Biography
Tatiana Valovaya is the 13th Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UN Geneva) and the first woman to occupy the position.
Ms. Valovaya has more than 35 years of experience in public service, diplomacy, and journalism. She began her career in 1983 in the editorial office of the Economic Gazette in Moscow, first as a correspondent and later as deputy editor for the Department of World Economy.
In 1989, Ms. Valovaya joined the Permanent Mission of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the European Union (EU) where she served as Third Secretary. She then became Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the EU, a position she held until 1994. During her diplomatic career, she oversaw issues relating to financial and economic cooperation.
From 1995 to 1997, Ms. Valovaya worked at the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, where she was responsible for relations with the statutory bodies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). She later served as Head of the Monetary and Financial Policy Directorate at the Ministry for the CIS.
From 1999 to 2012, Ms. Valovaya worked in the Government administration of the Russian Federation as Deputy Director and then Director of the Department of International Cooperation.
Ms. Valovaya joined the Eurasian Economic Commission in 2012 as a Member of the Board (Minister) responsible for integration and macro-economic issues. In this capacity, she led on the implementation of integration policies within the Eurasian Economic Commission. She also coordinated the formation processes of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, oversaw the negotiation of free trade agreements between the Eurasian Economic Community and third countries, and managed relations with international organizations.
In 1980, Ms. Valovaya graduated from the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the Moscow Finance Institute. She holds the scientific degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences (1st doctoral level scientific degree and the degree of Doctor of Economic Sciences from the Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation).
Ms. Valovaya has written more than 170 scientific and journalistic publications on issues of international monetary and credit relations, European and Eurasian economic integration, and multilateral cooperation in the CIS.
In addition to her mother tongue, Russian, she speaks English and French.
UNITED FOR GENDER EQUALITY
UN Geneva is working to improve the representation of women at all levels in order to reach parity, to establish an inclusive and enabling organizational culture free from gender bias and discrimination, and to ensure gender equality and the empowerment of women in its work. UN Geneva’s efforts are implemented through its Policy for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (extended through 2024).
Adopted in 2017 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity sets targets and monitors the following areas: leadership and accountability; senior management; recruitment and retention; creating an enabling environment; and Mission settings.
INTERNATIONAL GENDER CHAMPIONS
Tatiana Valovaya
Director-General, UN Geneva
@un_valovaya
"As the first female Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and having worked in male-dominated spheres during many years of my career, my ultimate goal is that women and men are granted equal opportunities in my organization and beyond. It is self-evident that we will not achieve any of our goals if half of humanity is left aside."
- I support the IGC Panel Parity Pledge.
- I support the IGC gender-based violence pledge.
- Issue a revision of UNOG’s Policy for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for the next period.
- UN Geneva is partnering in a series of photo exhibitions “17 faces of action” in different countries to recognize and demonstrate the contribution of women to the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with subsequent large-scale combined event at the Palais des Nations.
Mandate
The Director-General is appointed by, and is accountable to, the Secretary-General. She is responsible for all the activities of UN Geneva.
Headquartered at the Palais des Nations, UN Geneva does vital work to ensure the United Nations and its partners can continue to serve the international community and communicate its message to the public. UN Geneva is central to the functioning of International Geneva, which hosts more than 40 international organizations, 182 Permanent Missions, and over 400 non-governmental organizations committed to strengthening multilateral diplomacy.
As his representative, the Director-General undertakes political assignments and representation as requested by the Secretary-General.
She represents him in relations with Permanent Missions and observer offices based in Geneva, in addition to cooperating with the Swiss authorities on matters relating to the relevant privileges and immunities of UN system staff in Switzerland.
The Director-General also represents the Secretary-General in relations with regional organizations and regional arrangements. She cooperates with inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, in addition to coordinating with specialized agencies, research institutions, and academic establishments based in Europe.