Turhan Saleh Appointed UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan

Turhan Saleh officially assumed office as the new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Afghanistan on July 15, 2026. He succeeds Stephen Rodriques, who transitioned from the post to become the UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh.

Saleh is a veteran of the United Nations system with experience dating back to 1989. His previous leadership roles include serving as the UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia and Nigeria, as well as positions within UNICEF. He also served as Deputy Director of the UNDP Crisis Bureau and as a senior advisor in the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States.

Saleh holds degrees from Cornell University, Princeton University, and the University of Oxford. His leadership begins as the UNDP maintains its focus on supporting basic services, community resilience, and livelihoods within Afghanistan.