Fireside Chat with Karla Robin Hershey

UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Serbia

Topic: “Dialogue for the the Future”

Interviewer: Mr. Julian Harston, UN Assistant Secretary-General (ret.)

Ms. Hershey presented “Dialogue for the Future” at Conflux Center on the 26th of February, 2018, where she addressed how sensitive political issues were addressed through the work of development UN partners at the local community level, focusing on:

• Promoting inter-cultural dialogue through culture, sports, education, health
• Working in multi-cultural geographical areas
• Working with youth
• Connecting young people from South West Serbia to the youth in other parts of Serbia and with young people in other countries across the globe (Dialogue Café)
• Studying linkages between culture and development in the context of the Post 2015 Consultations for Agenda 2030
• Relevance of the Alliance of Civilizations concept for some of the activities implemented in the past
• Promoting human security concept

She also discussed the present future planned activities in the Western Balkans Region, namely dialogue for the future concept that promotes regional cooperation and dialogue between different communities in Serbia through culture, youth and education focused activities.

Ms. Hershey has 28 years of development and humanitarian experience. Currently she serves as the UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia with 20 members on the United Nations Country Team. Prior to this, she served as Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Maseru, Lesotho (2012-2017). She also served with the World Food Programme as their Representative and Country Director in Swaziland (2009-2012); Deputy Country Director in Malawi (2006-2009); acting Country Director in Syria (2007); Programme, Procurement and Public Information Officer in Tanzania (2003-2006); WFP Liaison Officer to the Special Envoy, Bureau for East and Southern Africa, Johannesburg (2002-2003) and
Ethiopia (2000-2002). 

Ms. Hershey began her UN career with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as Humanitarian Affairs Officer (OCHA) in Angola (1998-2000).  Prior to joining the UN, she served in various capacities with World Vision Relief and Development in Angola, Rotary International in Evanston, Illinois, American Employee’s Association in Rwanda and United States Peace Corps in Rwanda as a Business Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Cooperatives (Rwanda 1989 – 1993) and the
YMCA.

Ms. Heshey holds an M.B.A in Management and B.A. in Economics and Political Science.