The UN Resident Coordinator Office

The UN Country Team, representing the UN development system in Libya, is comprised of 17 resident and non-resident UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes and UNSMIL working to support implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals for all people in Libya.

The purpose of the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) is to maximize, through strategic coordination, the work of the UNCT to provide a collective, coherent, and integrated response to national priorities and needs, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments.

The UN in Libya has in place a United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023-25 that guides its collective work in support of Libya’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. To support implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, the UN aims to advance political stability and reconciliation, including through unification of more effective, democratic, inclusive, and representative national institutions. Work is underway to support the unification and strengthening of security, justice, rule of law, and human rights institutions to enable them to better promote and protect human rights based on the principles of inclusivity, non-discrimination, and equality. The UN in Libya is also focused on working with counterparts on sustainable economic development, social and human capital and  

The Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Libya performs the following key functions:

  • Strategic planning
  • Development economics
  • Partnerships and development finance
  • Data and results management and reporting
  • Communications and advocacy

The UN Resident Coordinator in Libya

Mr. Aeneas Chapinga Chuma of Zimbabwe has been appointed the Secretary-General as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for Libya. Mr. Chuma succeeds Georgette Gagnon of Canada, who completed her assignment in September 2024. Mr. Chuma will be based in Tripoli.

Mr. Chuma brings with him a wealth of development and leadership experience. Before this appointment, Mr. Chuma served as Eritrea's United Nations Resident Coordinator. Mr. Chuma held several positions within the United Nations, including serving as ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa from 2014 to 2017.  He was appointed acting United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia in October 2018. He also served as Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Mission, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in Liberia from 2012-2014.

Mr. Chuma also served as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya from 2008 to 2012 and Zambia from 2003 to 2008. From 2000 to 2003, he was Mozambique's UN Deputy Resident Representative.

 He also held various positions with the United Nations Development Programme in New York, Oman, and Zimbabwe.

Mr. Chuma holds a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.