Our team

Mr. Maxwell Gomera, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda

Mr. Maxwell Gomera, a Zimbabwe national, joins the UNDP Rwanda office from UN Environment where he was the Director of the Biodiversity and Land Branch since 2016.

He is a resource economist with over 20 years’ experience in nature conservation and agricultural development.

He has worked on economic development issues, including being part of a team that developed the ‘Global Green New Deal’ for reviving the global economy and boosting employment in response to the financial and economic crisis of 2008.

‘The 2008 crisis offered many lessons. An enduring one for me was the need for us to take time for introspection and make sure that we are building futures for ourselves that have a purpose far greater than the zeroes on a bank balance,’ he said.

Max has worked extensively with governments and corporates from across the world on a range of issues, including tourism development, human rights and wildlife management. ‘Until the people who live with wildlife recognise them as an important resource, the future for wildlife will remain uncertain,’ he said.

Max is a Senior Fellow of Aspen New Voices. He is an accomplished writer and has written for many National and Global mainstream newspapers and media – and is also widely published. He has been a member of many Boards.

Max is married and has two daughters and a son – they all love Arsenal Football Club.

Ms. Varsha Redkar-Palepu, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Programme & Operations in Rwanda

Prior to this appointment Varsha served as Head of the UN RC Office & Senior Policy Advisor for Ethiopia 2018-19, and was UNDP Head of the Regional UNDG Secretariat Arab States/ MENA in New York 2013-2017. Varsha served as UNDP Assistant Resident Representative for Armenia 2011-13 and UNDP Governance Advisor for Somalia 2009-12. Varsha supported the first generation One UN pilot countries as Programme Specialist UNSSC 2007-09, prior to that she was UNDP Learning & Capacity Development Specialist at HQ in New York 2003-07. Varsha has worked as an educator in Community Health promoting youth and women’s empowerment and with the Canadian Ontario College of Teachers 1998-2002. She was a Gender Researcher in Sri Lanka with the Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA, and the University of Guelph 1996-97.

Varsha is a Harvard University Senior Executive Fellow and holds a Masters of International Public Administration, New York University, Bachelors of Education from the University of Toronto and a Bachelors of International Development & Philosophy, University of Guelph,