NEWLY APPOINTED UNITED NATIONS RESIDENT COORDINATOR MR. RICHARD STEPHEN HOWARD PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

The official presentation took place at the Office of the Minister in Port Moresby.

Minister Tkatchenko welcomed Mr. Howard to Papua New Guinea and congratulated him on the appointment. “I am looking forward to working closely with the UN and work towards bringing long-term benefits to the people of Papua New Guinea,” said Minister Tkatchenko.

In presenting his credentials, Mr Howard expressed his enthusiasm for working in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea and development partners to promote efficiency and accountability as the organization develops its next Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the UN system’s five-year programming instrument that will capture the entire footprint of the UN agencies, funds and programmes in the country. “The UN is here to support the Government in delivering results for the Papua New Guineans,” said Mr Howard.

The Resident Coordinator is the representative of the UN Secretary General in Papua New Guinea and leads the UN Country Team, consisting of 17 resident and non-resident UN agencies, funds and programmes.

Mr Howard has more than 30 years of experience in management and research experience, including economic growth and decent job creation, gender equality and inclusion with the private sector, non-government organizations, and the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific.

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BACKGROUND NOTE

Richard Howard of the United States is the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea. He was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the host Government’s approval.  He took up his post on 7 December 2022 and will serve in his role as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Designated Official for Security.

Mr Howard has more than 30 years of experience in management and research experience, including economic growth and decent job creation, gender equality and inclusion with the private sector, non-government organizations, and the United Nations in Asia and the Pacific. He recently served as the United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim, and International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Director in Nepal.  



Prior to this, Mr. Howard worked as Senior Regional Specialist with ILO in Bangkok, Thailand, Chief Technical Advisor, Private Sector Partnerships on Health for Internal Migrants in Beijing, China, as Asia Regional Programme Manager, Private Sector Partnerships for Health with FHI360 (formerly Family Health International) and as Director of Research (Industry Analysis and Market Strategies) with Castle Asia both in Jakarta, Indonesia. 



Mr. Howard was a Fulbright scholar in Indonesia with research focusing on gender, ethnicity, and national identity. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina. 

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES

Nicole Jeune

Programme, Communications and Advocacy,

UN Resident Coordinator's Office

Email: nicole.mimarijeune@un.org