), Deputy Chief of Southeast Asia and Pacific Division, Regional Bureau for Asia Pacific, New York (2003 to 2004); and Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Kazakhstan (2000 to 2003). Selva started his career as National Programme Officer with UNDP Malaysia (1995 to 2000). Before joining UNDP, he worked as the Manager of Australian Aid Programme, Australian High Commission, Malaysia (1993 ‑ July 1995) and Lecturer of Population Studies, Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya (1984 ‑ May 1988).

In the last 26 years of his career, Dr. Selva has acquired extensive experience in senior leadership, programme management and development policy advice, combined with substantive knowledge on strategic programme development in multi-sectoral environments.  He has a strong analytical track record, and proven ability in resource mobilization, partnership building with governments, multilateral and bilateral organizations, private sector, academia and civil society.

Selva holds a PhD in Asian and International Studies from Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. He also holds a Master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Population Studies from University of Malaya.