ISTANBUL – Florence Bauer has been appointed as UNFPA’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and has assumed her new functions.
"I'm excited to join UNFPA and lead the Regional Office at this critical time for the region," said Ms. Bauer. "With the war in Ukraine upending millions of lives and women's rights under pressure as the region is grappling with demographic change, our priority must be to sustain the progress made and work towards a bold, positive vision of a more inclusive, more just and more peaceful region where all people can realize their rights and choices."
Ms. Bauer joins UNFPA from UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, where she held senior positions advocating for children’s rights in complex political contexts, most recently as UNICEF Representative in Brazil (2017-2022), Argentina (2014-2017) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2009-2014). Previous assignments also included work for civil society and the private sector.
Throughout her 30-year career, Ms. Bauer has been a strong advocate for positioning children’s and women’s rights on the political agenda and for promoting innovative approaches to reduce inequalities. She has spearheaded programmes focusing on early childhood development; mother, child, and adolescent health and mental health; the prevention of domestic and community violence; and sexuality education for the prevention of early pregnancy and social protection.
Ms. Bauer holds a postgraduate diploma in Public Policy Studies from the University of London, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration with a specialization in International Relations from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales du Nord in Lille, France.
A national of France and Germany, Ms. Bauer is married and has two sons.
Ms. Bauer took over from Alanna Armitage, who headed the Regional Office from 2016 to 2021.
UNFPA’s Regional Office in Istanbul provides strategic support and technical expertise to partners and country offices in 17 countries and territories across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
