Ricardo Godinho Gomes is a political scientist with more than 18 years of international development experience at senior level, combining UNDP’s strategic leadership, policy advisory and business operations across Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions. 

Since 2010, Godinho Gomes has led the design and delivery of multi-country democratic and economic governance programmes funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP, at senior advisor level. More recently, Ricardo has been the Head of Partnerships and Chief Technical Advisor of the African Portuguese-speaking Countries and Timor-Leste (PALOP-TL) multi-country and South-South/Triangular Cooperation Public Finance Management Programme, aka the Pro PALOP-TL. 

He has been responsible for mobilising and managing over 25 million Euros in resources, negotiating high-level contribution agreements with the EU and cost sharing agreements with other bilateral partner countries, and for ensuring efficient and impactful programme delivery. 

His experience reflects a consistent focus on development strategy and policy advice. He has supported Ministries of Finance, Parliaments, Supreme Audit Institutions and CSOs to strengthen fiscal transparency, external control, domestic resource mobilisation and gender-responsive budgeting - translating UNDP’s Strategic Plan and SDG 16/5/17 targets into concrete reforms, laws and digital innovations. 

Ricardo’s work has contributed to position UNDP as a global thought leader in Public Finance Management through South-South and Triangular Cooperation by brokering peer-to-peer partnerships with Brazil and Portugal PFM state institutions, INTOSAI and its member associations (AFROSAI-E and OISC | CPLP), and by showcasing programme results at IMF, IBP, OGP and UNOSSC forums. 

On the operational side, Mr. Godinho Gomes has overseen multi-country Programme Management Units, supervised diverse senior multi-country teams, ensured compliance with EU/UNDP frameworks, and introduced risk-informed planning and delivery systems. 

Beyond management, he cultivates strategic partnerships across the UN system (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP/BPPS Gender Team), government, academia and civil society, demonstrating an ability to align national priorities with Agendas 2030 and 2063. This track record illustrates not only longevity but proven results at scale: delivering complex regional portfolios, shaping high-level policy dialogue, ensuring operational excellence, and mobilising transformative partnerships.