UNDP DIRECTOR FOR CRISIS PREVENTION AND RECOVERY VISITS SIERRA LEONE

Freetown, Sierra Leone --- Monday, 26 March 2007 --- The Director of the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Ms. Kathleen Cravero, arrives in Freetown today from New York, on a three-day visit to Sierra Leone.

While in-country she will meet with relevant senior Government officials, development partners and non-governmental organizations, to discuss emerging issues regarding recovery, crisis prevention and peacebuilding affecting Sierra Leone. The visit of the Director will also serve as an opportunity for her to understand how best UNDP can support national efforts to address these development challenges and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development goals (MDGs).

Ms. Cravero was appointed to the position of Director of UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) in April 2005. In this capacity she leads the Bureau in its efforts to mainstream crisis prevention and recovery at all levels of UNDP’s work. The Bureau supports UNDP in reducing the risk and impact of natural disasters, preventing armed conflicts, and assisting recovery from crisis when it occurs. Specifically, the Bureau’s role is to consolidate UNDP’s crisis prevention and recovery knowledge and experience; provide a bridge between humanitarian response and the development work of UNDP; and be an advocate for crisis sensitivity in the context of development policy