Mr. Shahid Najam assumed his office as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ankara on 24 December 2009.

Mr. Najam, a national of Pakistan, expressed enormous pleasure to have been posted to Turkey, a country which has been historically at the forefront in expanding the development frontiers of human civilization. He underscored his commitment to work closely with the Turkish government, civil society and other partners to increase UN-Turkey cooperation by focusing primarily on joint priorities.

Mr. Najam has to his credit, four Masterates  including Masters of Law and MSc. Public Policy from London School of Economics and Political Science, London UK and MSc. Rural Development a joint programme of Wye College London. He has a vast experience of more than 33 years (of which more than 15 years with the UN system) in public policy formulation and analysis; development planning  and programming ; formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects and work plans; resource mobilization and management; and disaster management and relief operations. Some high level positions with Government of Pakistan held by Mr. Najam included Commissioner, Lahore Division and Chief Operating Officer, Punjab Board of Investment and Trade.

Mr. Najam has served in various capacities in the UN system, including FAO Representative, Iran, Chief Decentralization Support Service and Deputy FAO Representative in Tanzania.

His major contribution included formulation and management of large development programs in the economic and social sectors including 5 years joint FAO-Iran National Medium Term Priority Framework in the agriculture sector; specifically targeted programs for poverty alleviation, income generation and urban and rural development; development of  community based and managed "Model villages" in the poverty stricken rural areas and "Model Wards" in the poor urban slums; the design and implementation of the new decentralized governance system in Pakistan involving delegation, devolution and deconcentration of power in favour of the elected representatives at local level; and establishment of Investment Promotion Agency for the province of Punjab in Pakistan.

He speaks English, French and Urdu and is reasonably well conversant with Farsi.