Igor Garafulic has been appointed as the United Nations (UN) interim Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, following the conclusion of the previous coordinator's term. Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the official announcement regarding this appointment has been posted on the UN's official website.
According to the statement, the mandate of Vladanka Andreeva, the former UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, concluded on January 8. Garafulic, who currently serves as a resident coordinator in another country, will hold the position in an interim capacity until a permanent official is appointed and arrives in Azerbaijan. The new permanent resident coordinator is scheduled to officially begin their duties in Azerbaijan on July 1, 2026.
Igor Garafulic brings extensive expertise in international development, economic policy, political dialogue, and multilateral communications. He has gained significant experience through high-level positions within the UN system and public service across Latin America and other regions. Prior to his assignment in Baku, Garafulic served as the interim UN Resident Coordinator in Paraguay (2024–2025) and held the same role in Peru (2019–2024) and Honduras (2018–2019). His career also includes senior roles at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including Country Director in Guatemala and Chief of Staff at the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The UN Resident Coordinator is the highest-ranking representative of the UN development system at the country level. In Azerbaijan, the Resident Coordinator leads the UN Country Team and coordinates support for the country's implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This transition in leadership aims to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the UN's strategic partnership and development initiatives within the Republic of Azerbaijan.
