Our Team

Xavier Michon, Deputy Executive Secretary

Xavier Michon was appointed as Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in late 2014. As part of his duties, he plays a critical role to support the Executive Secretary in providing leadership and shaping the strategic vision and direction of the organization. He provides direct oversight to the development of the programme of work and plays an active role in the implementation of UNCDF’s capital development mandate and management of the organization.

French national, he has had a long career at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), previously serving in Burundi and Guatemala as Country Director, in Peru as Deputy Resident Representative, and in the New York headquarters with the Regional Bureaus for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, as Programme Advisor. Prior to joining UNDP, he served as Project Management Officer in the Africa and Environmental Programmes Divisions, at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). He also worked as Financial Derivatives Broker at Iberagentes / Crédit Lyonnais Securities in Spain, and as Officer-in-charge of the French-Dominican Chamber of Commerce promoting business opportunities and investment in the Dominican Republic.

Xavier Michon received a maîtrise in Business Management from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion (ISG) in Paris, France, and a master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in New York, USA. He speaks fluently French, English, Spanish, Italian, and has basic conversational skills in Portuguese.

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Our 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.

Xavier Michon, Deputy Executive Secretary

With over 2 decades of experience in the UN, brings in-depth knowledge of programme and operations at HQ and in the field.

Henri Dommel, Director, Inclusive Finance

Henri Dommel, a French national, joined UNCDF as Director of Financial Inclusion in 2007.

David Jackson, Director, Local Development Finance

David Jackson, a British national, has over 30 years of experience in Local Development.

Anders Berlin, Director, LDC Investment Platform

Anders Berlin was previously the Head of Unit for Loans and Guarantees at Sida, and managed a portfolio of about 50 projects around the world.

Nick K. Kolev, Senior Adviser

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.

Christel Alvergne, Regional Coordinator, WCA

Christel Alvergne, a French national, joined UNCDF in 2008, and is now the Regional coordinator for West and central Africa.

Maria Perdomo, Regional Coordinator, Asia Pacific

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, Policy Adviser

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.

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