Resident Coordinator Office Team ready for 2022

A two-day field mission at the picturesque ocean side of the island, away from the daily buzz of the One UN House, was indeed revitalizing for the Resident Coordinators Office (RCO) Team to set a good start for 2022.

The idyllic surroundings at the Saletoga Resort allowed the RCO Team to confidently express ideas and share knowledge on how best to fulfil their functions accordingly with the expectations of the United Nations Reforms given under the  Management and Accountability Framework (MAF)  and with the global development priorities of the United Nations.

The RCO Team is an integral part of the Resident Coordinator system, providing support for effective coordination of all UN agencies dealing with operational activities for development at the country level, regardless of their presence, to deliver as a One UN. These UN agencies form the UN Country Team, (UNCT) which is the main inter-agency mechanism in-country for inter-agency coordination, coherence and decision-making.

Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, the UNCT under the Multi-Country Office for the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau will tackle an eventful 2022.

2022 brings the 5 year UN Pacific Strategy for development support to its member countries to a close and proceeds to finalise the next 5 - year UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

The Cooperation Framework guides the UN development system’s contributions in-country and shapes the configuration of UN assets required, aligned with the country’s development challenges and gaps towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Within the two days retreat, the RCO team reflected on the lessons learnt in 2021 and how to apply them to future engagement. The Team concentrated on completing the RCO Annual Work Plan and the effectiveness of delivering and communicating as the One UN in the Pacific.

The Resident Coordinator (RC), Simona Marinescu, leads the UNCT of over 15 UN agencies. She is supported by the RCO Team of Development Coordination Officers to deliver the five key functions of the RC system. 

Team Leader and Strategic Planner – Klem Ryan

Economist – Oleksiy Ivaschenko

Partnership and Development Finance – Elisapeta Kerslake

Data Management, Results and Reporting - LaToya Lee

Programme Communications and Advocacy – Aterina Samasoni

Joint Programme Support Officer – Youle Beatty

Executive Assistant to the RC – Morita Sapolu