On January 4, 2023, Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), appointed Susana Sottoli, an Argentinian national, as UNFPA’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. She brings over 20 years of strategic and programmatic leadership experience within the UN system, gained at both headquarters and in the field. Prior to joining UNFPA, Ms. Sottoli served as the UN Resident Coordinator in Bolivia.
With a strong background in human rights, gender, and development, she has led the creation of global and regional programs in areas such as migration, urbanization, adolescent development and participation, social protection, disability inclusion, social and behavior change communication, among others. An expert on Latin America and the Caribbean, she has demonstrated the ability to navigate the sociopolitical complexities of middle- and upper-middle-income countries, consistently advocating for the rights of those disproportionately affected by exclusion and inequality. Ms. Sottoli has a proven track record of building broad-based partnerships—including with governments, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector—to achieve results for women, children, and young people.
Before her appointment as UN Resident Coordinator in Bolivia, she held several positions at UNICEF: Deputy Director of the Programme Division (2016–2020), Associate Director for Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement (2012–2016) at UNICEF Headquarters in New York, Country Representative in Mexico (2007–2012), Social Policy Advisor at the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) in Panama (2004–2007), and Deputy Representative/Senior Programme Coordinator in Paraguay (2001–2003). Before joining UNICEF, Ms. Sottoli spent over a decade working as a researcher and consultant in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, advising governments and international organizations on development issues.
Ms. Sottoli holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Universidad Católica in Paraguay, a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Missouri (USA), and a Doctorate in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. She is a former Fulbright and DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) fellow.
