Pradeep Kurukulasuriya is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund. He is a Sri Lankan economist with a PhD from Yale University in the United States.
Prior to joining UNCDF, Pradeep was the Executive Coordinator of Environment Finance at UNDP where he oversaw a US$ 5 billion environment, climate and energy portfolio across 140 countries and provided strategic leadership of partnerships with the multilateral environment and climate funds, as well as with the private sector, development banks, and private equity funds related to climate finance.
From 2019-2023, Pradeep led UNDP’s Nature, Climate, and Energy Practice, with 300+ personnel across headquarters and 5 Regional Hubs. Previously, he led the development and oversight of UNDP’s Climate Change Adaptation portfolio, and as the senior technical lead in the Global Environmental Finance team from 2010-2018, he played a key role in the trebling of UNDP's resource mobilization efforts for nature, climate and energy.
Prior to joining UNDP in 2006, he worked with the World Bank and an NGO in Sri Lanka.
Management Team
Pradeeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary
With extensive experience in environment finance and climate finance, Pradeep has provided strategic leadership and oversight of multi-billion dollar portfolios across numerous countries.
Shaima Hussein, Special Advisor the Executive Secretary
With over 2 decades of experience. Her extensive international development experience, leadership, and adept programme management skills have been cultivated through various roles within the UN.
Nick Kolev has joined UNCDF as Senior Advisor, Capital Markets for Development (Director) based in New York reporting to the Executive Secretary. Prior to UNCDF, Nick served as Senior Manager at FirstRand Group.
John Rutere, Head, Office of Finance & Management Services
Prior to joining UNCDF, John worked with UNDP for the last 12 years in the Office of Financial Resource Management (OFRM) where he held various roles including Chief of Financial Performance Management where his responsibilities.
Maria Perdomo became UNCDF's Regional Coordinator for Asia in 2021 and brought with her 15 years of experience working with public and private sector stakeholders to bring finance to the most excluded in the LDCs..
Casper Sonesson joined UNCDF in 2020 as Head of Policy. Prior to joining UNCDF, Casper served as Global Policy Adviser on the role of extractive industries and private sector.
