Metro Manila, 29 Oct 2020 – In a virtual courtesy call, the newly appointed Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines, Dr. Selva Ramachandran, presented his letter of credence to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr.

During their meeting, Secretary Locsin recognized UNDP’s work in complementing the Philippine government’s response and recovery work in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and expressed appreciation of UNDP’s assistance to the government in the capture and analysis of data for well-informed policy and decision-making in response to the pandemic.  

In turn, Dr. Selva reiterated UNDP’s steadfast commitment to support the government in effectively managing the COVID-19 crisis and lay the foundations for an inclusive recovery by building capacity for anticipatory governance and resilience especially in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas, and regain momentum towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals. He also highlighted the importance of digitalization and green solutions in achieving SDGs.

Dr. Selva Ramachandran, a Malaysian national, is a seasoned development practitioner with more than 27 years in the development sector. Prior to his appointment as the Resident Representative of UNDP Philippines, he served as the UNDP Resident Representative and Country Director of UNDP Sudan from 2015 to 2020. He also served as the Country Director of UNDP Libya (2014 to June 2015); Chief of North East Asia and Mekong Division, Regional Bureau of Asia & Pacific, New York (2010 to 2014); and Country Director of UNDP Yemen (2007 to 2010). He was the Chief of Regional Programme for Regional Bureau of Asia & Pacific, New York (2004 to 2007), Deputy Chief of Southeast Asia and Pacific Division, Regional Bureau for Asia Pacific, New York (2003 to 2004) and Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Kazakhstan (2000 to 2003). Selva started his career with UNDP Malaysia as the National Programme Officer of UNDP (1995 to 2000). Before joining UNDP, he worked as the Manager of Australian Aid Programme, Australian High Commission, Malaysia (1993 ‑ July 1995); and Lecturer of Population Studies, Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya (1984 ‑ May 1988).

With global experience spanning from South and East Asia, the Pacific, and Central Asia to the Arab states and North America, Dr. Selva brings expertise in the areas of poverty alleviation and sustainable development; governance and rule of law; social inclusion; gender equality; community security, stabilization and peace building; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; climate change and renewable energy; disaster management; partnering against violent extremism; and innovation for development and New Ways of Working in the context of humanitarian-development peace nexus.

Dr. Selva holds a PhD in Asian and International Studies from Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. He also holds also holds a Master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Population Studies from University of Malaya.

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