Our Team in Palestine

Ms. Poole brings 30 years of experience working globally in development and humanitarian contexts. Since 1999, she has served in numerous leadership position in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), most recently through her appointment in August 2023 as the Special Representative of the Administrator to the UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People. Previously, since 2018 she served as UNDP's Deputy Regional Director for the Arab States region, including her tenure as Regional Director ad interim at the ASG level from February 2020 to February 2021. Ms. Poole has also served as the Deputy Director of the Bureau for Programme and Policy Support; Senior Advisor for the Europe and CIS Region; Resident Representative a.i. and Deputy Resident Representative in Turkey; Team Leader for the Western Balkans, Turkey and Cyprus; Senior Advisor in the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy; and the global team leader for post-crisis socio-economic and community recovery.

Before joining UNDP, Ms. Poole served as the Regional Refugee Coordinator/Deputy with the US Department of State's Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro between 1996 and 1999; and with USAID's Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance in Rwanda, Burundi, and Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1994 to 1996. Ms. Poole holds a MSc in Government from the London School of Economics and Political Science; a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; and has served as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University's School for International and Public Affairs, focused on the nexus between crisis, peacebuilding, and development.

Mr. Philippe Lazzarini was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2020. He has served as the Deputy UN Special Coordinator (UNSCOL) and as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon.
With over 30 years of professional experience, including with the United Nations, the private sector and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Mr. Lazzarini is a graduate of the University of Neuchatel and of the University of Lausanne, and is married with four children.

On 5 May 2025, Ms. Chitose Noguchi was appointed as Special Representative of the Administrator ad interim for UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP). She succeeds Ms. Sarah Poole. Since July 2021, Ms. Noguchi held the positions of Deputy Special Representative (DSR) and previously the DSR a.i., having joined UNDP/PAPP in April 2019 as Head of Gaza Sub-office.  She began working with UNDP in New York in 2010 as a policy specialist for UNDP in New York, and subsequently was appointed UNDP's Global Programme Manager. Prior to joining the UN, she served as the National Director of CARE International in Japan from 2014-2009, Board member of CARE International, and member of the Board of Directors of the Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation. Chitose spent more than a decade with CARE International, including as Deputy Country Director in CARE Vietnam, Senior Advisor for CARE International Affairs in CARE USA, and Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation Officer in CARE Sri Lanka. Chitose began her career at a Washington D.C.-based international development consulting firm.  She holds a B.A. in Law from the University of Tokyo, and an M.A. in International Development from the George Washington University.

As an engineer and urban development practitioner, Mr. Zeyad Elshakra has more than thirty years of professional experience in development issues, including teaching, research, analytical and advisory services and programme administration in the fields of housing, urban development and management, institutional development and capacity building. Mr. Elshakra has a wide expertise in innovative participatory and responsive solutions to urbanization and housing challenges. Mr. Elshakra has more than 20 years of experience working for international organizations. Mr. Elshakra holds a PhD from the University of Missouri-Columbia, United States of America.

Dr. Ciro Fiorillo is an agricultural development economist with extensive experience in supporting public economic policy making in food security and agriculture.
As Head of the FAO Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, he leads a team of about 70 people working from East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Gaza City to deliver a USD 78 million program bridging humanitarian responses and development interventions aimed at protecting and promoting the resilience of farmers and herders, and making the agri-food system more inclusive, resilient and sustainable, thereby improving the well-being of Palestinians.
He previously worked in Bangladesh, Syria and Mozambique.

Daniel Cork is a development sector professional with 25 years’ experience, including 14 years of experience with the ILO, including in project management and technical specialist roles. He leads a team of 17 people working from East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, who support the implementation of the ILO's Decent Work program for the Palestinian people. He has worked in Algeria, Morocco, ILO HQ in Geneva, and he has extensive professional experience in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza between 1996 and 2023. He has previously worked as Project Manager of the ILO's SOLIFEM regional project in Algeria, Technical Specialist on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining at the ILO HQ in Geneva, and Industrial Relations' Specialist for the ILO-IFC Better Work Program in the Garment and Textile Industry. His areas of expertise are social dialogue, industrial relations, gender equality, supply chains, project management and capacity development. He has contributed to several publications, including diagnostic studies on the informal economy and skills development in Lebanon. He holds a Master of Arts in Arab Studies with a concentration in economic development from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts in Middle East Studies from the University of Massachusetts.

Eman Beseiso is a Country Officer at ITC, supporting project design, fundraising, and implementation in countries such as Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, and Palestine. She previously worked at PalTrade and with the ILO, and holds Master’s degrees in Development Studies and Comparative Law, with a focus on sustainable development and governance.

Ajith Sunghay is the Head of OHCHR Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He has 22 years of UN experience. Prior to joining OHCHR OPT as its Head, he was a Team Leader for Peace and Security in Africa and Asia in OHCHR’s New York Office. Before that he lead the Human Rights Due Diligence work in New York, after having been the Team Leader of the Israel/Palestine cluster in the Middle East and North Africa section at headquarters in Geneva. Prior to being a cluster lead, he worked in Asia Pacific section in Geneva, covering a number of countries in the region.
He has served in Palestine as a Human Rights Officer in OHCHR Ramallah Office from 2008-2010.
From 2001-2007 he held field positions with UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Sudan, Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Ghana. He is an international lawyer by profession, and holds a Masters in Law from the University of Oxford, UK and a Master of Arts in International Relations and Contemporary War from King’s College, University of London, UK.”

Mr. Antoine Renard is the Representative & Country Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Palestine as of July 2024. With over 20 years of experience with WFP, he brings extensive experience to his role, and has previously held positions as Deputy Country Director/Head of Operation in Lebanon (2022-2024), Country Director and Representative in Burkina Faso (2020-2022), and Head of Operation/Deputy Country Director a.i. and Head of Programme in Syria (2018-2020). Antoine’s earlier roles at WFP include Programme Advisor on Cash-Based Transfers in Rome, Deputy Country Director and Head of Programme in Haiti, Head of Programme Support Unit in Palestine, Liaison Officer in Brussels, and Emergency Response Programme Officer in Pakistan, Lebanon, Haiti, and Tunisia. Before joining WFP, he managed the humanitarian food assistance portfolio at the Belgian Development Cooperation for over four years, collaborating with various international organizations and agencies.

Christa Ketting is the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) Country Director Ad Interim for Palestine based in IFAD’s sub-regional office in Cairo. She joined IFAD in 2016 and has since held multiple technical and programme roles globally. She is an experienced agricultural programme manager with specialisations in value chain development and social inclusion. A national of the Netherlands, Ms. Ketting possesses two master’s degrees in political science from the University of Amsterdam and in Development Studies from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

Ms. Gough serves as the Special Representative for UNICEF in the State of Palestine, a position she previously held from July 2009 to March 2013. She holds a Master’s Degree in Water Resource Management from Arizona State University, USA (1989), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa (1981). Her extensive experience includes serving as UNICEF's Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean in Panama City, Panama (November 2020 to June 2022), where she managed programs and operations across 36 countries and territories, representing UNICEF to various stakeholders.

Prior to this, she was the Regional Director for South Asia based in Kathmandu, Nepal (September 2016 to November 2020), overseeing significant UNICEF programs and developing a strong regional governance structure. Her previous roles also include serving as the UNICEF Representative for Nigeria (March 2013 to September 2016), Deputy Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean (February 2006 to July 2009), and Representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean (February 2004 to February 2006). She has also contributed significantly to water, environment, and sanitation programs in El Salvador, India, and Honduras throughout her career.

Jonathan Whittall is Acting Head of OCHA oPt and is currently heading the Humanitarian Negotiations Unit. Prior to this he was the head of the West Bank Field Coordination Unit and
interim Head of the Research and Analysis Unit at OCHA oPt.

Before joining OCHA he was Director of the Humanitarian Analysis Department at Médecins Sans Frontières for 5 years. He was a member of the directors committee of MSF in Brussels
and managed global teams of thought leaders in humanitarian response that carried out analysis in order to support improved operational strategies and advocacy and to directly implement negotiations for humanitarian access.

Before becoming a director, Jonathan was head of humanitarian analysis where he lead the humanitarian innovation team. He supported MSF operations in particular on humanitarian access in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, Ukraine and South Sudan, among other conflict contexts.

Ms. Karuna Herrmann was appointed as Director of the UNOPS Office in Jerusalem in September 2024. Prior to this appointment, she served as Deputy Director of the UNOPS Humanitarian Advisory Team to the Famine Relief Fund. Ms. Herrmann has held a range of roles in humanitarian affairs, development, and peace-building, with a focus on MENA and East Africa. This includes positions with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, where she held portfolios on Syria, Iraq, and Libya, served on the Emergency Directors Group Secretariat, and on ‘Grand Bargain’ negotiations. She has also held positions with the International Organization for Migration, on global guidelines for humanitarian needs analysis, with the Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC in South Sudan, in strategic planning and liaison roles, held governance and state-building portfolios with UNDP, and consulted on development projects. Ms. Herrmann holds degrees in Human Rights, Arabic, and Political Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the School of Oriental and African Studies and has two children.

Mr. Khaldoun Oweis has worked with UNODC in Palestine for the past 14 years. He is currently Officer in Charge since 2017 and the regional programme manager of the youth programme (Youth 4 Impact). His work and expertise are primarily focused on issues like drug prevention, criminal justice, youth empowerment, and the rule of law.
Prior to joining UNODC, Mr. Oweis worked for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, as Director of the President Office and before that the head of the Youth and Volunteers Department. His work focused on humanitarian assistance and advocacy in Palestine and in the region.
Mr. Oweis holds a master’s degree in Peace and Development from the University of Gothenburg, in Sweden, as well as a bachelor’s degree in social work from Bethlehem University.

Before serving as Representative to Palestine, Ms Neyestani was Chief of Global Education Cooperation and Head of the Inter-Agency Secretariat for Sustainable Development Goal 4 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Prior to this she served as Senior Education Advisor to UNESCO’s Director-General, after working in several UNESCO offices worldwide including in Senegal and Mexico.

She holds a Masters in International Education Policy from Harvard University following a double BA in Sociology and International Relations.

Mr. Luke Irving is the Chief of the Mine Action Programme, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Luke joined UNMAS OPT from the World Food Programme, bringing 17 years’ experience to the role. After completing higher education, Luke undertook service as a combat engineer with the British Army. Completing exercises/deployments in Germany, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Jordan, Canada and the UK. After leaving the military in 2014, Luke worked in the humanitarian and development sector predominately in Africa and the Middle East specializing in humanitarian mine action, civil-military coordination, programming and operations. Luke is a graduate of Peace Studies and postgraduate in Conflict, Security and Development from King’s College London, UK.

Prior to joining UN Women Palestine Country Office as the UN Women Special Representative in August 2018, Ms. Guimond was the SDG Advisor for UN Women Arab States. From January to August 2018, she also served as UN Women Arab States Deputy Regional Director a.i. From 2013 and 2016, Ms Guimond was the Regional Programme Manager of the joint EU-UN Women Spring Forward for Women in the Arab States. Ms. Guimond has over 25 years of experience in development; she has managed regional/country portfolios and programmes. She has held postings in the Middle East and North Africa, the Caribbean and in West Africa. Prior to joining the UN system, she worked for various international development agencies, including Oxfam, Save the Children and Plan International. Her work has focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment (political and economic), governance, human rights (women and children rights), and the provision of basic social services (education, protection, and health). She holds a Master’s in political science, international relations.

Mutasim Elagraa is an economist who, prior to joining UNCTAD, had experience in academia and the private sector. Since 2008, he led and contributed to UNCTAD program of assistance to the Palestinian people which seeks to extend support through policy-oriented research, the implementation of capacity-building and technical cooperation projects, the provision of advisory services and the promotion of international consensus on the needs of the Palestinian people and their economy.

Mr. Nestor Owomuhangi, a national of Uganda, took on the role of UNFPA Representative to Palestine. He brings 30 years of experience in the humanitarian and development sectors, much of which has been with UNFPA and the UN system. Before his current appointment, Mr. Owomuhangi served as the UNFPA Representative in Iraq and Yemen. Coincidentally, he also held the position of Deputy Representative in these countries. Earlier in his career, Mr. Owomuhangi worked as the International Programme Specialist for the UNFPA Country Office in Lesotho. He began his career with UNFPA as a National Programme Officer at the Uganda Country Office in 1999, initially seconded to UNHCR as a Reproductive Health Focal Point. Mr. Owomuhangi holds a master’s degree in Population and Reproductive Health from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.

Mr. Gilabert is heading the UNIDO Sub Regional office in Cairo and is UNIDO Representative for Egypt, Djibouti, Libya, Somalia and the State of Palestine. Patrick is a French national and development economist who has devoted 30 years to international public service, with increasing responsibility for managing complex development portfolios in Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan countries. He is a former UNIDO Representative in Madagascar, Viet Nam, and Brussels. He started his career in tech. In 1993, he joined UNIDO for two years at the country office in Hanoi, Vietnam, before being appointed as industrial development officer - investment promotion expert at the Vienna headquarters in Vienna, where he worked mainly in the Maghreb countries, sub-Saharan Africa and China.

Patrick was appointed UNIDO Representative in Antananarivo, Madagascar, with coverage of the Union of Comoros, Seychelles and Mauritius, and Representative in Hanoi, Viet Nam, Deputy Representative to the UN in New York and Representative to the European Union and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in Brussels, culminating in the organization of the High-Level Dialogue between UNIDO and the European Union. Finally, he was a Senior External Relations Officer in the Policymaking Organs Division (PMO) at UNIDO HQs, supporting the organization of the 39th session of the Programme and Budget Committee (PBC) and the 51st session of the Industrial Development Board (IDB).

Dr. Rik Peeperkorn was appointed as the World Health Organization (WHO) representative for occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) in March 2021. Before being assigned to Jerusalem, Rik was the WHO Representative to Afghanistan (2013- 2021), leading the ONE UN support for Health in the Humanitarian & Development area including COVID-19. A Dutch national, he comes with over 30 years of experience in the field of International Public Health and Diplomacy working in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Dr Rik Peeperkorn received his MD from the University of Amsterdam (1986) and obtained his MPH from Johns Hopkins University-School of Public Health (1992).

With over 20 years of experience in management Mr. Dimassi has extensive experience in multi-lateral and international relations, corporate and policy reform, intergovernmental affairs, strategy design and private sector engagement. Mr. Sami Dimassi joined the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia as Director and Regional Representative in 2017. He held several senior positions in the UN System, such as Senior ICT Advisor, Head of the Innovation Branch, Deputy Director of the Science division, Director of Private Sector Engagement, and Acting Director of Corporate Services all within UNEP. A Lebanese-Canadian national, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Ottawa University and a master’s in Management from Waterloo University in Canada.