Secretary-General Appoints Damien Mama of Benin United Nations Resident Coordinator in Burundi

On 25 September, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Damien Mama of Benin as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Burundi, with the host Government’s approval.

Mr. Mama has over 20 years of leadership experience in the areas of sustainable development, humanitarian affairs and peacebuilding.  At the United Nations, he most recently served as Resident Coordinator and Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Togo, after holding other senior positions, including Chief of Office for the operations and rule of law pillar with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).  He also served as Director of stabilization and recovery with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Togo, Policy and Planning Adviser with the Office of the Resident Coordinator in South Sudan, and Regional Electoral Coordinator with the United Nations Operation in Burundi.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Mr. Mama worked with non‑governmental organizations in West Africa in the areas of governance and civic education.

He holds a master’s degree in development management from Ruhr University of Bochum in Germany and a master’s degree in geography and regional planning from the University of Abomey‑Calavi in Benin.