Beyond had the pleasure to meet with the new resident coordinator of the United Nations system's operational activities for development, Mr . In this meeting Mr Rawley, a US national, reiterated the support extended to Beyond by his predecessor, Mr Antonio Vigilante. Mr Rawley is also resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme, a function we hear he will handover to a country programme director to be appointed as part of the latest reform initiative of the United Nations. A primary aim of the staffing change is to allow the UN resident coordinator to focus full-time on one of the most challenging tasks facing development practice: coordination. The need for change is warranted, and perhaps overdue, considering the number of organisations and specialised agencies of the UN system operating in the field and whose success greatly depend on cross-fertilisation of their diverse mandates and harmonisation between their often overlapping programmes. "I am very pleased to have this opportunity to contribute to the excellent work that the UN is doing in Egypt. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2007-2011, which was recently agreed upon by the UN country team and the government of Egypt, presents an impressive, ambitious and well-grounded blueprint for our work over the next five years. I will draw upon my experience in a variety of development contexts over many years to best serve the purpose of strengthening the collaboration between organisations of the UN system and the government of Egypt," stated Mr Rawley when he presented his credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboulgheit last July. Beyond hopes that Egypt will take full advantage of Mr Rawley's distinguished experience within the UN system. His exposure to a variety of cultures and situations, including Yemen, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, in addition to his having served the UN in New York and Geneva, makes him a true citizen of the world. Master's degrees in international affairs and urban planning from Columbia University reflect his academic inclination. The editorial board of Beyond and the governing board of the Association of Former International Civil Servants in Egypt (AFICS-Egypt) wish Mr Rawley every success in his mission, and that he and his family enjoy a memorable stay among the Egyptian people.
