UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Robert Piper of Australia has been named as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' special adviser on solutions to internal displacement.

According to a statement released by the UN chief's office, the appointment of a special adviser on solutions to internal displacement "is a fundamental component of the secretary-Action general's Agenda on Internal Displacement."

The action agenda, developed in response to the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement's September 2021 report, will help mobilise collective action and advance solutions for the millions of people who are currently displaced within their own countries, with a focus on root causes anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The special adviser will "ensure robust follow-up to" the action agenda and strengthen UN leadership on solutions by galvanising high-level engagement on durable solutions to internal displacement at global, regional, and country levels; strengthening linkages with development actors, including international financial institutions; and driving collaboration within the UN system to advance durable solutions more effectively.

According to the announcement, the special adviser would "ensure a strong emphasis on sustainable development,", particularly through the enhanced UN resident coordinator system and UN country teams around the world.

Piper has more than 30 years of experience at the United Nations in international development, humanitarian response, and peacebuilding. He is now the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director of the UN Development Coordination Office.

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