The UNDP Country Office has announced the appointment of Akiko Fujii as the new UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan. Ms. Fujii brings over 25 years of experience with UNDP to her new role, having held various senior positions in development organizations globally.

Before her appointment to Uzbekistan, Ms. Fujii served as Resident Representative in the Maldives and Deputy Resident Representative in multiple locations, including Vietnam, the Fiji Multi-Country Office, and Jamaica. Her extensive experience with UNDP also includes significant roles in Sudan, Tokyo, and Pakistan. In these positions, she focused on managing large-scale humanitarian assistance, addressing economic and social challenges related to climate change, and advising on governance systems to ensure equitable and sustainable human development.

Ms. Fujii’s career includes prior work with other development organizations. She was involved with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Vienna, Austria, and contributed to a community development NGO in Kyoto, Japan. She also assisted victims of the Kobe earthquake in 1995 as a volunteer.

She holds a Master’s degree in Gender and Development from the University of Sussex in the UK and a Master’s in Humanities and Environmental Studies from Kyoto University in Japan. Her educational background complements her extensive field experience, positioning her well to lead UNDP’s initiatives in Uzbekistan.

As she begins her tenure in Uzbekistan, Ms. Fujii is expected to continue advancing UNDP’s mission and objectives, leveraging her background in international development to support sustainable and equitable progress in the region.