Press Statement
For Immediate Release
New York, 12th January 2026. The Republic of Zambia, through the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H. E. Dr. Chola Milambo, has been elected as Vice President on the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). His nomination was endorsed by the Africa Group at the United Nations in New York.
H. E. Dr. Milambo, will be part of Bureau of four Vice-Presidents, representing the regional groupings of the United Nations under the Presidency of the Eastern European Group. The Bureau comprises H.E. Mr. Cornel Feruță, Permanent Representative of Romania representing the Group of Eastern European States and President of the Executive Board; H. E. Mr. Brian Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica as Vice President representing the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States; H.E. Mr. Jonibek Hikmat, Permanent Representative of Tajikistan as Vice President representing the Group of Asia-Pacific States; and H.E. Mr. Lauri Voionmaa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland as Vice representing the Group of Western European and Other States.
Members of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board perform the governance and oversight roles, seeking to ensure effectiveness in delivery of the mandates of the agencies, while promoting their sound management and governance. In this regard, Dr Milambo will continue to serve the other functions of the Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations.
In his remarks accepting the Vice Presidency, Ambassador Milambo expressed gratitude for the support of the Africa Group and entrusting Zambia to represent its interest.
Ambassador Milambo underscored the need to safeguard the development role of the UN and the importance of the three agencies in focusing on the most needy. He pledged to support the President of the Board in providing sufficient oversight over the institutions and providing strategic direction of these institutions. He further assured management of Zambia’s support in delivering development at the grassroots level.
Zambia’s Vice Presidency on the Executive of the Board comes against a backdrop of the UN80 Initiative, a major system-wide reform of the United Nations (UN) that seeks to help the UN adapt to today’s complex global challenges by making it more efficient, responsive, agile, and effective in fulfilling its core missions. Zambia will, over the one-year term, advance Africa’s interests in the undertakings of the Executive Boards. Zambia is serving the second of its two-year term on the Executive Boards. The other members of the Group of African States on the Board in 2026 are Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tunisia.
This election is a recognition of the efforts and leadership of Zambia at the United Nations, particularly in areas of advancing sustainable development, and aligns with the country’s Foreign Policy anchored on economic diplomacy.
Issued by:
The Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations.
