Michelle Muschett, new UNDP director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Panamanian Michelle Muschett was appointed as the new director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Latin America and the Caribbean, replacing the Mexican Luis Felipe López Calva.

The spokesman for UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq, explained on Tuesday that Muschett is a specialist in social policy and global development and that, so far, she works as senior public policy adviser and

in Africa, Asia and Latin America “in their efforts to address multidimensional poverty.”

Multidimensional poverty is related to deficiencies that go beyond economic, such as the absence of health services, access to drinking water, decent housing or educational centers.

Haq also pointed out that António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, thanked López Calva for the work done at the head of the UNDP regional office, a position he held in September 2018.

In a statement, the UN also highlighted that Muschett, who was also appointed undersecretary general for Latin America and the Caribbean, is also working on the orientation to mobilize collective leadership and action to develop business models and take advantage of financing for development to accelerate the transition to more inclusive, sustainable and resilient economic systems worldwide.