Nadi, Fiji - United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, has arrived in Fiji for her first official visit to the country. 

In country from 10-14 October, Ms. Wignaraja will start her mission by meeting the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of the Fijian Parliament, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua and will congratulate her and the people of Fiji for the Fiji Day celebrations. She will also host dialogues with Ministers and other Government officials, development partners, the private sector and civil society on development opportunities for Fiji.

Ms. Wignaraja will also visit communities to witness firsthand the effect of climate change and community’s efforts to build resilience. She will also launch the second phase of the Blue Accelerator Grant Scheme oriented towards promoting blue and green businesses. Upon her arrival, Ms. Wignaraja visited Nadi Airport viewing Border Management project activities based on strengthening capacities and systems for inter-agency and cross-regional cooperation. 

The mission to Fiji will also see Ms. Wignaraja discuss UNDP's work and contribution to Fiji's development priorities, as well as affirming UNDP's support toward the promotion of good governance, furthering climate resilience, advancing gender equality, and pursuing inclusive growth for transformative change right across the country.

Prior to commencing her mission to the Pacific, the Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific met the Honorable Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, together with UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner. Before arriving to Fiji, Ms. Wignaraja also visited the Solomon Islands as part of her mission to the Pacific region.

Ms. Wignaraja assumed her role as United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific on 18 November 2019.  

Ms. Wignaraja has over 25 years of experience with the UN’s mission and UNDP’s role in the sustainable development agenda and has deep knowledge and experience of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the global, regional, and country-level workings of UNDP, across policy, programme, management, and operations.

UNDP has been working in the Pacific since 1971, when the first office was opened in Fiji with the signing of Standard Basic Assistance Agreement (SBAA). Since then, UNDP has been active in the region. UNDP Pacific Office is growing its support in the pacific with an envisaged support of USD $462 million over the next five years. UNDP's Pacific Multi-Country Office in the Pacific provides regional and country support to 10 countries - Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu - and regional support to five countries - Cook Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tokelau - together with a total population of 2.4 million people.  

UNDP's work in Fiji and the Pacific focuses on effective governance, inclusive growth, and resilience and climate change.    

For further media enquiries please contact: 
Ashna Kumar, Communications Associate, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji - ashna.kumar@undp.org