Manila, Philippines, January 2026 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announces the arrival of Mr. Christophe Bahuet as its new Resident Representative in the Philippines.

As the new UNDP Philippines Resident Representative, Mr. Bahuet brings renewed leadership and commitment to advancing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development in the Philippines, aligned with national priorities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He will lead UNDP’s delivery of integrated solutions linking governance, digital transformation, peacebuilding, climate action, and resilience to address the country’s interconnected development challenge.

In this capacity, Mr. Bahuet will lead the work of UNDP in support of human development in the Philippines with a focus on climate actions, governance, preacebuilding and economic transformation through innovation, digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence for all. 

As a member of the United Nations Country Team, Mr. Bahuet will contribute to the impactful and efficient work of the United Nations in the Philippines, working closely with the Resident Coordinator and other Heads of UN agencies.

He will continue building UNDP close cooperation with Government at central and local levels, the private sector, the civil society and academic institutions as well as with development partners, including Embassies, the Delegation of the European Union, and international financial institutions.

Prior to his appointment in the Philippines, Christophe Bahuet was the UNDP Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and the Director of the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, where he oversaw 24 UNDP Country Offices and regional partnerships since October 2020.

His earlier assignments with UNDP included Indonesia, China, Viet Nam, Ghana, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. He also worked in UNDP Headquarters in New York, in the Evaluation Office and in the Partnership Bureau. Prior to joining UNDP, he was posted at the French Embassy in Yugoslavia.

Mr Bahuet, a French national, holds a Master’s Degree with Honours from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, a Diploma in Southeast Asian studies from the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations in Paris, a Law Degree and a Degree in Slavic languages from the University of Bordeaux. [E]