The UN Resident Coordinator Office
The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RCO) supports 10 core coordination functions performed by Pillars and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) which include:
- Strategic analysis and planning
- Oversight of the UNCT programming cycle
- Representation and support of the UN Secretariat and United Nations Agencies (resident and non-resident)
- Support national coordination systems and processes
- Development and management of shared operational services
- Crisis management and preparedness response
- Joint external communication and advocacy
- Human rights and development
- Joint resource mobilisation and fund management
- General UNCT oversight and management
The United Nations Country Team adopted the overarching objective of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2019 – 2023 as follows: “By 2030, Namibia is a developed nation with an equitable, peaceful and sustainable societal and economic fabric, a resilient environment and transformational governance in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
The RCO works closely with all UNSDCF Pillars and other Theme Groups to coordinate and monitor the implementation of UNSDCF 2019 – 2023. The RCO acts as a first port-of-call to provide services and support to the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN) and other stakeholders, such as the private sector, civil society organisations and other development partners. Furthermore, the RCO, together with the relevant government counterpart, provides secretarial support to the Joint Steering Committee (JSC).
The UN Resident Coordinator in Namibia
Prior to her appointment as United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Phororo served as Director in the Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia for more than seven years with the International Labour Organization (ILO). She was the ILO Deputy Director in the Country Office for Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda; and in the Regional Office for Africa, as the Youth Employment Specialist and Decent Work Focal Point Officer.
Before joining the UN system in 2003, she worked in Namibia as a Researcher at the Namibia Economic Policy Research Unit. In Lesotho, as National Project Officer at UN Development Programme and prior to that, as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Southern African Studies and as Marketing Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Hopolang Phororo has written and published several working papers and selected articles and chapters in books on HIV/AIDS, youth employment and agricultural marketing topics, including an inspirational book titled “Joy Comes in the Morning”. She is an advocate for gender-based violence and is passionate about leadership and empowering women and youth.
She obtained her master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Duquesne University. She holds an honor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Africa.
