Mounir Tabet who is a national of Canada took up his official functions as deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in September 2018. Mr. Tabet was the UNDP country director for Iraq from 2016 to 2018 and oversaw the program on stabilization and transition. Prior to joining UNDP Mr. Tabet worked with the North-South Institute and the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, and the University of Ottawa.

Between 1989 and 2003 he served in a variety of country and headquarters positions with UNDP. From 2013 to 2016 he was the resident coordinator in Tunisia, supporting the country’s transition through constitution-making and anti-corruption initiatives, and the implementation of measures to enhance parliamentary effectiveness.

He was a senior program advisor in the regional bureau for the Arab States at UNDP headquarters in New York from 2004 to 2007, and country director of UNDP Egypt from 2007 to 2013.

Mr. Tabet is an Edward S. Mason Fellow, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University where he obtained a Master's degree in public administration. He also holds a Master's degree in economics from the University of Ottawa.