UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

Government

United Nations Population Fund

Sedat Önal

Maritza Chan

Muhammad Muhith

Ib Petersen is the current Deputy Executive Director (Management) at the [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). Ib was previously employed at the UNFPA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As State Secretary, Development Policy (Direktør for Udviklingspolitik), they were responsible for the coordination of development policy within the Danish Government. Ib has also worked on various projects concerning humanitarian aid, poverty alleviation and population growth.

Ib Petersen has a Masters in Political Science from Aarhus University and a degree from Langkær Gymnasium.

Ib Petersen reports to Natalia Kanem, Executive Director. Some individuals on their team include Luca Baldini - Director, Information Technology and Solutions Office (ITSO), Eric Dupont - Chief, Procurement Services Branch, and Andrew Saberton - Director, Division of Management Services. They work with Ian McFarlane - Director, Communications and Strategic Partnerships, Diene Keita - Deputy Executive Director (Programme), and Pio Smith - Chief, Office of the Executive Director.

Ib Petersen

Diene Keita is the current Deputy Executive Director (Programme) at [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). Diene has previously served as the Country Representative for UNFPA Nigeria from September 2006 to June 2018. In this role, they were responsible for leading multi-million USD public health programmes annually and providing strategic guidance and leadership on the planning, execution, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

During their time as Country Representative, Keita took charge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) coordination which was initially plagued by numerous challenges, the most significant being the humanitarian crisis in the country's North East region. As UNFPA Representative, Keita took bold steps to address these challenges. First, they met donors and advocated for longer-term humanitarian funding for the GBV position. Diene was able to mobilize significant resources for long-term funding of the GBV coordinator position. Second, they initiated GBV high-level coordination meetings at the national level co-chaired by the Minister of Women Affairs and herself. Diene took this opportunity to develop the national capacity of GBV and GBV Coordination. These measures helped to address the coordination bottlenecks significantly. They strengthened UNFPA's position in the country as a reliable humanitarian actor with the capacity to respond and prevent GBV as well as coordinate the GBV partners.

Keita's experience in Nigeria has been instrumental in shaping their current role as Deputy Executive Director (Programme) at [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). In this role, they provide strategic guidance and leadership on all aspects of UNFPA's work, including programme planning, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Under their guidance, UNFPA has been able to significantly scale up its response to global challenges such as population growth, reproductive health and rights, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

Diene Keita reports to Natalia Kanem, Executive Director. Diene Keita works with Ib Petersen - Deputy Executive Director (Management), Pio Smith - Chief, Office of the Executive Director, and Ian McFarlane - Director, Communications and Strategic Partnerships. Some direct reports include Arthur Erken - Director, Programme Division, Harold Robinson Davis - Regional Director, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Argentina Matavel Piccin - Regional Director, West and Central Africa.

Diene Keita

Luca Baldini is the Director of Information Technology and Solutions Office (ITSO) at [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). Luca has been with UNFPA since January 2018 and in their current role, they provide technology and business process leadership, ensuring that UNFPA’s organizational units benefit from innovative new technologies to enable effective and efficient programme delivery and operational support.

Prior to joining UNFPA, Luca Baldini was the Chief, Information Management Services at UNRWA from July 2016 to December 2017. In this role, they were responsible for the planning, implementation and operation of Software and Data Management Solutions for the Enterprise Applications of UNRWA. Luca also supported the Agency’s transformation programmes, providing high level business and technical solutions for effectively implementing new business requirements, business changes and business transformation with a view to streamline and automate business processes and procedures.

Luca Baldini received their Bachelor's degree in Informatics and Automation Engineering from Università eCampus. Luca also has an Information Technology High School Diploma (equivalent to A Level) from ITIS G. Armellini. Luca is certified by [ISACA](/org/isaca) in COBIT 5 Foundation and COBIT 5 Implementation, and by [The Open Group](/org/the-open-group) in TOGAF 9.

Some of their coworkers include Eric Dupont - Chief, Procurement Services Branch, Shoko Arakaki - Director Humanitarian Office, and Andrew Saberton - Director, Division of Management Services. Luca Baldini reports to Ib Petersen, Deputy Executive Director (Management).

Luca Baldini

Alanna Armitage is the Regional Director for Eastern Europe & Central Asia at the [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). Prior to their current position, they served as a Programme Officer for [UNDP](/org/undp), managing programmes in the field of health, HIV/AIDS, gender, and education. Armitage was also the [UNDP](/org/undp) focal point in Mauritania for 15 [United Nations](/org/united-nations) agencies.

Before their time with [UNDP](/org/undp), Armitage served as the Gender and Development Advisor for the Canadian International Development Agency. In this role, they produced technical guidance notes on Women and the Environment and Women and HIV. Armitage also wrote and produced the Annual Report of the Women in Development Directorate and undertook Gender Impact Assessments of development projects.

Armitage began their career as a Volunteer for the Belize Rural Women's Association. In this role, they drafted project documents for resource mobilization and supported media workshops.

Alanna Armitage has a PhD in Anthropology and Sociology of Development from the Geneva Graduate Institute, a PG Diploma in Health Systems Management from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London, a Master's degree in International Development and Cooperation from the [University of Ottawa](/org/university-of-ottawa), and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Cultural Anthropology from [Western University](/org/western-university).

Alanna Armitage reports to Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director (Programme). They work with Julitta Onabanjo - Director Technical Division, Bjorn Andersson - Regional Director, Asia and the Pacific, and Arthur Erken - Director, Programme Division.

Alanna Armitage

Luay Shabaneh is the current Regional Director for the Arab States at the [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). Luay has extensive experience in the field of population and development, having served as a technical advisor for population policies and data at UNFPA, as well as the Chief for Population and Development at UNFPA Iraq. Prior to their work with the [United Nations](/org/united-nations), Mr. Shabaneh was the President of the Palestine Central Bureau of Statistics for five years, during which time they led official statistics in Palestine.

Luay Shabaneh earned a PhD in social statistics from a school in the United Kingdom. Prior to that, they earned a Master of Science in statistics from the University of Jordan.

They work with Argentina Matavel Piccin - Regional Director, West and Central Africa, Arthur Erken - Director, Programme Division, and Harold Robinson Davis - Regional Director, Latin America & the Caribbean. Their manager is Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director (Programme).

Luay Shabaneh

Harold Robinson Davis is the current Regional Director for Latin America & the Caribbean at the [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). Harold has held this position since October 2019. Prior to this, they were the Resident Coordinator at the [United Nations](/org/united-nations) from December 2016 to October 2019. Before that, they were the UNFPA Representative for Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay from July 2009 to September 2014. Harold has also worked as the Deputy Representative at [UNDP](/org/undp) from January 1998 to December 2002.

Harold Robinson Davis received their master's degree in agriculture and natural resource economics from the University of California, Davis.

Harold Robinson Davis works with Luay Shabaneh - Regional Director, Arab States, Argentina Matavel Piccin - Regional Director, West and Central Africa, and Alanna Armitage - Regional Director, Eastern Europe & Central Asia. Their manager is Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director (Programme).

Harold Robinson Davis

Josephine Mbithi is the Director of Human Resources at the United Nations Population Fund. Prior to their current role, Josephine spent five years as the Head of Human Resources at the World Bank Group. In this role, Josephine was responsible for spearheading the design and delivery of high engagement programs that built positive working relationships cross-functionally across regions. Josephine was also selected to represent the corporate-wide Human Resources organization at global events.

Under Josephine's leadership, the team at the World Bank Group achieved employee retention standards by developing trust and collecting feedback, playing the role of "voice of the field." Talent development was also a top priority for Josephine, who was a top rated facilitator and subject matter expert delivering workshops to high-profile region executives on topics including employee management and engagement, conflict resolution, and strategic partnering with Human Resources.

In addition to their work in talent development, Josephine was also a member of Africa Regional Management Team, Corporate WBG HR Management Team and Nairobi Office Crisis Management Team. In these roles, they were responsible for translating experiences from "field clients" to inform corporate initiative development and present and empower HR teams in the field to identify issues and proactively and professionally implement corporate and local HR programs.

Finally, Josephine was also responsible for relationship building, performance culture, and identifying high performing human resources professionals across regions. Josephine's dedication to their work has resulted in a long list of accomplishments that have had a positive impact on the organizations they have worked for.

Josephine Mbithi has a professional doctorate in organizational change from Ashridge Executive Education, [Hult International Business School](/org/hult-international-business-school). Josephine also has an MSc in information systems from [Bentley University](/org/bentley-university) and an MSc in international business from Arthur D. Little School of Management (Hult International Business School). Josephine has a BA in economics and philosophy from the [University of Nairobi](/org/university-of-nairobi) and is a high school graduate with "O" and "A" levels from The Kenya High School.

They are on a team with Eric Dupont - Chief, Procurement Services Branch, Luca Baldini - Director, Information Technology and Solutions Office (ITSO), and Andrew Saberton - Director, Division of Management Services. Their manager is Ib Petersen, Deputy Executive Director (Management).

Josephine Mbithi

Mariarosa Cutillo is the current Chief of Strategic Partnerships Branch at [United Nations Population Fund](/org/united-nations-population-fund-unfpa). 

Mariarosa has previously worked as the CEO of Valore Sociale - Multistakeholder Organisation for Corporate Social Responsbility from March 2009 to December 2012, and as International and External Relations Head at Mani Tese - International Development NGO from January 1998 to December 2009.

Mariarosa Cutillo went to [Fordham University](/org/fordham-university) for their SJD Program, [Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore](/org/universita-cattolica-del-sacro-cuore) for their Master's in Small and Medium Enterprises Administration, Università degli Studi di Milano for their postgraduate degree in International Law, and [Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore](/org/universita-cattolica-del-sacro-cuore), Milan for their Law Degree in Advanced Public International Law. Mariarosa also attended Liceo Scientifico Alessandro Volta - Milan, [Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore](/org/universita-cattolica-del-sacro-cuore) for their Political Sciences degree, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca for their Faculty of Economics and Statistics degree, and Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca for their Faculty of Law degree. Mariarosa is also certified from RINA in SA 8000 Auditor.

Mariarosa Cutillo reports to Ian McFarlane, Director, Communications and Strategic Partnerships. They work with Klaus Simoni Pedersen - Chief, Resource Mobilization Branch, Selinde Dulckeit - Chief, Media and Communications.

Mariarosa Cutillo

Ian McFarlane

Klaus Simoni Pedersen

Dr. Bannet Ndyanabangi

Julitta Onabanjo

On 3 October 2017, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Dr. Natalia Kanem Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. She brings to the position more than 30 years of strategic leadership experience in the fields of medicine, public and reproductive health, peace, social justice, and philanthropy. 
 
“The UNFPA mandate has never been more relevant,” Dr. Kanem said. She is the fifth Executive Director of UNFPA since the Fund became operational in 1969.

Natalia Kanem

Selinde Dulckeit

Shoko Arakaki

Eric Dupont

Andrew Saberton

Arthur Erken

Argentina Matavel Piccin

Bjorn Andersson

Pio Smith

The leadership team at United Nations Population Fund has a history of government experience and education in political science. The team is experienced in working with foreign affairs and development policy.

Leadership Team

About

Team members

Other teams at United Nations Population Fund

CEO and Executive Team

Division for Communications and Strategic Partnerships

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