Naysán Sahba

Naysán Sahba was appointed Director of UNICEF’s Division of Global Communication and Advocacy in January 2023. 

Naysán returned to UNICEF from the World Bank Group where he served as the External and Corporate Relations Unit’s Manager of Engagement and Partnerships, overseeing global stakeholder engagement, partner relations, and advocacy and campaigns. 

Before joining the World Bank in 2020, he was the UN Environment Programme's Global Communication Director for six years, based in Kenya. Prior to that, Naysán held various roles with UNICEF and WHO, beginning as a communication consultant in New York, going on to serve the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in the Horn of Africa and India, then working on communication for development programmes at the state and national levels for UNICEF India, and finally as Chief of Communication, Advocacy, Participation, and Partnerships at UNICEF Mozambique.

He began his career in communication for development in Canada, in the non-profit sector, working with indigenous community radio stations internationally and producing multimedia content about innovative sustainable development solutions.

Naysán holds a BA in English Literature from University of British Columbia, and an MA in International Development and English Studies from the University of Guelph. He is an Iranian-born citizen of Canada.

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