Katarzyna Wawiernia is a native of Poland, serving in the United Nations since 2005. She held Resident Representative Position in UNDP Sao Tome e Principe since April 1, 2019. She also held Resident Coordinator interim function in Sao Tome e Principe for one and a half year.

Prior to this appointment, Katarzyna was UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Malawi (2013-2018). From 2008-2013, she served as UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau. From 2005 to 2008, Katarzyna was responsible for capacity building and procurement at UNDP Angola.

Prior to that, Katarzyna worked for five years as a microfinance advisor in the non-governmental sector in South Africa and Mozambique, where she managed income-generating programmes for refugees. She started her career in the corporate sector in Poland in 1996.

Katarzyna holds a master’s degree in Banking and Finance from the Warsaw School of Economics (Poland) and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Development (specialising in Conflict, Security, and Development) from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom).

She speaks English, Portuguese, French, Spanish, and basic Russian. Katarzyna likes traveling, and discovering new cultures. She has volunteerism at her heart and likes being among people in the field. She has two twin daughters.