The UN Resident Coordinator Office in Ukraine

The purpose of the UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) is to coordinate the efforts of the UN Country Team operating in Ukraine to ensure provision of efficient and effective assistance to accelerate the country’s steady progress towards social and economic development, observance of the world’s democratic standards and facilitation of Ukraine’s-world integration process. The UN RC in Ukraine is the designated representative of the Secretary-General and aims to bring together different resident and non-resident UN agencies, funds and programmes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at a country level. Working closely with the national government in Ukraine, the RCO advocates for the interests and mandates of the UN while drawing on the support and guidance of the entire UN family. The important role of the RC in responding to national needs and priorities includes supporting the Government’s efforts for a coordinated, multidisciplinary response aimed at implementation and monitoring of assistance strategies and programmes.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine 

Mr. Schmale brings more than 30 years of experience in humanitarian and development work. He previously served as Senior Advisor to the UN Development Coordination Office’s regional team for Africa, as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (a.i) in Nigeria, and in several high-level positions with UNRWA including Director for UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, Gaza and New York, acting Chief of Staff and acting Deputy Commissioner General.

Before joining the United Nations, he held senior positions in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and non-government organizations at global, regional and country level, including in Ethiopia, Kenya, the Sudan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

He holds a PhD in Development Economics and a master’s degree in Macroeconomics from Berlin’s Free University. 

Meet the UN Resident Coordinator's Team

  • Ms. Ana Lukatela, Head of Office
  • Mr.  Aliaksei Vavokhin, Economist
  • Mr. Maksym Voskresensky, Data Management Officer
  • Ms. Anna Koba, Administrative Associate
  • Ms. Oksana Anikeienko, Executive Associate
  • Ms. Yaroslava Babych, Partnerships Advisor
  • Ms. Sophie Pereira, Special Assistant to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator
  • Ms. Oleksandra Zomarieva, Administrative Associate
  • Ms. Mariia Shaposhnikova, Communication Officer

Advisors to UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator:

  • Ms. Tamar Tavartkiladze, Peace and Development Advisor
  • Ms. Analee Pepper, Senior Gender Advisor
  • Ms. Sofia Canovas Pereda, Senior Inter-agency PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) Coordinator
  • Mr. Ben Mbaura, Durable Solutions Advisor
  • Mr. David Das Neves, Nexus Advisor
  • Mr. Paul Heslop, Senior Mine Action Advisor 
  • Mr. Saviano Abreu, Strategic Communications Advisor | Spokesperson
The portrait of the Head of the UN

Matthias Schmale

Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine