Carlos Lopes (Guinea Bissau)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Lopes of Guinea Bissau currently serves as Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research
(UNITAR). He was appointed to this capacity by United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon
in March 2007. Prior to this appointment, Lopes was Director for Political Affairs in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
.
In his early career, Lopes worked on research and diplomacy in the public service of Guinea-Bissau. In 1988, he became a development economist in United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), where he had held numerous positions, including Deputy Director for the Office of Evaluation and Strategic Planning, Resident Representative in Zimbabwe
, and Deputy/Director of the Bureau of Development Policy. He was Deputy Assistant Administrator at UNDP as well as a member of the Organization’s executive team. At UNDP, he had managed a portfolio of one billion dollars and served at the level of Assistant Secretary-General for more than a year. In 2003, he was appointed UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Brazil
.
Lopes has written many books and lectured in a number of academic institutions including universities in Lisbon
, Coimbra
, Zurich
, Uppsala
, Mexico
, San Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
. He has established INEP, a research institution in West Africa and worked as consultant for UNESCO, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(SIDA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Research and Technological Exchange Group (GRET) and Ruraltec Switzerland.
Lopes holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Paris
1 Panthéon-Sorbonne as well as degrees from the Graduate Institute of Development Studies
, in Geneva. He is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
United Nations Institute for Training and Research
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research was established in 1965 following a "for the training of personnel, particularly from developing Member States, for administrative and operational assignments with the United Nations and the specialized agencies, both at Headquarters and in...
(UNITAR). He was appointed to this capacity by United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
in March 2007. Prior to this appointment, Lopes was Director for Political Affairs in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
In his early career, Lopes worked on research and diplomacy in the public service of Guinea-Bissau. In 1988, he became a development economist in United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
(UNDP), where he had held numerous positions, including Deputy Director for the Office of Evaluation and Strategic Planning, Resident Representative in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, and Deputy/Director of the Bureau of Development Policy. He was Deputy Assistant Administrator at UNDP as well as a member of the Organization’s executive team. At UNDP, he had managed a portfolio of one billion dollars and served at the level of Assistant Secretary-General for more than a year. In 2003, he was appointed UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Lopes has written many books and lectured in a number of academic institutions including universities in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, San Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. He has established INEP, a research institution in West Africa and worked as consultant for UNESCO, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(SIDA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Research and Technological Exchange Group (GRET) and Ruraltec Switzerland.
Lopes holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
1 Panthéon-Sorbonne as well as degrees from the Graduate Institute of Development Studies
Graduate Institute of Development Studies
The Graduate Institute of Development Studies was a graduate school in Geneva, Switzerland focusing on development studies...
, in Geneva. He is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.