Diana Ofwona is the Resident Representative of UNDP in Niger since April 2019. As the main interlocutor with the Government of Niger on behalf of UNDP, her key assignment is to provide substantive leadership for sustainable and inclusive development, with particular focus on AU Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030. She is also responsible for the formulation of the UNDP Country Strategy for Niger, mobilising resources and partnerships for Niger’s development agenda, and providing strategic guidance and oversight for UNDP’s operations in Niger.

In her current assignment, she is also in charge of leading UNDP Niger’s strategy for the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako Gourma Regions in mitigating the effects of violent extremism, notably the Boko Haram and ISWAP1 insurgencies, through a robust, coherent and integrated approach to security, humanitarian and development challenges under the $100m Regional Stabilisation Programme.

A graduate of the University of Nairobi (M.A), Diana has over 30 years’ work experience in government, private sector, international NGOs, the Academia and the United Nations. Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Ofwona held, from 2015 to 2018, the position of Regional Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), in charge of all countries in West and Central Africa (WCAR). Ms. Ofwona has held other senior positions in the UN across three continents (Africa, the Caribbean and North America), notably as:
1. Regional Director, UNIFEM Central Africa based in Kigali, Rwanda (2010-2015).
2. Special Advisor to the UN Assistant Secretary General/UNDP Regional Director for Africa based in New York, USA (2006-2008).
3. UNDP Deputy Resident Representative based in Niamey, Niger (2004-2006).
4. UN Policy Analyst for Southern Africa based in Pretoria, South Africa (2002-2004).
5. Policy Analyst, UNDP in Trinidad and Tobago (June to September 2002) – UNDP Trainee.
6. UN Regional Advisor for the Great Lakes Region based in Kigali, Rwanda (2000-2002).

A leader and senior international development practitioner, she has proven capacity to shape and lead socio-economic policy. Ms. Ofwona has served on several high-level boards and committees, notably the UN high-level Strategy and Management Review Panel commissioned to develop a new strategy for UNDP in Africa. She also served on the Boards of the North-South Institute (Canada), the Makerere Female Scholarship Foundation (Uganda) and the MTN Foundation (Rwanda).

Diana is a life member of the International Association of Students of Economics and Business (AIESEC) and the Lions Club International.