31 May 2023, Kabul – The new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Afghanistan, Stephen Rodriques, assumed his responsibilities in Kabul earlier this week.

Rodriques, a Jamaican national, takes up the role after last serving as UNDP’s Resident Representative in Liberia.

“This is a critical time for Afghanistan, and I undertake this new assignment with an acute sense of responsibility and a firm determination to see UNDP continue its work hand in hand with our national and international partners. What we are doing on the ground – providing access to basic human needs services, supporting women entrepreneurs, and implementing other life- and livelihood-saving initiatives – is absolutely critical to improving the wellbeing of millions of Afghans,” said Rodriques. 

Rodriques has also served as Resident Representative and Country Director for UNDP Rwanda (2015-2020) and Deputy Country Director in Indonesia (2010-2015). He worked as Programme Advisor in the Executive Office in UNDP New York (2005-2010) and was also Head of the Governance and Poverty Unit in the UNDP Jamaica multi-country office (2002-2005) and a part-time Lecturer in Political Science at the University of the West Indies (2004-2005).

Prior to joining UNDP, Stephen occupied various positions in the Jamaican Government, serving as Director of Social Policy in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development (1999-2000), Head of Planning and Development in the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (1996-1999) and Assistant to the Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (1993-1995).

Rodriques holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and both a Master of Philosophy in Government and Bachelor’s degree in International Relations (1^st Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. He speaks English and Spanish. 

Rodriques takes over the role from former UNDP Afghanistan Resident Representative, Abdallah Al Dardari, who served four years in Kabul before being appointed Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States. 

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Robert Few, Chief of Communications (a.i.), UNDP Afghanistan. Email: robert.few@undp.org

Farhad Zalmai, Partnerships and Communication Associate, UNDP Afghanistan. Email: farhad.zalmai@undp.org