Mr. Jacob C. van Hierden of the Netherlands has devoted about 30 years to development, peacebuilding and humanitarian assistance. From 1991 to 2016 he worked with the United Nations system, after which he headed the international NGO Cordaid in Afghanistan before taking up the position of Resident Coordinator for Micronesia on 1 October 2021.

Mr. Van Hierden launched his UN career in 1991 as a Field Implementation Officer for UNCDF in Sierra Leone, before moving to UNDP in Bangkok in 1994. Since joining UNOPS upon it’s establishment in 1995, he went on to hold a wide range of country, regional and corporate level managerial and leadership positions, including placements in Kuala Lumpur, New York, Copenhagen, Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Manila. He last assignments with UNOPS was as Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific from 2009 to 2013, and Country Director and Representative for Cambodia and the Philippines from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure as Head of Cordaid in Afghanistan, he supported private sector development as well as the delivery of basic services, peacebuilding, security and justice and humanitarian aid.

He has in-depth experience in establishing, managing and leading offices, departments, and programmes as well as complex organisational development and strategic planning, coordination and policy development. Mr. van Hierden has a strong track record of delivering tangible results across a variety of sectors in humanitarian, peacebuilding and development contexts.

Mr. van Hierden has a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Wageningen University with specializations in development economics, marketing and business administration.