The new Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Bhutan, Karla Robin Hershey, presented her credentials to the Prime Minister, Dr Lotay Tshering, at the Gyalyong Tshogkhang today. Karla Robin Hershey is the second UN Resident Coordinator in the country following the reforms in the UN development system in 2019.
Gerald Daly was the first UN Resident Coordinator in the country post the reforms. He completed his tenure.
Before the current appointment, the new UN Resident Coordinator served as the representative and Country Director of the World Food Programme or WFP in Liberia.
She was also the Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the UNDP in Serbia and Lesotho. According to the UN’s official website, Bhutan’s new UN Resident Coordinator brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in development coordination, and international relations acquired at the UN and beyond.
She has also profound experience in resource mobilisation and humanitarian affairs across the globe. Karla Robin Hershey began her United Nations career as a Humanitarian Affairs Officer with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Angola.
She is from the US and holds MBA from the American InterContinental University.
The Office of the United Nations in Bhutan was established in early 1974. Since then, it has been the country’s key development partner in fostering inclusive social and economic development.
By Pema Lhaden
