Auke Lootsma assumed his duties as UNDP's Resident Representative in Ukraine on 15 July 2025. Before coming to Ukraine, he led the UNDP office in Iraq from November 2022 to July 2025, and from February 2019 to November 2022 served as UNDP Resident Representative in Yemen, after initially joining that country office in August 2016 as Country Director. His career with UNDP spans over 30 years, having joined the organisation in 1994, and includes key positions as UNDP Country Director in Rwanda, Senior Recovery Advisor in Ukraine, Deputy Country Director in Sudan, and Deputy Resident Representative in Uganda.
UNDP's priorities in Ukraine under his leadership are firmly aligned with the country's national recovery and development agenda, encompassing support for communities affected by the war, facilitating the safe return of displaced persons, boosting inclusive economic growth, and fostering social cohesion. This includes extensive work in mine action and debris clearance, rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, enhancing the resilience of Ukraine's energy system, and addressing environmental impacts of the war.
Most recently, Lootsma played a key role in the official launch of Phase II of EU4Recovery — a strategic partnership between the EU and UNDP with a total budget of €50 million for 2026–2028, aimed at supporting war-affected communities across Ukraine while advancing the country's path towards EU integration.