Diene Keita has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres stepping into one of the most challenging roles in global health and human rights.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for UNFPA, the UN agency responsible for sexual and reproductive health worldwide. With operations spanning 150 countries and territories, UNFPA works on the frontlines of some of humanity’s most pressing challenges: from ensuring safe childbirth in conflict zones to combating female genital mutilation and child marriage.
As Executive Director, Keita will spearhead UNFPA’s global mission: “ensuring every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person can reach their full potential.”
Keita, who has been serving as Acting Executive Director since July this year, brings an impressive three-decade track record that uniquely positions her for this moment.
“Throughout my career, I have dedicated my efforts to advancing human dignity and inclusive development. From serving as Guinea’s Minister of International Cooperation and African Integration, to leading UNDP programmes in fragile contexts, to my tenure as UNFPA Deputy Executive Director, I have consistently worked to forge partnerships, mobilize resources, and deliver results for women, girls and young people everywhere,” she writes on her LinkedIn bio
Indeed, her journey through international development reads like a masterclass in public service, beginning her career in development worrk in 1990 with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) , serving in progressively senior positions before joining UNFPA. She has represented UNFPA in several countries, including Mauritania, Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria. She has also served as Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, with responsibility for leading inter-agency coordination and crisis response.
In recognition of her service, Ms. Keita has received the distinction of Commander of the National Order in both Benin and Mauritania.
She is also the co-author of several publications on sustainable development in Africa.
What also sets Keita apart is her rare combination of government leadership and grassroots UN experience. Before dedicating her career fully to the UN system, she served as Guinea’s Minister for Cooperation and African Integration, giving her invaluable insights into how international aid actually works (or doesn’t work), from a recipient country’s perspective.
Throughout her career, Keita has consistently focused on issues that often receive inadequate attention: empowering women and youth, addressing demographic challenges, and ensuring that the most vulnerable have access to essential health services. Her work has taken her from remote villages where women die in childbirth due to lack of basic medical care, to refugee camps where sexual violence is used as a weapon of war.
Since joining UNFPA’s senior leadership as Deputy Executive Director for Programmes in 2020, Keita has overseen the agency’s programmatic work during some of its most challenging years. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted reproductive health services globally, while conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and elsewhere created new humanitarian crises requiring urgent response.
Keita succeeds Natalia Kanem of Panama, who led UNFPA through the pandemic years and helped secure record funding for the agency’s work. Under Kanem’s leadership, UNFPA expanded its reach and influence. But significant challenges remain.
Keita’s academic credentials—including a doctorate in law and advanced degrees in international economics, development law, and international relations—provide a strong foundation for tackling these multifaceted challenges. But colleagues say her real strength lies in her ability to build bridges and find practical solutions in difficult circumstances.
New African Women Magazine
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