UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — In a significant move to bolster its efforts in Haiti, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Nicole Flora Boni Kouassi of Côte d’Ivoire as the new Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and Resident Coordinator in Haiti. Additionally, she will assume the role of Humanitarian Coordinator. Boni Kouassi steps into the position previously held by Ingeborg Ulrika Ulfsdotter Richardson of Sweden, whom Guterres commended for her unwavering dedication and service to the UN. With over 22 years of experience within the UN system, Boni Kouassi brings a wealth of expertise in development, peace and security, and humanitarian efforts. Since 2022, she has served as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Niger. Her prior roles include UNDP Resident Representative in Burundi from 2019 to 2022 and interim Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in 2021. Boni Kouassi has also held leadership positions in Djibouti and Niger, as well as serving as a Senior UN Coherence Specialist in New York. Academically, she holds a Doctorate in Medicine from the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Côte d’Ivoire and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Maryland. Fluent in English, French, and her native Baule, Boni Kouassi is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of her new role in Haiti.