Our team

Viet Nam

Our team

The UNDP team in Viet Nam is a dynamic and diverse group of more than 120 professionals, representing multiple nationalities and including individuals with disabilities. With expertise spanning fields such as law, economic, public policy, medicine, management, and more, the team is united in its commitment to sustainable and inclusive development. Its multidisciplinary approach ensures innovative, inclusive, and impactful solutions for Viet Nam’s most pressing challenges.

Ramla Khalidi

Resident Representative

Khalidi has over 30 years of experience working in development and policy research at both the national and regional levels, including 25 years with UNDP and the UN Secretariat.

At the regional level, Ms. Khalidi has led the interdisciplinary and strategic planning efforts of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, and managed the organization’s technical cooperation programmes and policy advisory services to the 18 Member States. She has also led the organization’s partnership with donors, UN agencies and civil society partners.

Ms. Khalidi’s policy work has focused on poverty reduction, inclusive social development, gender equality and good governance. She has also worked as a journalist, a researcher, and a programme manager in diverse country contexts.

Most recently, Ms. Khalidi was UNDP Resident Representative in Syria between 2019 and 2022, where she managed a $50 million programme focused on delivering early recovery and resilience support through the creation of livelihoods opportunities, the rehabilitation of critical social infrastructure, and the promotion of social cohesion.

Ms. Khalidi is a national of Jordan and holds a Master of Arts in Arab Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Tufts University. She is fluent in English and Arabic with a working knowledge of French.

Francesca Nardini

Deputy Resident Representative

Francesca Nardini has joined UNDP Viet Nam since 16 September 2025.

She is an accomplished international development leader with over 18 years of experience across the Arab States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America. Prior to her assignment in Viet Nam, Francesca served as Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Algeria—and recently as Acting Resident Representative—where she led a USD 25 million annual portfolio, achieving 95% implementation of the Country Programme.

Her expertise spans strategic planning, resource mobilization, and operational excellence in politically sensitive and post-disaster contexts. In Algeria, she mobilized over USD 70 million through innovative financing models and high-level partnerships. Previously, she secured USD 150 million in donor commitments across 25 country offices in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Francesca has held key advisory roles at UNDP headquarters, contributed to national health strategies in Haiti, and led systemic innovation initiatives. She holds an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and is fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, and French.