The UNFPA Representation Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, operates under the Division Policy and Strategy Division (PSD) located at UNFPA Headquarters in New York. The Representation Office (RO) represents the Fund to the African Union (AU) and the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). In this multilateral space, the RO supports and facilitates the advancement of the AU's Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” and the sustainable development goals SDGs, Agenda 2030. It manages strategies related to inter-governmental processes relevant to UNFPA's mandate on the African continent and globally as they impact the continent. The work of the office aims to achieve Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for women, adolescents, and young people, avert harmful practices and promote gender equality. The office also contributes to strengthening the strategic positioning of UNFPA on the continent by gathering political support from the AUC and AU Member States in relation to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD PoA), thereby working in harmony with the UNFPA Regional Offices (ASRO, ESARO, and WCARO) in a “One Africa” Spirit, as well as with other UN entities.
Representational Office
Addis Ababa
Representation Office
- Chief: Ms. Ndeye Rose Sarr
- UNECA Complex, Congo Building 1st Floor, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- +(251) 115 444 085
- nrsarr@unfpa.org
Prior to this appointment, Rose served as the UNFPA Representative in The Gambia, where she led the implementation of the 9th country programme and oversaw the country’s first digital population and housing census. Rose previously served as the Regional Desk Specialist for the UNFPA West and Central Africa Region. In this capacity, she contributed to the development of various country programmes and supported quality assurance, human resources alignment, and capacity development through the Programme Review Committee and the Internal Consulting Group.
Before joining UNFPA, Rose gained extensive programme management experience at UN Women, UNDP, and within the nonprofit sector. She has administered multiple grants for programs in Asia and Africa focused on gender equality, combating violence against women, and advancing women’s health and reproductive rights.
Her field and community development experience includes advocacy for the ICPD Programme of Action and the Beijing Platform for Action. She was part of the team that developed the UNDP Gender Equality Seal and co-led the development of UNFPA’s Social and Environmental Standards for Programming.
An advocate for staff wellbeing, Rose co-leads the "women@unfpa" employee resource group and previously served as Vice Chairperson of the Paul Hoffman Fund. Rose holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Quebec in Montreal and a Master of Arts in International Relations from Webster University. She is fluent in French and English, with a strong command of Spanish.
