Jaco Cilliers assumed the role of Chief, Regional Policy and Programme Support for Asia and the Pacific, in
September 2017. He also serves as Senior Advisor for Innovation and Business Development at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub. He was the Country Director of UNDP India during July 2014 – September 2017. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Resident Representative for UNDP in Uzbekistan, where he was responsible for the management and coordination of Programmes and Operations. He also worked with UNDP Cyprus as Senior Programme Manager and Head of Office.

Before joining the United Nations, Dr. Cilliers worked for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as Deputy Regional Director for Southern and Central Africa, and before that as senior advisor for program quality. He held senior management positions for other international development NGO’s in various parts of the world.  He also worked as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis at George Mason University, and taught seminars and courses in conflict resolution and peacebuilding at Sabanci University (Turkey), Nelson Mandela University (South Africa) and University of Notre Dame (US). Jaco Cilliers completed his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees from George Mason University in the United States, and his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) and BA Honours (cum laude) degrees from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. He specialized in sustainable development, social and political interventions, as well as conflict management, reconstruction and transformation processes.