Ibrahim Thiaw
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Ibrahim Thiaw is a Mauritanian public servant who served as executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from 2019 to 2025.[1][2]
Early life and education
Born in 1957 in Tékane, Mauritania, Thiaw holds an advanced degree in forestry and forest product techniques.[3]
Career
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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.[4]
Thiaw joined the United Nations in 2007 as director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
Thiaw 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.[8] He was succeeded in this position by Simon Stiell on 15 August that same year.[9]
Personal life
Thiaw is married and has three children.
References
- ↑ Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) United Nations, press release of January 31, 2019.
- ↑ Secretary-General Appoints Yasmine Fouad of Egypt Executive Secretary of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification United Nations, press release of 22 May 2025.
- ↑ Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) United Nations, press release of January 31, 2019.
- ↑ "Ibrahim Thiaw". Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ↑ "Ibrahim Thiaw: Director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI)". UNEP. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
- ↑ "Secretary-General appoints Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme". Press release. United Nations. 2 August 2013.
- ↑ Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) United Nations, press release of January 31, 2019.
- ↑ Lo, Joe (2022-06-21). "Ibrahim Thiaw appointed interim UN Climate Change head". Climate Home News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ↑ "Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 2024-02-11.