ALIONA NICULITA THE NEW U.N.D.P REPRESENTATIVE TO SAMOA.

New UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Aliona Niculita welcomed by the Honorable Prime Minister, Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa (Photo: Supplied)

The official presentation of her credentials to the Government of Samoa today has made Ms. Aliona Niculita the new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Samoa.

The Hon. Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, welcomed Ms. Niculita's credentials and expressed her eagerness to collaborate closely with Ms. Niculita and UNDP to advance access to climate financing, combat climate change, empower women, and end violence against women, among many other goals. After serving as the UNDP's deputy resident representative in Pakistan, Ms. Niculita now relocates to the Pacific. She has almost 25 years of experience working with international development. 

Prior to that, she worked in a variety of capacities at UNDP's country offices and headquarters, including those of Senior Assistant Resident Representative and Programme Analyst in Moldova, South Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic, and Programme Specialist on detail assignment in the Region. She previously held the positions of UNDP Resident Representative a.i. and Deputy Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic (2015–19).

Ms. Niculita started her career in 1993 as a government employee for the Moldovan government, where she was born. She holds degrees in history from the State University of Moldova and law from the Law Academy.

She replaces Mr. Jorn Sorensen whose term came to an end in September, after four years in office.

The UNDP Multi-Country Office has been in Samoa since July 1979, servicing the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau. The new Resident Representative will also be presenting her credentials to the governments of the other islands under her portfolio.