The UN Resident Coordinator Office
The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Lebanon comprises of the heads of the 26 UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes (UNAFPs). As head of the UN Country Team, the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) leads, guides, and supports the work of the UNCT, ensuring effective coordination and cooperation across the mandates of each organisation. The Office of the Resident Coordinator (RCO) strengthens the joint activities of the United Nations system in support of Lebanon’s efforts towards implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The UN Resident Coordinator leads the UN Country Team in consultations with the Government to define and agree on the UN’s strategic response to development priorities.
The purpose of the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) is to maximise, in a coordinated fashion, the work of the UNCT so that the system can provide a collective, coherent and integrated response to national priorities and needs, within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international commitments.
There are five core functions for the UN RCO:
- Strategic planning;
- Development economics;
- Partnerships and development finance;
- Data and results management and reporting;
- Communications and advocacy.
Click here to meet the RCO team and here to meet the OCHA team.
The UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon
Imran Riza is the current UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon. Mr. Riza brings over 35 years of international experience across the United Nations System, mainly in field settings.
He was in Syria as United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator from 2019 to 2022. Prior to this, he served in Lebanon as Deputy Head of Mission and Director of the Division of Political Affairs, Civil Affairs and Strategic Communications of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Before UNIFIL, he served as the Regional Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries for the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UNHCR Representative for Jordan. With UNHCR, he has also served in Geneva, Sudan, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
Mr. Riza has also held positions with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome and as Senior Adviser to the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Lebanon, as well as with UNSCOL.
Mr. Riza holds a master’s degree in Social-Cultural Anthropology from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from McGill University.
Mr. Riza is a national of Pakistan.
