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Zitouni Ould-Dada

Zitouni Ould-Dada

Senior Advisor, FAIRR

Dr Ould-Dada has 26 years' international experience working with the United Nations and the governments of United Kingdom and France in high profile areas including climate change, food security, energy security, technology and innovation, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He led negotiations on climate change and technology in the United Nations, and on environmental policy in the European Union. He successfully delivered agreements which contributed to the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. He led many teams from diverse backgrounds and nationalities and delivering results and solutions. Dr Ould-Dada is renowned internationally for his effective leadership, facilitation and diplomatic skills which make him a reliable collaborator for building successful partnerships and initiatives and delivering results.

He was Deputy Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, composed of around 250 staff, at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Before joining FAO in 2018, he was Head of Technology Unit at United Nations Environment Parogramme (UNEP) for five years leading work on technology, climate change, renewables and energy efficiency. Before joining the UN in 2013, he completed a successful 15-year career working for the British Government holding several senior positions at Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC); Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); Food Standards Agency (FSA); Environment Agency; and Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. He also worked for the French Government on international climate change during France Presidency of the European Union in 2008.

Dr Ould-Dada was the Lead Negotiator on climate change and technology for UK and France; Chair of climate change negotiations under the UN; Chair of EU Expert Group on Technology; Chair of Policy and Strategy Committee of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). He was Member of UN Task Forces established by the UN Secretary General to i) develop a Technology Facilitation Mechanism to implement the SDGs, and ii) support the Egyptian Presidency for COP27 UN climate change conference, and iii) currently with the UN Food Systems Task Force. He participated in the “Sustainable Markets Initiative Roundtable on Land and Agriculture” hosted by His Royal Highness King Charles in November 2020, and then at subsequent two roundtables on global food security held at Windsor Castle in April 2022 and February 2023.

Dr Ould-Dada is a national of Morocco and United Kingdom, holds a PhD in Environmental/Radiation Protection from Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; a master’s degree in environmental management and planning from Université de Rennes, France; and a BSc in Environmental Engineering from Institut Universitaire de Technologie, Perpignan, France.