Who are the decision makers?

The key decision makers in the UNDP Multi Country Office in Samoa are:

Ms Aliona Niculita, Resident Representative 
Mr. Paolo Dalla Stella, Deputy Resident Representative 
Ms. Ida Siregar, Operations Manager
Mr. Aussie Simanu, Assistant Resident Representative - Environment & Climate Change Unit
Ms. Gaualofa M. Saaga, Assistant Resident Representative - Governance and Poverty Reduction Unit

The Resident Representative is the most senior official for the MCO. The Resident Representative is ultimately accountable for the quality and sustainability of UNDP interventions in the four programming countries under the purview of the MCO and for also ensuring that the MCO is in full compliance with UNDP policies and procedures.

The UNDP MCO works in partnership with the four Governments (Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau), non-Government organizations, civil society and the private sector, as well as international development partners and other United Nations agencies. Within each of the four programme countries, the Government has designated the line Ministry dealing with aid coordination as the Government Coordinating Agency ensuring that UNDP provides the most relevant support to their governments.

About 90 percent of its project portfolio is implemented by Government line ministries. The overarching aim of UNDP is to “make a difference in Pacific People’s lives” by supporting the progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in all four programme countries. Through these partnerships and the successful implementation of programmes, the Governments of Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau and their citizens have benefited.