The new United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) for Seychelles and Mauritius, H.E. Ms. Lisa Singh, presented her credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawanat State House this morning, following her appointment by the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, in November 2022.
The President welcomed Ms. Singh to Seychelles and congratulated her on her new appointment, whilst extending the support of the Seychelles Government in the fulfillment of her mandate. The Head of State also expressed gratitude for the work being done by the Office of the Resident Coordinator (UNRCO) to enhance cooperation and improve coordination between the Governmentof Seychelles and the United Nations (UN) system.
“Ms. Singh, I wish to welcome you to Seychelles and on behalf of the Government of Seychelles, we are looking forward to further consolidate and building on the excellent relations that exist with the UN. I hope that your tenure will be a catalyst to expand new avenues of cooperation and I wish you the best of luck as you commence this new journey,” said the President.
The discussion between the Head of State and Ms. Singh concentrated on how Seychelles can strengthen its cooperation with the UNRCO, the continuous support and engagement of the UNRCO in its United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the implementation Strategic Partnership Framework for the 2019-2023 period, signed between the United Nations (UN) and the Government of Seychelles, the vulnerability of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the advancement of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), among other important topics.
Speaking to the local media after her accreditation, Ms. Singh describes the discussion with the President as “fruitful”, where they have elaborated on the on-going collaboration and the support the UN has been providing to Seychelles in meeting its ambition to make progress in its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She underlined that Seychelles has made tangible progress over the years, making it an inspiration for other countries in Africa, bearing in mind its vulnerability as an island country.
She hopes to make a positive impact during her tenure in office as UNRCO so that it brings tangible results so that it resonates with the lives of each Seychellois.
Ms. Lisa Singhis based in Mauritius.
Also present for the accreditation ceremony at State House was the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, Director General for Multilateral Affairs in the Foreign Affairs Department, Ms. Amenda Padayachy, WHO Representative for Seychelles, Dr. Rex Mpazanje, Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning/ RCO Team Leader, Mr. Robert Banamwana, Coordination Officer, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Seychelles, Mr. Alexander Mancham, Second Secretary in the Multilateral Affairs Division, Ms. Marion Etienne and Desk Officer for United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Foreign Affairs Department, Ms. Debra Freminot.