The new Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Stephen Rodriques, has assured the government and people of Liberia that during his stewardship in Liberia UNDP will do big things to change the lives of many Liberians.
He made the disclosure on Monday, January 25, 2021, when he presented his credential to Foreign Minister H.E. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Capitol Hill.
Rodriques said since 1977 UNDP has been working in Liberia in many areas of the country’s development.
He pledged to build on where his predecessor has left, noting that under his tenure as UN Resident Coordinator here Liberians should expect the highest level of service and contribution to the country’s developmental agenda.
“Our work is also in line with the national strategy and will do nothing outside of the national strategy. We will fall in line with government’s ‘Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD)’,” he said.
With support from New York, Rodriques noted that UNDP will work with communities in Liberia to create jobs, adding that he wants to develop a broad relationship with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to do big things along with the government.
Already, Rodriques said he has started discussing with other international partners in Liberia in order to establish a basket fund for the presidential and general elections in 2023.
The UNDP Resident Representative also used the occasion to commend H.E. President George Manneh Weah for the level of leadership and commitment shown during the just-ended special senatorial election.