UNV Kennedy On-Board with Tokelau

7 November 2014
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Ms Whelma Villar-Kennedy

 
Ms Whelma Villar-Kennedy is the first international United Nations Volunteer (UNV) to work with Tokelau in more than 30 years.
 
Ms Kennedy will support Tokelau in the areas of energy, environment and governance under the Tokelau Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project.
 
Coming from a strategic management, community development and gender background, she will also be supporting gender mainstreaming work in programmes, policies and strategies.
 
I am pleased to be back in the Pacific and very privileged to join the Tokelau, UNDP and GEF-SGP partnership as an international UN volunteer.
 
The initial months of my twelve-month assignment will be critical as I map out how my role as programme officer and SGP national focal person for Tokelau could support the implementation of Tokelau’s national strategy and priorities in the energy, environment and governance sectors. I look forward to working closely and collaboratively with the team, sharing as much of my technical expertise and experience in the same way as learning from the wealth of experience and expertise from people I will come across and meet during my assignment”, says the United Nation Volunteer.
 
Whelma worked in the Philippines, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Somaliland, Vanuatu and Cambodia. She holds a Master’s Degree in Gender and Media Studies from University of Sussex in England. She also has a Degree in Development Communications from Ateneo de Naga University in the Philippines