Dr. James Wakiaga is the UNDP Resident Representative in Zambia. He previously served in a similar position in Eritrea (2019–2023) and as Senior Economist at UNDP in Ethiopia (2013–2019) and Zimbabwe (2009–2013). With a 15-year career in the United Nations and 17 years of public sector and diplomatic experience, Dr. Wakiaga has served as Chief Economist/Director in Kenya’s Foreign Service, Head of Policy and Research at the Foreign Service Institute, and as Counsellor at the Kenya Embassy in Washington DC (2003–2008). He has contributed extensively to knowledge products on poverty, governance, the MDGs, SDGs, human development, and economic growth. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi, a master’s in Economics from Renmin University of China, and a Doctorate in Social Transformation from Tangaza University in Kenya.