27 April 2025 (Suva, Fiji): Three years serving in the Pacific region

27 April 2025 (Suva, Fiji): This day marks 3 years since my arrival in Fiji (on 27 April 2022) as WFP’s Representative to the Pacific and Country Director of the Pacific Multi-Country Office, covering 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs).

I arrived on my birthday, and my country’s (Sierra Leone’s) Independence Day. It was a memorable day, walking into our office at Kadavu House in Suva, to a warm welcome from colleagues, and warm birthday wishes - cake and songs (the Pacific way!). It was an incredibly exciting moment to be so warmly received in a new place.

Over the last 3 years, I have had the privilege and honor to meet and work with so many driven and incredibly passionate people (from our teams, our development and humanitarian partners, government officials from across the Pacific region) who care very deeply about the well-being of the Pacific people.

Over the past 3 years, we have accomplished very exciting and impactful activities that had further enabled Pacific nations to be better prepared to anticipate, and deal with disasters, in such a disaster-prone region of the world. Our collective efforts are making a difference and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and honor to work with such diverse people from around the Pacific region and elsewhere.