UNFF Secretariat

The United Nations Forum on Forests is serviced by a compact Secretariat, which is responsible for logistic preparations for UNFF-related meetings, timely preparation and dissemination of documents, as well as servicing meetings of the UNFF and its Bureau. The Secretariat also serves as the Secretariat for the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, and facilitates UNFF inter-sessional activities, such as expert group meetings and country-led initiatives.

Director, UNFF Secretariat

Ms. Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo was appointed by the UN Secretary General as Director of the UN Forum on Forests Secretariat on 20 January 2022. Ms. Biao is a national of Benin, and a Canadian Citizen. She has a wealth of experience in international development and 32 cumulative years managing complex initiatives across Africa, in Latin America, and Canada with a focus on the environment, community livelihood and gender equality. She has worked with a range of international organizations developing, managing or mobilizing resources. As the first female forester in West Africa, Dr. Biao pioneered ground-breaking initiatives including participatory management of protected areas. For over 6 years, she provided strong leadership in preventing, mitigating and resolving transhumance-related conflicts at the “W” international Park, shared between Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Ms. Biao joined UNFFS from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi where she served for over six years as the Director and Regional Representative for Africa. She worked with Canadian Crossroads International as the Director of Programs. She also served the Canadian Centre for international Studies and Cooperation as the Regional Director for Africa, as well as with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for West Africa. She worked for 7 years with a private sector organization.

Ms. Biao served as Benin’s Minister of Environment and Nature Protection as well as Acting Minister of Family and the Child.

Ms. Biao holds an M.Sc. in Forestry economics, a PhD in Public Policy and Administration and numerous other certificates for which she gained academic accolades. She has won the Global Women’s Leadership and Green Future Leadership Awards and named Commander of the National Order of Merit. Ms. Biao is fluent in English, French, Bulgarian, and confident in Spanish.