VICTORIA, Seychelles — Newly appointed United Nations Development Programme resident representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, Alka Bhatia, presented her credentials to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Barry Faure, at Maison Queau de Quinssy on Tuesday February 18. This was during a courtesy call Ms Bhatia paid on Minister Faure. The UNDP representative Seychelles appointment marks continued multilateral partnership.
The UNDP plays a crucial role in supporting Seychelles’ sustainable development journey. As a key multilateral partner, the UNDP has contributed significantly to the country’s progress over many years. For Seychellois citizens, this partnership translates into technical expertise, capacity building programmes, and support for addressing complex development challenges. The presentation of credentials formalises the working relationship between the new representative and the Seychelles government.
Discussions between Ms Bhatia and Minister Faure focused on the long-standing cooperation between Seychelles and the UNDP. They highlighted the organisation’s support over the years, which has made a significant contribution to the country’s sustainable development. Ms Bhatia noted that she had taken note of the government’s key priorities, notably in the areas of energy and digitalisation, and reaffirmed the UNDP’s readiness to provide technical expertise to support progress in these sectors.
Minister Faure emphasised the importance of the UNDP as a key multilateral partner for Seychelles, particularly its support for the adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index as a tool to address the unique challenges faced by small island developing states. Both parties also agreed that the signing of the Global Environment Facility’s eighth replenishment cycle project document with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Natural Resources would provide valuable opportunities for Seychelles to share experiences, strengthen partnerships, and expand international networks.
The integrated programming approach brings together national, regional, and global commitments to confront environmental degradation and advance a healthy, resilient environment that sustains human societies. The GEF-8 project represents a significant opportunity for Seychelles to access international climate and environment financing. Regular engagement between the UNDP representative and government ministries will ensure coordinated implementation of development programmes.
The ceremony reaffirms Seychelles’ commitment to multilateral cooperation for sustainable development.
