The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office for Project Services (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS) welcomed on Monday, Secretary-General?Ant¨®nio Guterres'?appointment of Jens Wandel as its?ad interim?chief.
The office serves as the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ¡¯s operational arm, dedicated to implementing projects for the Organization, international financial institutions, governments, and other partners around the world.?
¡®Uplifting lives¡¯
The development came following the resignation of Executive Director Grete Faremo.
¡°It has been my great privilege to lead Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS. I continue to be proud of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS¡¯ achievements and unprecedented growth over these last eight years,¡± Ms. Faremo said.
¡°I hope my decision will allow Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS to focus on its vital work uplifting the lives of vulnerable people around the world,¡± she added.
Tumultuous times
In December, Ms. Faremo placed the Chief Executive of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS??initiative on??due to an investigation into possible misconduct.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS eagerly awaits the outcome of the probe underway by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).
In a?, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS affirmed its commitment to working closely with the Secretary-General¡¯s office during the transition, and said that it has already begun implementing continuity plans to ensure Ms. Faremo's departure would not affect regular project activities.
Keeping the ship on course
The Secretary-General launched?a recruitment process?¨C in consultation with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS Executive Board - to find a successor to Ms. Faremo.?Mr. Wandel took?the reins on?9 May.?
Most recently serving as the?Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Special Adviser on Reforms, the acting Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOPS chief has been?granted all the necessary support for a smooth transition.?????
Prior to this appointment, he also served as the Secretary-General Designate for the?.
