Career
He is serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund). Prior to this appointment of July 2014 by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Omar Abdi held several positions with United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund including Comptroller and Deputy Executive Director / Management (2007-2010). Abdi was born in Somalia.
He obtained a bachelor"s degree in civil engineering in 1982, a master"s degree in regional planning in 1988, and a doctorate in development economics in 1991.
From 1982 to 1986, Omar cabdi served in the Somali government as a Senior Planning Officer in the National Refugee Commission. He later acted as Director of the Planning Department from 1987 to 1989.
In 1992 Omar cabdi became a Programme Officer in Liberia, and was transferred to New York two years later. From September 1996 to June 1998, he served as a United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Representative in Liberia.
Abdi then became United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Representative in Ghana in June 1998.
Between June 2000 and 2003, he served as Deputy Director of the Programme Division at United Nations Headquarters. Abdi subsequently held various positions within United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, including as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Representative in Islamabad, Pakistan and as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Director of the Middle East and North Africa Region. In July 2007, he was appointed to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund Deputy Executive Director by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
