United Nations Development Programme Cambodia
Phnom Penh, 31 May 2010

UNDP Cambodia has the honor of welcoming Ms. Elena Tischenko as its new Country Director. Ms. Tischenko started her assignment in Cambodia on 26 April 2010, taking over from the former Country Director Jo Scheuer.

In her new capacity, Ms. Tischenko will oversee the day-to-day management and operation of UNDP’s work, which concentrates on supporting the Cambodian Government and local communities to develop their own solutions to the challenges of development in the three key areas: democratic governance, poverty reduction and environment and energy. In all its work UNDP pays close attention to the protection of human rights and empowerment of women.

“Having been in Cambodia for over a month now, I see exciting opportunities to build further on good and dynamic collaboration existing between UNDP and national and development partners as we all work to contribute to development outcomes. The strength of partnerships, shared commitments and quality of results will remain for UNDP the measures of our relevance, focus and effectiveness in Cambodia,” she said.Ms. Tischenko will also work closely with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Douglas Broderick. 

Prior to taking up her post in Cambodia Ms. Tischenko served as the Deputy Country Director in UNDP Indonesia. She holds a Doctorate in Science, a Master’s in Business Administration, and has completed a post-doctoral fellowship on food security.

Her career with UNDP began in early 1990s. She has served in field offices in Central Asia and South East Asia, as well as in UNDP Headquarters in New York and UNV Headquarters in Bonn, Germany. In New York, she led the team tasked with introduction of results-based management. In UNV-Bonn she was chief for Asia and the Pacific and Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, and headed the team backstopping UNV operations in over thirty countries.

UNDP Cambodia is one of 23 specialised UN agencies, funds, and programmes working together for peace, poverty reduction and human rights in Cambodia. The UN presence in Cambodia is convened under UN Resident Coordinator Douglas Broderick, who is also the UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia.

For further information please contact:
Aimee Brown: 012 760 513, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Ker Munthit: 011 905 261, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it