The UN Resident Coordinator Office
The Resident Coordinator (RC) system encompasses all organizations of the United Nations system dealing with operational activities for development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The RC system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level.
Under the One UN initiative, the role of the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) has been enhanced and strengthened to provide the required leadership and impetus for the UN in the country. The RCO is working towards supporting the Government of Pakistan in fulfilling its international commitments, especially on the SDGs. Furthermore, the RCO in Pakistan, as one of the first One UN pilot countries, is also leading the One UN initiative towards a strengthened UN system in the country, for the benefit of the people of Pakistan with the best value for money.
As the chair of the UN Country Team (UNCT), comprising the head of all UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, the RCO plays a central role at the country level in making possible the coordination of UN operational activities for development in order to ensure alignment of UN assistance with national development priorities, plans and capacity building in the context of internationally agreed treaty obligations and development goals, and placing the UN centrally in development and international cooperation in the country. The Resident Coordinator’s Office is responsible for the operational activities for development, policy and political affairs.
The Resident Coordinator leads the UN country teams in Pakistan and is the designated representative of the Secretary-General for development operations. Working closely with national governments, the Resident Coordinator and the country team advocate the interests and mandates of the UN system while drawing on the support and guidance of the entire UN family. The RC acts on behalf of the UN system in an impartial way, strategically positioning the UN in the country. The RC upholds and promotes the UN’s responsibilities with regard to preventing and responding to serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, including the responsibilities of UN entities and staff in this regard.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan
Mr. Mohamed Yahya joined as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan on January 21, 2024. He serves as the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.
Mohamed Yahya of Somalia has more than 20 years of experience in development and peacebuilding. Prior to his appointment, he served as the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Nigeria, where he oversaw one of UNDP’s largest country portfolios in Africa with presence in five out of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
Before that, he worked as the Coordinator for Africa Regional Programme for the UNDP based in Addis Ababa, where he was responsible for regional development initiatives in support of the African Union and Africa’s Regional Economic Communities. Previously, Mohamed held positions with UNDP as post-conflict recovery specialist supporting UN interventions in Afghanistan and Liberia, as well as coordinator for a UN joint initiative on natural resource management. Before joining the UN, he worked as a senior peacebuilding advisor for the non-governmental organisation International Alert.
Mr. Yahya holds a master’s degree in Violence, Conflict and Development and a bachelor’s degree in Politics and History from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London).
