The UNFPA Representation Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, operates under the Division Policy and Strategy Division (PSD) located at UNFPA Headquarters in New York. The Representation Office (RO) represents the Fund to the African Union (AU) and the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). In this multilateral space, the RO supports and facilitates the advancement of the AU's Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” and the sustainable development goals SDGs, Agenda 2030. It manages strategies related to inter-governmental processes relevant to UNFPA's mandate on the African continent and globally as they impact the continent. The work of the office aims to achieve Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for women, adolescents, and young people, avert harmful practices and promote gender equality. The office also contributes to strengthening the strategic positioning of UNFPA on the continent by gathering political support from the AUC and AU Member States in relation to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD PoA), thereby working in harmony with the UNFPA Regional Offices (ASRO, ESARO, and WCARO) in a “One Africa” Spirit, as well as with other UN entities.
Representational Office
Addis Ababa
Representation Office
- Chief: Mr. Saturnin EPIE
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia UNECA Compound, Congo Building – 1st Floor
- +(251-1) 115 44 4 085/064
- mhaileyesus@unfpa.org
Prior to his reassignment as Chief, UNFPA Representation Office to the AU and UNECA, Mr. Epié served as Special Assistant to the UNFPA Executive Director in New York, USA, from May 2019 to August 2023. Before that, he was the UNFPA Representative in Togo (2015-2019), and Chief of Operations in Equatorial Guinea (2014-2015). He also served from 2007 to 2014 as Special Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director (Programme) in New York, and as Acting Deputy Country Representative in UNFPA Chad. Mr. Epié joined UNFPA in 2005, following roles as Adviser for social, humanitarian, and cultural affairs to the President of the 59th UN General Assembly, and in the Foreign Service of Gabon. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics with a minor in Political Economics, from the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. Mr. Epié speaks English, French, German, and Spanish. He is married and has three children.
