Moderated Dialogue “ Countries in special situations: Building resilience” | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Background
Documentation

Background

• How best to address the needs of countries in special situations in the context of universal goals and a universal development agenda?

• Are we succeeding in building resilience in vulnerable countries and how can these gains be consolidated?

Biographies

Ms. Margareta Wahlström

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG)

Ms. Margareta Wahlström

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG)

Margareta Wahlström has over 30 years of extensive national and international experience in humanitarian relief operations in disaster and conflict areas, and in institution-building to strengthen national capacity for disaster preparedness, response and for risk reduction. In 2008, she was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. Ms. Wahlström is based in Geneva and heads UNISDR, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Ms. Wahlström has an academic background in economic history, political science, social anthropology, archaeology and philosophy of science.

Mr. Dasho Sonam Tshering

Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan

Mr. Dasho Sonam Tshering

Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bhutan

Sonam Tshering holds a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. He has worked for Buthan’s government since 2000 serving as Director of the Department of Power, and after that as Director of the Department of Energy. Currently, he works as Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs since 2007, where he is directly responsible for overseeing policy matters in connection with Energy, Hydromet Services, Trade, Industry, Cottage and Small Industries, Geology and Mines and Intellectual Property.

Ms. Fatimetou Abdel Malick

Mayor of Tevragh-Zeina, Mauritania and Chair of the African Elected Women Network

Ms. Fatimetou Abdel Malick

Mayor of Tevragh-Zeina, Mauritania and Chair of the African Elected Women Network

Fantimetou studied engineering in Belgium. During her career, she has served in different positions including as Secretary General of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Urbanism and Habitat, and as Project Manager at the office of the Prime Minister. She was elected Mayor of Tevragh-Zeina in Mauritania in 2001 and re-elected two times in 2008 and 2013, position that she currently holds. She also serves currently as President of the African Elected Women Network. During her career, she has been honoured with the medal of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2005, and she has been named Champion for Resilience by the United Nations in 2013.

Mr. Samuel Tumiwa

Deputy Representative, North American Representative Office, Asian Development Bank

Mr. Samuel Tumiwa

Deputy Representative, North American Representative Office, Asian Development Bank

Samuel Tumiwa holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the College of Wooster in Ohio, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Ohio University. He has worked over 20 years as a development professional. He has served in the office of the Director General of ADB’s Regional and Sustainable Development Department, and also in the Energy Division of the South Asia Regional Department. Currently, Mr. Tumiwa is the Deputy Representative of the Asian Development Bank’s North American Representative Office in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Lino Pascal Briguglio

Professor of Economics, University of Malta

Mr. Lino Pascal Briguglio

Professor of Economics, University of Malta

Lino Briguglio holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Exeter (UK) and a Special Diploma in Social Studies from the University of Oxford. He was formerly head of the Economics Department and of the Banking and Finance Department of the University of Malta and director of the University Gozo Campus. He currently directs the Islands and Small States Institute. Professor Briguglio has acted as consultant to several international organizations including the UN Department of Policy Coordination, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, CARICOM, the Commonwealth Secretariat and SOPAC. He has also represented the Maltese government in many United Nations meetings, including the UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States and the World Summit for Sustainable Development.

Ms. Helen Stawski

Senior Policy Advisor on Post 2015 at Islamic Relief, NGO Major Group

Ms. Helen Stawski

Senior Policy Advisor on Post 2015 at Islamic Relief, NGO Major Group

Ms. Helen Stawski leads advocacy at the United Nations to influence the new Sustainable Development Goals that will replace the Millennium Development Goals after 2015. Helen is also on the Steering Group of a global interfaith research initiative called the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities, which seeks to generate new research into the impact of local religious communities on community health, resilience and well-being.

H.E. Mr. Zinsou, Jean-Francis R.

Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations in New York

H.E. Mr. Zinsou, Jean-Francis R.

Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations in New York

Ambassador Jean-Francis Regis Zinsou was appointed as permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations in January 2010. Previously, he served as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at his country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from October 2008 to October 2009, during which time he also served as Minister Counsellor. He also served in Germany as a counsellor at Embassy of Benin. Ambassador Jean-Francis Regis Zinsou earned a M.A., as well as diplomas from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and the University of Vienna.

Mr. Soprano, Paolo

Director, Sustainable Development Division, Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Italy

Mr. Soprano, Paolo

Director, Sustainable Development Division, Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, Italy

Mr. Soprano graduated from the University of Rome La Sapienza with an Honours B.A.and has been with the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea of Italy since 1988. Since 2000, he is Director of Sustainable Development Division. He has participated in the UN Commission on Sustainable Development since its establishment in 1992, as well as in the Johannesburg WSSD Preparatory Process. He is a representative of Italy in the EU Council Working Party on International Environmental Issues, head of delegation of Italy to UN-CSD and to UNEP Governing Council, and co-ordinator for international activities within the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Technical Support Team (TST) Issues Briefs

TST Issues Brief: Needs of Countries in Special Si