Ms. Karla Hershey, Representative and Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to Liberia yesterday presented her Letter of Credence from WFP’s Executive Director, David Beasley, to Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry Fahnbulleh, at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia.
In receiving the Letter, Honorable Fahnbulleh extended a warm welcome to Representative Karla Hershey and pledged the Government’s full readiness to continue the fruitful and longstanding partnership with WFP in Liberia. He then recalled WFP’s critical contributions to Liberia’s decade-long war and Ebola recovery efforts, describing the UN Agency as “a crucial partner in the reconstruction and development processes of Liberia”. “We are glad that WFP’s development policies have taken into account the development agenda of the country to help provide those critical needs to our people”, Acting Foreign Minister Fahnbulleh stressed.
Responding, WFP’s new Representative to Liberia lauded the Government and the people of Liberia for the wholehearted welcome she has received. “I appreciate you all for accepting my accreditation to allow me to serve in this beautiful country. It is a great opportunity for me to be a part of the WFP Liberia family in helping to contribute to Liberia’s development drive and assisting the people in a sustainable and impactful manner,” Ms. Hershey said.
Ms. Hershey comes to the Liberian scene with a wealth of 30 years of international development and humanitarian experience. She has successfully delivered transformative and life-saving programmes through do-no-harm humanitarian responses addressing national, regional and global priorities.
Prior to taking up her new post as WFP Representative in Monrovia, she recently completed her assignment as Senior Advisor on UN Development System Reform in New York. Ms. Hershey has also served as the UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia leading the United Nations Country Team with 20 resident and non-resident entities. She served as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Maseru, Lesotho as well as the WFP Representative and Country Director in Swaziland; Deputy Country Director in Malawi; acting Country Director in Syria (2007) among many other assignments.
WFP’s operations in Liberia began in 1968 working on school feeding and have since expanded to include emergency response, livelihoods and agricultural assets development for rural dwellers, scaling up nutrition, and capacity strengthening. On 27 August 2019, WFP and the Government of Liberia jointly launched WFP’s Country Strategic Plan that serves as the framework of action for WFP to support the Government of Liberia and development partners in achieving zero hunger by 2030.
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The United Nations World Food Programme – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives for millions through sustainable development. WFP works in more than 80 countries around the world, feeding people caught in conflict and disasters, and laying the foundations for a better future.
