Ibrahim Thiaw

Ibrahim Thiaw in 2016.

Ibrahim Thiaw is a Mauritianian public servant who has been serving as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) since 2019.[1]

Early life and education

Born in 1957 in Tékane, Mauritania, Thiaw holds an advanced degree in forestry and forest product techniques.[2]

Career

Thiaw worked in his country's Ministry of Rural Development for 10 years before joining the World Conservation Union (IUCN), where he served ten years holding different positions.[3]

Thiaw joined the United Nations in 2007 as Director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).[4] From 2013 to 2018, he was Deputy Executive Director of UNEP at the level of Assistant Secretary-General, under the leadership of successive Executive Directors Achim Steiner and Erik Solheim. He was appointed to this position by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 2 August 2013.[5] In this capacity, he played a key role in shaping the organization's strategic vision, mid-term strategy and programme of work, and strengthened collaborations with Governments and other environmental governing bodies, including the United Nations Environmental Assembly.[6]

He also served the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as its interim head after Patricia Espinosa stepped down, and started his term on 17 July 2022.[7] He was succeeded in this position by Simon Stiell on 15 August that same year.[8]

Personal life

Thiaw is married and has three children.

References

1. Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) United Nations, press release of January 31, 2019.
2. Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) United Nations, press release of January 31, 2019.
3. "Ibrahim Thiaw". Retrieved 2024-08-17.
4. "Ibrahim Thiaw: Director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI)". UNEP.
5. "Secretary-General appoints Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme". Press release. United Nations. 2 August 2013.
6. Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) United Nations, press release of January 31, 2019.
7. Lo, Joe (2022-06-21). "Ibrahim Thiaw appointed interim UN Climate Change head". Climate Home News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
8. "Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 2024-02-11.