Inger Andersen was born on May 23, 1958. She is a Danish expert in economics and the environment. In February 2019, she was named the head of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Before joining the United Nations Environment Programme, Andersen worked as the Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. She also held the position of Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank. Additionally, she served as the Head of the CGIAR Fund Council and later worked as the World Bank’s Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa.

Family, early life and education

Inger Andersen is the daughter of Aagot la Cour Andersen and Erik Andersen. She is the granddaughter of Vilhelm la Cour, a Danish historian and archaeologist. Her brother is Hans la Cour, an author and filmmaker who is well-known in the fields of sailing sports and environmental documentaries.

Inger Andersen was born in Jerup, Denmark. She graduated from Midtfyns Gymnasium, a secondary school, in 1977. In 1981, she earned a bachelor's degree from the Polytechnic of North London, which is now called London Metropolitan University. In 1982, she received a master's degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Her studies focused on development, with an emphasis on economics and development.

Career

Andersen began her career in Sudan in 1982, where she first worked as an English teacher through the UK-funded English Teachers Programme. In 1985, she joined SudanAid, the development and relief organization linked to the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference. Her work focused on addressing famine, drought, and helping communities recover from hardship.

From 1985 to 1997, Andersen worked at the United Nations in New York for 12 years at the UN Sudano-Sahelian Office (UNSO), which is now known as the Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi. During this time, she worked on issues related to drought and desertification. In 1992, she became the Global Environment Facility Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she managed environmental projects across 22 Arab countries.

In 1999, Andersen joined the World Bank as the Coordinator of the UNDP-World Bank International Waters Partnership, a role she held until 2001. In the years that followed, she worked in various positions focused on water, environment, and sustainable development, with a primary focus on the Middle East and North Africa.

From 2010 to 2011, Andersen served as the World Bank’s Vice President for Sustainable Development and Head of the CGIAR Fund Council. During her time in this role, she helped create the CGIAR Fund Council and the CGIAR Consortium. As Vice President, she supported the World Bank’s priorities, including improving agricultural productivity, increasing food security, investing in infrastructure, building resilience to climate change, promoting green growth, ensuring social accountability, managing disaster risks, and linking culture to development.

As Sector Director, Andersen led efforts to expand the World Bank’s support for building resilient infrastructure, such as energy, water, and transportation systems, as well as investments in agriculture and the environment. She emphasized the importance of addressing climate and water challenges, which she believed could threaten peace and stability in the region.

In 2012, Andersen co-chaired an international donor meeting for Yemen in Riyadh with the then-Finance Minister of Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al-Assaf. As Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, she spoke publicly about the humanitarian impact of the war in Gaza in 2014, calling for access to imports and freedom of movement in Gaza and the West Bank. She also stressed the need for mutual security guarantees between Palestinian territories and Israel. In 2011, she represented the World Bank at the G8/G7 Finance Ministers’ Deauville meetings, which aimed to provide additional support to the Arab region.

In January 2015, Andersen was appointed Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an organization with over 50 offices worldwide. Under her leadership, IUCN held its 2016 World Conservation Congress in Hawaii, the largest international conservation event in the United States. The event was opened by President Barack Obama.

During her time at IUCN, Andersen emphasized the importance of protecting nature as a key part of achieving sustainable development. She stated, “Nature is not an obstacle to human aspirations, but an essential partner, offering valuable contributions towards all our endeavours.”

On February 21, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly elected Andersen as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She was appointed for a four-year term. On January 18, 2023, the General Assembly confirmed her reappointment for another four-year term, which will end on June 14, 2027.

Other activities

• United Nations Global Compact, Member of the Board
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Member of the Financial Inquiry Advisory Committee

• Nespresso, Member of the Sustainability Advisory Board (NSAB)

• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Member of the High-level Leadership Council
• Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All), Member of the Advisory Board
• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), Member of the Advisory Board
• World Economic Forum (WEF), Global Agenda Trustee for Environment and Natural Resource Security
• 2030 Water Resources Group, Member of the Governing Council and Steering Board
• Eco Forum Global, Member of the International Advisory Council (EFG-IAC)
• International Gender Champions (IGC), Member
• International Olympic Committee (IOC), Member of the Sustainability and Legacy Commission

Selected publications

• Andersen, I., and George Golitzen, K., editors. The Niger River Basin: A Vision for Sustainable Management. World Bank Publications, 2005.
• Wolf, T., and Aaron, editors. Sharing Water, Sharing Benefits: A Workbook for Managing Water Across Borders. UNESCO and Oregon State University, 2010.
• Gladstone, W., and others. Sustainable Use of Renewable Resources and Conservation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Elsevier, Volume 42, 1999.
• Andersen, I. Healthy Oceans: The Foundation for a Sustainable Future. Impakter.com, 2017.

Honors and awards

• Received the International Road Federation 2013 Professional of the Year
• Received the Tufts University Dr. Jean Mayer Award 2014