Egypt

Leadership

Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Egypt Resident Representative

Mr. Alessandro Fracassetti is the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Mr. Fracassetti brings to the position over 25 years of management and development experience in international organizations and has a track record of strong partnerships with governments and development partners in transition and middle-income countries.

His last post has been as UNDP Resident Representative in Azerbaijan. His prior assignments in UNDP include Deputy Resident Representative in Azerbaijan from 2016 to 2018, Deputy Resident Representative in North Macedonia from 2011 to 2016, Deputy Resident Representative in Croatia from 2006 to 2011 and Assistant Resident Representative in Belarus from 2004 to 2006.

Before UNDP, he served with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996 to 1998 as Senior Election Officer and from 1998 to 2000 as Senior Political Advisor, and in Croatia from 2000 to 2004 as OSCE Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs.

Mr. Fracassetti is a national of Italy. He holds a Master’s degree in Politics and Administration of the European Union from the College of Europe in Bruges, a BA in International Relations from the University of Sussex and a Certificate of Political Studies from Science Po Strasbourg. He is married and has two sons.

Sylvain Merlen, UNDP Egypt Deputy Resident Representative

Mr. Sylvain Merlen is the Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Mr. Merlen has over 20 years of management and experience in international development, in academia and in the private sector in energy and banking. He has a track record of setting up and growing high-performing operations in post-crisis countries and emerging markets.

His prior United Nations appointments include Head of UNDP office in Aden from 2013 to 2018, Field Coordination Officer with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Nepal from 2011 to 2012, Recovery Advisor with UNDP in Haiti in 2010, Strategic Planning Specialist with UNDP in Iraq from 2006 to 2009 and Policy Analyst with the Office of Development Studies in UNDP New York headquarters from 2003 to 2005.

Mr. Merlen also worked in academia and in the private sector, including as advisor on NeOn global renewable energy investments and as Financial Analyst at Commerzbank.

Mr. Merlen holds a Master Degree in Economics from Princeton University, a Master Degree in Engineering and Applied Mathematics from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and a Certificate in Language Studies from the American University in Cairo.