Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL REAPPOINTS THORAYA OBAID OF SAUDI ARABIA

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND

 

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the reappointment of Thoraya Obaid of Saudi Arabia as Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  Ms. Obaid was originally appointed by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan in October 2000.

She succeeded Dr. Nafis Sadik, a national of Pakistan, who held the post since 1987.

UNFPA is the world's largest internationally funded source of population assistance to developing countries.  Since it began operations in 1969, the Fund has provided more than $4.5 billion in assistance to virtually all developing countries.

Ms. Obaid was Director of the Division for Arab States and Europe at UNFPA from 1998 to 2000.  Before that, she had worked in various positions at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).  She held the post of Deputy Executive Secretary between 1993 and 1998, and was Officer-in-Charge of ESCWA in 1994 and 1995.  Among other positions, she was Chief of the Social Development and Population Division in 1992 and 1993.  Ms. Obaid has published many articles and presented papers in national, regional and international meetings on issues related to Arab women and the Arab/Muslim social context.

Ms. Obaid directs UNFPA’s population and reproductive health programme, as well as the Fund's relations with the United Nations system and the international community of donors and programme countries.  She provides leadership for advocacy and fund-raising for the organization's programme and budget, and manages UNFPA's financial and human resources, consisting of approximately 1,000 staff.  The post of Executive Director is at the level of Under-Secretary-General.

Ms. Obaid studied English Literature and Cultural Anthropology at the Universities of Mills College in California and Wayne State in Detroit, Michigan, where she was awarded a PhD.  She is married and has two daughters.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/746-BIO/3325-POP/951 dated 25 October 2000.

For information media • not an official record