prior to his career with the united nations, agbénonci was senior programme coordinator and chief of staff at the pan–african social prospects centre in benin, and worked in the faculty of law at the university of nanterre in france. he has served throughout africa, including as deputy resident representative of the united nations development programme (undp) in côte d’ivoire, from 1999 to 2003, and cameroon, from 1996 to 1999. he was united nations resident coordinator and undp resident representative in rwanda, from 2008 to 2011, and congo, from 2003 to 2008. agbénonci was the humanitarian coordinator, united nations resident coordinator and undp resident representative in mali from 2012 to 2013.