Mr. Ben Mjekodumni

Mr. Ben Majekodunmi (Nigeria/UK/Ireland) has worked for the UN’s development, peace and human rights agenda for 30 years, across five world regions, including for UNICEF, UNHCR, UNDP, the Department of Peace Operations, the Department for Political Affairs, the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Humanitarian Clusters, and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG). He currently serves as the Chief of Staff of the UN Relief and Works Agency, based in Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza. Prior to this, Mr. Majekodunmi served in EOSG, in New York, advising the Deputy Secretary-General on UN policy. Previously, he served in Rwanda from 1994-1996, in the immediate aftermath of the genocide, and in Burundi, Darfur, Lebanon and briefly in Gaza and Burkina Faso. He also served in Nepal between 2004 and 2006, engaging on the country’s political transition in governance, development and equality. In Haiti, from 2010 onward, he served in a multi-hatted role as a Director in the UN peace operation, as member of the UN Country Team, as head of Protection in the humanitarian cluster system, and as UN country representative on human rights, addressing the humanitarian and development crisis that followed the earthquake. He has also served the UN in positions in Geneva and Italy. Prior to joining the UN, he worked as a volunteer with NGOs assisting persons with disabilities, children living inthe streets and incarcerated persons, in Portugal, France, Spain and the UK. Mr. Majekodunmi holds a Master’s Degree in law from the Sorbonne, in France. He has published articles and a book on various issues, including  governance, multilateralism and child protection. He is currently working on a book on selective mutism.