Joyce Msuya is a Tanzanian microbiologist and

environmental scientist Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geo ...

who has been serving as Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a United Nations (UN) body established in December 1991 by the General Assembly to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disaster ...

since 2021. From 2018 to 2021, she served as the Deputy Executive Director of the

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) at the level of Assistant Secretary-General.

Early life and education

Msuya was born in Tanzania, circa 1968. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Immunology from the

University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde ( gd, Oilthigh Shrath Chluaidh) is a public research university located in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, it is Glasgow's second-oldest university, having received its royal chart ...

, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1992. She later graduated with a Master of Science degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the

University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa (french: Université d'Ottawa), often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on directly to the northeast of Downtown Ottaw ...

, Ontario, Canada, in 1996.

Career

Early career

Before joining the

World Bank Group The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and best-known development bank in the world and an observer at the United Nations Development Gr ...

, Msuya worked as an International Health Policy Analyst with the Liu Center for Global Studies (now Liu Institute for Global Issues) at the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks among the top thre ...

in Canada. Previously, she worked in Tanzania on various assignments, both in the private and public sectors.

Career at the World Bank

Msuya joined the World Bank in 1998 as a Health Specialist. She went on to build expertise in

development economics Development economics is a branch of economics which deals with economic aspects of the development process in low- and middle- income countries. Its focus is not only on methods of promoting economic development, economic growth and structural ...

as well as lending operations in the health sector during her tenure with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In 2001, she joined the World Bank's Development Economics Vice Presidency as Advisor to the Senior Vice President & Chief Economist, Professor Lord Nicholas Stern. From 2005 to 2011, she worked at the

International Finance Corporation The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory, and asset-management services to encourage private-sector development in less developed countries. The IFC is a member of ...

, in the Departments of Operational Strategy and Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services, where she rose to the position of Principal Strategy Officer. In 2011, Msuya was assigned to the

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

office of the World Bank Institute as Regional Coordinator for East Asia & the Pacific, focusing on support to the Bank's operational work in its efforts to "fight poverty and promote shared prosperity". In April 2014, Msuya was selected by senior management to establish and manage the first World Bank Group office in the

Republic of Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its ea ...

, serving for three years as the World Bank Special Representative to the Republic of Korea and Head of the World Bank Group (WBG) Office based in Songdo, Incheon, South Korea. Msuya subsequently served as an advisor for the World Bank's Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific region, based in

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

Career at UNEP

From 2018 to 2021, Msuya served as the Deputy Executive Director of the

(UNEP) at the level of Assistant Secretary-General. She 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 ...

António Guterres on 21 May 2018, for a 5-year term. She replaced Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania, who had served out his term. Following the resignation of

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 ...

in November 2018, Msuya was appointed acting Executive Director of UNEP.

Personal life

Msuya is married and has two children.

References

External links

Joyce Msuya of Tanzania named Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director at UN Environment
{{DEFAULTSORT:Msuya, Joyce Tanzanian officials of the United Nations Living people 1968 births Tanzanian women Tanzanian women scientists United Nations Environment Programme University of Ottawa alumni Alumni of the University of Strathclyde People from Kilimanjaro Region