Mark Bowden

Mark is a Senior Research Associate with the Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI (Overseas Development Institute). He was previously an Assistant Secretary General in the UN serving as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan in UNAMA with responsibility on development coherence, governance, economic development, gender and rule of law. He was also concurrently appointed as the UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in charge of coordination of the United Nations System activities, humanitarian disaster management and development coordination. He served In Afghanistan between November 2012 and March 2017. From April 2008 to November 2012, Mark was the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Designated Official and UNDP Resident Representative for Somalia, and was previously assigned as the Director of Civil Affairs in the UN Mission in Sudan. From 2001 to 2005, he was extensively involved in the design of humanitarian reforms as the Chief of the Policy Development and Studies Branch in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Prior to his work with the UN, Mark had extensive NGO experience and worked for Save the Children for twenty years as a country director, Regional Adviser and as Africa Director. Mark was appointed CMG in the 2017 Birthday honours for his services to Humanitarian Assistance