Ibrahim Thiaw is a Mauritianian public servant who has been serving as Executive Secretary of the

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD) is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through ...

(UNCCD) since 2019.

Early life and education

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

Career

Thiaw worked in his country's Ministry of Rural Development for 10 years before joining the

World Conservation Union The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

(IUCN), where he served 15 years holding different positions. He was President of the

PanAfrican Archaeological Association The PanAfrican Archaeological Association (PAA) is a pan-African professional organisation for archaeologists, geologists and palaeoanthropologists. History The association was founded by Louis Leakey and its first congress was held in Nairo ...

from 2014 to 2018. Thiaw joined the United Nations in 2007 as Director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) at

United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on th ...

(

UNEP The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on ...

). 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 Achim Steiner (born 17 May 1961) is a Brazilian-born environmentalist who currently serves as the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and chairman of United Nations Sustainable Development Group. Before joining UNDP, he w ...

and

Erik Solheim Erik Solheim (born 18 January 1955) is a Norwegian diplomat and former politician. He served in the Norwegian government from 2005 to 2012 as Minister of International Development and Minister of the Environment, and as Under-Secretary-General of ...

. He was appointed to this position by

United Nations Secretary-General The secretary-general of the United Nations (UNSG or SG) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. The role of the secretary-g ...

Ban Ki-moon on 2 August 2013. 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.Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania - Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
United Nations, press release of January 31, 2019.

Personal life

Thiaw is married and has three children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thiaw, Ibrahim Mauritanian officials of the United Nations Living people 1957 births People from Trarza Region United Nations Environment Programme