Dili, 15 december 2022 (TATOLI)– Newly appointed United Nations Representative in Timor-Leste, Funmi Balogun, presented her letter of accreditation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno at a ceremony held at the MNEC today.
The new UN Representative, Balogun in the meeting with the Foreign Minister Magno expressed her honor to be assigned by the UN Secretary-General to represent the UN system in Timor-Leste.
“It is indeed a privilege that I have been assigned to serve Timor-Leste, which has hugely contributed to peace, democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression as one of the world’s youngest countries,” the UN Resident Coordinator said.
Balogun promised to support the country in its sustainable development.
“I am looking forward to supporting the country and fostering an ‘enabling environment for a new era of ‘national ownership & leadership’ of sustainable development,”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adaljiza Magno welcomed Ms. Balogun to Timor-Leste and congratulated her on the appointment.
Magno also expressed confidence that Timor-Leste & UN relations will further deepen under her leadership and at the same time she thanked the UN System for its continued support of implementing the country’s development priorities and achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN presence in Timor-Leste consists of so far 21 resident and non-resident agencies.
Ms. Olufunmilayo Abosede Balogun-Alexander has more than 30 years of experience working on and leading sustainable development, peace, and humanitarian portfolios at a senior level within the United Nations and international organizations.
Prior to her appointment as United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Balogun-Alexander served as Head of Humanitarian Normative and Coordination Action, at UN Women, where she led UN Women’s global response to humanitarian crises and supported UN Women Country Offices to strengthen gender mainstreaming in UN-led Humanitarian Coordinated response in crisis-affected countries.
Before that, she worked as UN Women Country Representative to UN Women, Deputy Representative, UN Women Ethiopia, Director, External Relations and Advocacy, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Africa Region, and Kenya Programme Manager for the UN Development Fund for Women.
Balogun-Alexander led and supported multi-functional teams at the country level to be fit for purpose and to achieve impact and results, particularly on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. She led UN inter-agency coordination to coordinate joint assessments and develop and implement joint UN programs on gender-based violence, governance, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
She has coordinated national support and government priorities for development and social policy funding, including co-creating and driving solutions around pressing challenges, including gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and minority groups, to ensure that no one is left behind in achieving the SDGs. Olufunmilayo Abosede Balogun-Alexander has established and maintained strategic partnerships with governments, intergovernmental commissions, bilateral donors, media, and the private sector for innovative funding and programs.
Ms. Balogun-Alexander has a master’s degree in Gender and Development from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK, and a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
