Jaco Cilliers

Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine

Jaco Cilliers assumed the role of Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine on 9 November 2022. Previously, he was Manager of Bangkok Regional Hub since August 2019, and prior to that, he served the organization as Chief, Regional Policy and Programme Support for Asia and the Pacific since September 2017. Simultaneous to that position, Cilliers served as Senior Advisor for Innovation and Business Development at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub. Between April 2011 to August 2017 Jaco was the Country Director of UNDP India and served as the Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP in Uzbekistan. In these roles ,he was responsible for the management and coordination of UNDP Programmes and Operations. From November 2005 to March 2011 he worked with UNDP Cyprus as Peace and Development Advisor (PDA), and Senior Programme Manager/Head of Office.

Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Cilliers worked for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as Deputy Regional Director for Southern and Central Africa, and their senior advisor for conflict, peace, and reconstruction. He held management positions for other international development organizations in various parts of the world, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war. He also worked as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis at George Mason University and taught seminars and courses in conflict, reconstruction, and peace at Sabanci University (Turkey), Nelson Mandela University (South Africa), and the University of Notre Dame (US).

Mr. Cilliers completed his Ph.D. and Master’s Degrees in recovery, reconstruction, and peacebuilding from George Mason University in the United States, and his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) and BA Honours (cum laude) degrees from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. He is passionate for mountain biking. He is married and has two children.