Head of the Resident Coordinator Office in Venezuela

Meet Ivan Baztan Olalde, Head of the Resident Coordinator Office in Venezuela. Ivan joined the RC System in 2019, following over 20 years of experience in various development cooperation and humanitarian entities.   

Ivan played a key role in supporting the Resident Coordinator and the UN country team in designing the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2026). He was instrumental in successfully carrying-out months of consultations with a broad range of local stakeholders which resulted in a Cooperation Framework that lays out a realistic, yet ambitious path toward achieving the SDGs in a humanitarian setting. Key issues include governance, justice reform, human rights, social cohesion, basic services delivery, and the collaboration between humanitarian, development and peace pillars, with a focus on the most left behind.  

Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, Ivan facilitated the successful inclusion of non-resident agencies (UN Women, UN Habitat, UNIDO, UNED, ILO and UNESCO) in the design process of the Cooperation Framework. The incorporation of their mandates, expertise, and perspectives resulted in a more comprehensive and multidimensional proposal for sustainable development in Venezuela. His work also helped secure the commitment of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the private sector to actively participate in the implementation of the CF, making a significant contribution to the Agenda 2030. 

 During the pandemic, Ivan also assumed the role of COVID-19 Coordinator and facilitated a strategic planning exercise with the UN country team, which resulted in reprogramming resources to better respond to emerging needs in health, water and sanitation and access to nutritious food.