The UN Resident Coordinator Office

The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office supports the work of the UN Resident Coordinator. The UN Resident Coordinator leads the UN country team in consultations with the Government to define and agree on the UN strategic response to the Government’s development priorities. This response is captured in the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2017-2021. 

The UNDAF is a medium term results framework that describes the collective vision and response of the UN system to national development priorities. The UNDAF describes how the UN country team will contribute to the achievement of development results based on a common country analysis and the UN comparative advantage. Currently, the UN framework of work for The Gambia is under the 2017-2021 UNDAF.

The office coordinates activities related to common programming including Agenda 2030, joint programmes, joint programming activities and development coordination work. This is done in conformity with the objectives and priorities of the Government, and the mandates and objectives of the United Nations agencies.

The UN Resident Coordinator Office has five core functions:

• Strategic Planning
• Economics
• Partnerships and development finance
• Data and results management and reporting
• Communications and advocacy

The Resident Coordinator a.i. in The Gambia

Dr. Desta Tiruneh is a national of Ethiopia who took up his duty as the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in The Gambia in September 2017. He joined the WHO in 2001 and served as an advisor in immunization programs as well as in the prevention, control, elimination, and eradication of communicable and non-communicable diseases/conditions for more than 17 years.

Prior to joining WHO, he started his professional career as a medical doctor, served as an assistant professor in a medical school, and held various positions in managing health programs and offices at district, regional and national levels. He earned his MD and MPH degrees from the University of Addis Ababa. Dr. Tiruneh is a national of Ethiopia. He is married and has two daughters.