Delivering as One, a UN in China conversation presented by Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee: Episode 2 with Matteo Marchisio

In the second episode of the Delivering as One podcast, UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee sits down with Matteo Marchisio, Country Director and Representative in China for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Born and raised in Milan, Mr. Marchisio grew up in an ordinary Italian family (and with a Chinese grandmother), over time developing an interest in diversity and a desire to learn from and help others. After starting in development cooperation work with the Government of Italy in Colombia and subsequent travel and work in posts ranging from Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America for UNDP and the World Bank, Mr. Marchisio joined IFAD in 2011. 

Having worked in China since 2014, Mr. Marchisio is responsible for IFAD in China's efforts to provide financing and promote development strategies that reduce extreme rural poverty in developing countries while advocating for government policies that improve the access of rural people to agricultural technologies, services, and employment opportunities.

“One thing that really impressed me is the fast pace by which China has developed and changed”

In this episode, Mr. Marchisio shares his insights learnt on the ground in China in areas such as food security, climate change, and South-South Cooperation. Together with the Resident Coordinator, the two discuss the 40th anniversary of IFAD’s first loan to China, the rural revitalization agenda, and IFAD’s work in China to leave no one behind and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the UN system in China.

Listen to the second episode of Delivering as One below and stay tuned for future instalments.

Matteo Marchisio

Matteo Marchisio is a Country Director in the Asia and the Pacific Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He is currently responsible for China, DPRK and Republic of Korea, and is heading the IFAD East Asia Regional Hub and South-South Cooperation Center. His responsibilities include managing the development of strategies to reduce extreme rural poverty and advocating for an enhancement of national government programmes that improve the access of poor rural people to natural resources, agricultural technologies, financial services, markets, employment opportunities and enterprise development.

Before joining IFAD in 2011, Marchisio worked as Environmental Specialist at the World Bank in Washington DC, as Climate Change Specialist in UNDP India, and as a Program Officer in UNDP Ethiopia, among other experiences. He began his professional career with the Italian Cooperation in Colombia. He has working experience in over 15 countries in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.

Marchisio holds an M.Sc. in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics, London, and a Degree in Economic and Social Sciences, with a major in Environmental Economics, from Bocconi University, Milan.

Siddharth Chatterjee

Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee took office as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China on 16 January 2021 and is the designated representative of - and reports to - the UN Secretary-General. He presented his letter of credence to the President of China on 14 April 2021.

Mr. Chatterjee has more than 25 years of experience in international cooperation, sustainable development, humanitarian coordination and peace and security in the United Nations and the Red Cross movement. He has served in many fragile and war-torn countries all over the world.

A 3 times TEDx speaker, he is a regular opinion contributor on humanitarian and development issues for a range of journals which includes Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Huffington Post, Forbes, CNN, Al Jazeera, the Guardian as well as of late he has also published in mainstream Chinese journals.

Mr. Chatterjee holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University in the United States of America.