Désiré Assogbavi is a jurist, advocate, and international development strategist with more than two decades of progressive experience in policy analysis, humanitarian diplomacy, high-level representation, strategic leadership, and program management at national, regional, and global levels. His expertise covers international law, human rights, governance, human security, administrative sciences, and humanitarian and social policies.

Widely recognized as an authority on African policies, politics and institutions, Désiré has extensive knowledge of multilateral institutions, particularly the African Union (AU), its Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the United Nations system.

He currently serves as Advocacy Advisor for Africa at the Open Society Foundations (OSF). Prior to this role, he was Senior Director of Advocacy and Strategic Relations for Africa at the ONE Campaign and earlier Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to the African Union and UNECA, where from 2017 to 2019 he directed the Fund’s Liaison Office in Addis Ababa. In that capacity, he advanced work on population and development within the frameworks of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the AU’s Agenda 2063, with a particular focus on youth, demographic dividends, gender justice, and the empowerment of women and girls.

From 2009 to 2017, Désiré was the founding Head of Oxfam International’s Liaison Office to the AU, following earlier roles as Senior Policy Analyst at Oxfam GB (2006–2009) and Coordinator of the Africa Team at the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (2001–2006) in New York. He also briefly led Plan International’s Pan Africa Office before rejoining UNFPA.

In Togo, Désiré was elected by the Parliament to serve as Commissioner on both the National Human Rights Commission and the Inter-Ministerial Commission for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law (1997–2001). During this time, he also headed the Civic Education Department at the Ministry of Communication and hosted widely followed civic education programs on national radio, reaching more than two million listeners daily.

Earlier in his career, he contributed to global disarmament efforts as a researcher with the Nobel Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), co-authoring four global Landmine Monitor reports. Since 2014, he has also been a member of the Netherlands Government’s Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies.

Désiré has authored and presented more than 100 articles, papers, and studies on international justice, humanitarian law, governance, civil service reform, the African Union, and African policies and politics. He also led the drafting team for the first reference manual on the AU, the African Union Compendium.

Educated in Togo, France, Canada, and Austria in international law, administrative sciences, human rights, and management, Désiré is fluent in both French and English.

About This Blog

This blog is a civic initiative committed to sharing information, analysis, and perspectives on African politics — with a particular focus on the African Union (AU) and other Pan African institutions. Its core purpose is to promote citizen engagement in shaping continental decisions and to encourage their effective implementation at the national level. Beyond the AU, the blog also explores the role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other regional mechanisms that serve as vital building blocks for Africa’s integration and collective development.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this blog are solely my own and do not necessarily represent those of my current or former employers. They should not be cited or attributed to them under any circumstances.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I look forward to thoughtful exchanges with you on the pressing issues shaping Africa’s political future.

Contact: Desire.Assogbavi@Assodesire.com  or Desire.Assogbavi@gmail.com

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