New UNDP Resident Representative takes office

In his new role, Mr. Gaveglia has the overall responsibility of the UN Development agency activities in the country; closely collaborating with national stakeholders, international partners and with the wider United Nations family to support Maldives’ national development priorities and the quest to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Gaveglia expressed his deep appreciation to the Government for the warm reception extended to him and reaffirmed UNDP’s continued commitment and support to the people of Maldives in achieving a development that balances social, economic and environmental sustainability. “UNDP has been a long-standing partner of the Maldives, and we remain committed to its people in all corners of the nation in these trying times when compound crises make the challenges ahead look arduous,” Mr. Gaveglia stated.

“UNDP maintains open its offer to support Maldives to create the conditions for inclusive, sustainable and thriving livelihoods, to strengthen sustainable resource management and climate action, and to anticipate the challenges of governance with robust and resilient institutions at all levels of public administration,” Mr. Gaveglia emphasized.

Minister Khaleel welcomed Mr. Gaveglia to the Maldives and expressed desire to deepen the government’s relationship with UNDP as the strongest development arm of the United Nations in the country. “The Government of Maldives is always ready to work with the UNDP team, and the team at Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide all the support necessary for the UN Country Team to execute its duties and functions, ” Minister Khaleel said.

Mr. Gaveglia is a development professional with over 16 years of experience in the United Nations system, having served in leadership roles at UNDP in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Sudan. During his illustrious tenure at UNDP, Mr. Gaveglia has offered his support to Governments, the UN system and UNDP in several capacities across regions, in aid of countries and offices in transformation and complex development settings - including crisis and post conflict. Mr. Gaveglia is a regular outposted resource of UNDP Bureau of Management, Crisis Bureau, an innovation advocate for the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Innovation Centre and has lived the last 11 years in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Prior to UNDP, Mr. Gaveglia worked for over five years with the European Union in the former regional delegation to India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, as well as in the European Agency for Reconstruction in Montenegro and North Macedonia. He started his career as Lieutenant in the Italian Ministry of Defense in 1999. Mr. Gaveglia, an Italian national, holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Florence, Italy.

At the ceremony, Mr. Gaveglia also discussed with the Minister about UNDP’s new Country Programme for the period 2022-2026, which mandates UNDP to work on a set of agreed development results in the country. He concluded by reiterating commitment to continue supporting the Government in delivering for people and planet, through the new Country Programme.