Mr. Toshiyuki Niwa, who has made longstanding contributions to the United Nations, was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in the Spring 2015 Honors. His distinguished service includes his leadership as UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen, Nepal, and Thailand, as well as his tenure as United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, during which he oversaw finance, administration, and management for UNDP, the UN Secretariat, and UNICEF Headquarters in New York, while also leading UN reform initiatives and the Capital Master Plan.
The decoration was presented on behalf of the Government of Japan by Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa, then Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, on March 11, 2015.
