Tenu Avafia joined Unitaid in May 2022 as Deputy Executive Director, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience across public health, human rights, inclusive development, and international trade law. He has lived and worked in several low-and-middle income countries with a broad range of partners including UN Member States, civil society, private sector partners and multilateral institutions.
Before joining Unitaid, he served as the Head of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Zimbabwe where he supported the coordination of the UN Country Team comprising of 25 UN entities working across development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. He previously led a team at UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support in New York that specialized in public health, human rights, key populations, as well as health technology innovation and access. He holds a master’s degree in international trade law from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and a PhD in intellectual property law from Queen Mary University of London.