KABUL - Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez, the new Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan, arrived in Kabul in early April.

“I’m very glad to be in Afghanistan and am looking forward to working with the Government, Civil Society, UNAMA and the broader UN family, and in true partnership with the international community, towards sustainable human development,” said Mr. Rodriguez.

Mr. Rodriguez, a Canadian of Chilean descent, has been with the UNDP since 1991, most recently serving as the Country Director in Somalia. Before that he served as Country Director in Pakistan. He spoke with UNAMA about some of his goals while in Afghanistan

“The main goal for UNDP is to work in close collaboration with the Government and within the framework of UN Coherence to prepare the strategy and programmes for the transition and subsequent transformation periods when we will continue to support the Afghan people,” he said.

“It’s key to align UNDP programmes with the Government and within a coherent UN system. UNDP will utilize its comparative advantage and work in line with national development goals in such areas as rule of rule of law, electoral support, peace and reintegration, and sub-national governance and development.”

Mr. Rodriguez trained in development and development economics in Chile, Canada, India and Australia and has Masters degrees from the University of British Columbia and Carleton University and has completed PhD Course work at the Australian National University.