Donato Kiniger-Passigli

Country:

Swiss Confederation

WAAS Designation:

Fellow

Primary Position & Institution:

Vice President (Social Sciences and Humanities) WAAS; WAAS Representative to the UN in Geneva

Short Bio:

Donato Kiniger Passigli is Vice President (Social Sciences and Humanities) of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) and is the WAAS Representative to the UN in Geneva. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for Peace and Security at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). He is a journalist and a member of the Italian Press Federation. Donato is an expert in crisis resolution, development cooperation, public and labor affairs. Until recently, he coordinated the Fragile States and Disaster Response Group at the International Labour Organization (ILO). Donato specialized in promoting crisis response programs and initiatives in the wake of major humanitarian crises, addressing governance and employment deficits. In his over 30 years at the United Nations, he was also a spokesperson for the UN Humanitarian Affairs Office (OCHA) and head of the Media and Public Affairs branch of the Hague-Based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Donato also served as chief of staff for the UN mission in Western Sahara and was head of external relations at the International Criminal Tribunal for Former-Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Previously, he acted as head of office in Belgrade for the UN peacekeeping mission and, as an economic affairs officer, managed large UN development programmes. Donato specialized in humanitarian action and governance, conflict analysis, risk management, disaster needs assessment, business continuity and partnership-building. He authors articles, delivers lectures and training on the above subjects.