UNWTO’s Director of Africa participates in UNCT Retreat

Africa
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April 17, 2019 Article rebroadcast courtesy of Mr. Kojo Bentum-Williams and VoyagesAfriq

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)”s Director of Africa Elcia Grandcourt is participating in the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) retreat in Seychelles.

The Seychelles Island is hosting the Retreat for the first time. The event is focusing on country and regional partnerships.

Ms Grandcourt who is representing the UN Tourism Organization is part of the eight other UN Agencies attending the event. They are UNDP, FAO, ILO, WHO, IOM, UNFPA, UNESCO,UNODC.

Ms Elsia Grandcourt in a photo pose with President Faure

Ahead of the retreat, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the President of Seychelles, H.E Danny Faure. The President welcomed the delegates to Seychelles and expressed Seychelles’ honour to host the retreat, saying, “Your presence here today is testimony to the strong partnership between the UN and Seychelles. I wish to commend you all for your commitment toward strengthening the bonds between the United Nations Organisations and Small Island Developing States,” said President Faure.

In addition to the UN Country retreat, other side events include a UNFPA event to celebrate their 50th Anniversary and launch of their flagship report ‘State of World Population 2019: Unfinished business – the pursuit of rights and choices for all’, a copy of which was presented to President Faure during the courtesy call, and the 25th Anniversary of the commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, held in solidarity with Rwanda for the suffering 25 years ago.

Members of the delegation also included the Director for UNESCO’s Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Mrs Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, UN Resident Coordinator for Seychelles and Mauritius, Christine N. Umutoni, UN Resident Coordinator for Madagascar, Mrs Violet Kakyomya, WHO Representative for Mauritius, Dr. Laurent Musango,

Others were UNDP Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, Mr. Joseph Byll Cataria, WHO Representative for Seychelles, Dr.Tenin Gakuruh, FAO Representative for Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar & Mauritius, Patrice Talla Takoukam, UNFPA Representative for Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar & Mauritius, Mr. Serge Bounda, and UNIDO Representative to Tanzania, Mauritius and EAC, Stephen Kargbo. Also present was the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Blue Economy, Ambassador Barry Faure, and other officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs.