Philippe Lazzarini

Philippe Lazzarini, a national of Switzerland, was appointed Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 30 December 2013.

Prior to his current assignment, he served as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Somalia since March 2013. Mr. Lazzarini has also held senior positions in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, including Deputy Director of the Coordination and Response Division, as well as various field positions in Iraq, Angola, Somalia and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Lazzarini held several positions with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), serving as a delegate in southern Sudan, Beirut, Amman and Gaza, and leading ICRC operations in Bosnia, Angola (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola-controlled areas) and Rwanda. He also served as Deputy Head of the ICRC Communications Department.

He holds an MBA from the University of Lausanne and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Neuchâtel.

He is married and has three children.