Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Maria Do Valle Ribeiro of Ireland

 

As Deputy Special Representative in Guinea-Bissau

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Maria do Valle Ribeiro of Ireland as his Deputy Special Representative in Guinea-Bissau, where she will also serve as United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative.

Ms. do Valle Ribeiro will succeed Gana Fofang of Cameroon, who has served as Deputy Special Representative since February 2011.  The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Fofang’s commitment and dedicated service during his tenure in Guinea-Bissau.

Ms. do Valle Ribeiro possesses more than 25 years of development and humanitarian experience in progressively senior leadership positions with the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

She is currently the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Angola.  Prior to that appointment, she served as United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Mauritania from 2008 to 2010.

Ms. do Valle Ribeiro held various senior positions with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), including Regional Chief of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Regional Office for West and Central Africa from 2006 to 2008; Representative for Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago from 2004 to 2006, and Deputy Representative in Algeria from 2002 to 2004.

Before joining the United Nations, she worked for Save the Childrenfrom 1992 to 1999, and for Concern from 1984 to 1990.

Born in Portugal in 1957, Ms. do Valle Ribeiro holds a Masters of Science degree in economic development policy and planning from the University of Wales.

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For information media • not an official record