Sophie de Caen

Who is Sophie de Caen?

Sophie de Caen, a citizen of Canada, is a senior UN official working for the United Nations Development Programme.

Since 2004, she is Resident Representative of UNDP, and Resident Coordinator of the United Nations, in Cameroon. According to some local media, she stood out for reinforcing cooperation between Cameroon and the UN

In 2006, she hosted in Cameroon's capital Yaoundé the launch of the Humanitarian Appeal 2006 for the Central African Republic, chaired by CAR UN Humanitarian Coordinator Joseph Foumbi.

In 2008, she was at the forefront in coordinating the response of the international community to the inflow of Chadian refugees in the aftermath of the Battle of N'Djamena, in efforts which included the 2008 Kousséri vaccination campaign led by UNICEF.

After three years in Cameroon, Ms. de Caen left to become the Director of the MDG Achievement Fund in New York. This Fund is financed by Spain and promotes the attainment of the MDGs through eight thematic windows in 50 countries. The Fund is in line with UN Reform and works only through joint programmes bringing together two or more UN Agencies with national governments and other partners.

While at the Fund, Ms. de Caen oversaw a portfolio of 130 joint programmes with budgets totalling US$700 million which supported countries in reaching the MDGs, increasing national ownership and leadership of development in 50 countries and improving UN coordination. The Fund also contributed to bringing attention to issues of inequalities.