7 December 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) announced that it has finalized the selection of 126 UNDP Resident Representatives as part of the process to “delink” the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system from UNDP. Until now, the role of RC has been combined with that of UNDP’s Resident Representative. The candidates for Resident Representative will be submitted to the respective countries’ governments for approval prior to appointment.

In May 2018 the UN General Assembly approved a set of changes for “repositioning” the UN development system, including reforms to the RC system. The changes and accompanying new funding scheme aim to ensure the RC system is independent from any agency, more transparent and accountable to Member States, and fully dedicated to the 2030 Agenda.

Announcing the results of the selection process, which was completed in four months, Steiner said it had been rigorous, objective and transparent. He said 3,500 applications had been received from inside and outside UNDP, and the resulting group of Resident Representatives is an “all new talent pool,” which is geographically diverse and gender-balanced 50:50.

The agreed reforms to the UN development system are outlined on the UN’s reform website. An update on the status of the reforms can be found in this policy brief from September 2018, and a summary of the Secretary-General’s September briefing on RC system reform is available here. [UNDP Press Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub coverage of UN reform] [Fifth Committee decision to support RC system reforms]