Secretary-General Appoints Ulrika Modéer of Sweden Director of Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy, United Nations Development Programme

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Ulrika Modéer of Sweden as Director of the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Ms. Modéer will succeed Michael O’Neill of United Kingdom to whom the Secretary‑General is grateful for his dedicated service and commitment to UNDP.

Ms. Modéer currently serves as State Secretary for International Development Cooperation and Climate and has been instrumental in reshaping Sweden’s international development cooperation to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  During her tenure as State Secretary, Ms. Modéer has contributed to global policy on issues of relevance to UNDP, including on gender equality, United Nations reform, financing of the multilateral system, climate and environment, conflict prevention and the humanitarian‑development nexus.  Ms. Modéer combines a strong policy background with experience from parliamentary work as well as from civil society, and has had several assignments in Latin America (Bolivia, Guatemala) and Africa (Mozambique, Southern Africa).  Born in 1969, Ms. Modéer holds a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.  She is married, with three children.