Ms. Ulrika Richardson, a Swedish national, has dedicated more than 30 years to international cooperation. Most of her professional life has been devoted to international civil service in the field through the United Nations primarily in West and Central Africa, the Caribbean as well as Western Balkans and South-East Europe. Ms. Richardson has extensive experience in a broad range of development, conflict, post-conflict, and humanitarian settings in a wide range of complex political, socio-economic, fragility, and human rights contexts with a strong track record in advocating for women and children’s rights. She is also known to have in-depth knowledge of the multidimensional challenges Small Island Developing States are facing.

Prior to her current position as Deputy Special Representative for the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, Ms. Richardson served as UN Resident Coordinator in Kosovo.

Before that, she was the UN Resident Coordinator in Cabo Verde, where she also was the Resident Representative of UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA.

Ms. Richardson has ample experience in international affairs and development cooperation, having served as United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Gabon (2012-2013), Deputy Resident Representative in Turkey (2007-2012), and in Cuba (2004- 2007), where she also worked on regional disaster preparedness. She joined the Organization in 1995 with the United Nations Volunteer.

Ms. Richardson also held a position at the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on coordination, liaison, and negotiation of Nordic cooperation.

Prior to her international journey, she worked for the Swedish Immigration Board at a major Residential Refugee Camp for refugees during the Balkan wars.

Ms. Richardson holds a Master’s in international development and Development Economics from the University of Gothenburg as well as a Bachelor's in Social Psychology from the University of Lund, both in Sweden. She carried out her Master's research in Guinea Bissau financed by the Swedish International Development Agency.

Ms. Richardson is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.