Jurist, advocate and international development strategist, Désiré Assogbavi has over 20 years of progressive and cross-cutting experience on policy analysis, humanitarian diplomacy, high-level representation, strategic leadership, management and programming at national, regional and global levels. His thematic expertise includes international law and administrative sciences, human rights, governance, human security, humanitarian and social policies. 

Expert on African politics and development issues he has advanced knowledge on multilateral institutions especially the African Union, its Regional Economic Communities and the United Nations System.

Désiré is currently the Francophone Africa Director of the ONE Campaign. He was the Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to the African Union & the UNECA, and the Director of the Fund’s Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 2017 to 2019 where he worked on population and development issues in relation with the United Nations’ Global Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 with a specific focus on the youth, demographic dividend, gender justice & the empowerment of women and girls.

He was the founding Head of the Oxfam International Liaison Office and Resident Representative to the African Union from 2009 until 2017, then briefly headed Plan International Pan Africa Office before joining UNFPA. Previously, he served in Oxfam Great Britain for four years as Senior Policy Analyst (2006–2009). Before joining Oxfam Désiré coordinated the Africa Team of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a project of the World Federalist Movement–Institute for Global Policy in New York from 2001 to 2006.

From 1997 to 2001, elected by the Parliament of Togo, Désiré served in both the National Human Rights Commission and the Inter-Ministerial Commission for the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law as Commissioner. During the same period he produced and presented juridical & civic education programs on the National Radio of Togo and, was appointed in 1997 as Head of the Civic Education Department (Ministry of Communication).

Désiré also worked for four years as a researcher with the Nobel Prize winner the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and have contributed to the publication of four global annual reports of the Landmine Monitor.

Désiré has been appointed since 2014 as a Member of the Knowledge Platform on Inclusive Development Policies, established by the Government of Netherlands.
He published and presented more than 80 articles and papers on various issues including international humanitarian law, international justice, civil service, governance, the African Union, and African politics and, he led the drafting team of the first-reference manual on the African Union: “African Union Compendium”.

Désiré Assogbavi studied international law, administrative sciences, human rights and management in Togo, France, Canada, and Austria. He speaks French and English.

This blog is a civic initiative to share information, updates, analysis and perspectives on African politics in general, the African Union, its various organs and their functioning, policies & politics. The ultimate goal of this platform is to encourage citizens’ participation in the decision-making process of the continental body but also in the implementation of those decisions at the national level. The blog also touches other regional bodies such as the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) considered as the building blocs of the African Union within the continental integration process as well as other Regional Mechanisms within the continent.

Opinions expressed on this blog are unequivocally personal! Current and previous employers not to be quoted under any circumstance.

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

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