Biographical Note

Geeta Rao Gupta of United States Appointed Deputy Executive Director

 

of United Nations Children’s Fund

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Geeta Rao Gupta, a United States national born in India, as Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  Ms. Rao Gupta will succeed Saad Houry.  The Secretary-General would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Houry for his exceptional service and commitment to UNICEF.

Before becoming a Senior Fellow, Global Development, at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ms. Rao Gupta served for over a decade as the President of the International Center for Research on Women.

She is an internationally recognized expert on gender and development issues, with 20 years of innovative experience in international development, research, policy and programme development.  She has worked extensively on gender equality, poverty alleviation and global health issues.

Ms. Rao Gupta holds a doctorate degree in social psychology, Bangalore University, India (1985), a Master of Philosophy degree in psychology, University of Delhi, India (1979), and a master’s degree in clinical psychology, University of Delhi, India (1977). 

Ms. Rao Gupta was born in 1956.

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For information media • not an official record