The UN Resident Coordinator's Office
The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RCO) in Lesotho supports the Resident Coordinator, who serves as the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General and leads the UN Country Team. The Office provides strategic leadership and coordination to ensure that the United Nations system delivers coherent, integrated and results-driven support aligned with Lesotho’s national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Through the UN Cooperation Framework 2024–2028, the RCO guides joint planning, policy dialogue and collective advocacy, strengthens partnerships with Government, development partners, civil society and the private sector, and promotes accountability for shared results. The Office also supports monitoring and reporting, risk management, communications and resource mobilization to enhance the impact and visibility of the UN’s work in Lesotho.
The RCO serves as the central coordination hub of the UN system in Lesotho, ensuring unity of purpose, strategic alignment and meaningful impact for the people of Lesotho.
The Resident Coordinator
Ms. Taija Kontinen-Sharp (Finland) brings over 20 years of experience in sustainable development, peacebuilding, and humanitarian affairs across headquarters and field settings in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Most recently, she served as Senior Adviser to the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement. Prior to that, was the Chief of the Integrated Office of the Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, where she led UN-wide strategy, planning, and partnerships. She has held senior roles within the UN Secretariat, including as Chief of Staff in the Development Coordination Office and Strategic Planning Adviser in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. In addition, she served as Development Adviser in the World Humanitarian Summit Secretariat, leading the resilience and climate outcomes of the Summit.
Ms. Kontinen-Sharp served for ten years with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where her work focused on peace, development, and resilience programming in Lebanon, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Nepal.
Prior to joining the United Nations, she worked with the Aga Khan Foundation in Afghanistan and with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
Ms. Kontinen-Sharp holds a Master of Science degree in State, Society and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
