Filippo Grandi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Filippo Grandi
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Grandi in 2019
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| United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2016 |
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| Secretary-General | |
| Preceded by | António Guterres |
| Commissioner-General of the UNRWA | |
| In office 20 January 2010 – 29 March 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Karen Koning AbuZayd |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Krähenbühl |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 March 1957 Milan, Lombardy, Italy |
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Filippo Grandi was born on March 30, 1957. He is an Italian diplomat and an important official at the United Nations. He currently serves as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This means he leads the main UN agency that helps people who have been forced to leave their homes.
Before this, he was the Commissioner-General for the UNRWA. This agency helps Palestinian refugees. He also worked as a special representative for the UN in Afghanistan. In 2024, he received the Olympic Laureate award during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. This award recognized his work helping refugee athletes.
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Filippo Grandi's Education
Filippo Grandi studied modern history at the University of Milan in Italy. He finished his degree there in 1981. Later, in 1987, he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy. He received this degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
His Work with the United Nations
Early Career and Emergency Missions
Grandi began his career with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1988. The UNHCR is the UN's refugee agency. He worked in many different countries. These included Sudan, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq after the Gulf War.
He also led several emergency operations. These missions helped people in crisis in places like Kenya, Benin, Ghana, and Liberia. He also worked in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa, Yemen, and Afghanistan.
Between 1996 and 1997, he was a Field Coordinator for UNHCR. He also helped with UN humanitarian activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was during the civil war there.
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From 1997 to 2001, Grandi worked in the main office of the UNHCR in Geneva. He started as a Special Assistant and later became the Chief of Staff. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Chief of Mission for UNHCR.
Roles in Afghanistan and UNRWA
In 2004, Grandi joined the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). He served as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General. In this role, he was in charge of political affairs from 2004 to 2005.
In 2005, he moved to the UNRWA. He first served as the Deputy Commissioner-General. Then, from 2010, he became the Commissioner-General. He held this important position until March 29, 2014.
High Commissioner for Refugees
On November 11, 2015, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced a big decision. He planned to appoint Grandi as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Grandi officially started this role in 2016.
On November 23, 2020, the United Nations General Assembly re-elected Grandi. This meant he would continue as High Commissioner for another two and a half years. He continues to serve in this role today.
Since 2019, Grandi has been a member of a special group. This group is part of the World Economic Forum. It focuses on how to invest in humanitarian aid.
During the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, Grandi received a special award. He was given the Olympic Laurel. He was only the third person ever to receive this honor. It recognized his important work in helping refugee athletes.
In July 2025, the Spanish government honored him again. They awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. This is a very high award.
Other Important Roles
Filippo Grandi is also involved in several other important organizations:
- He is an Ex-Officio Member of the Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). He has been in this role since 2016.
- He is a member of the International Gender Champions (IGC). This group works for gender equality.
- He serves on the Strategic Committee of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA).
- He is a member of the Global Future Council on the Future of the Humanitarian System. This is part of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Learn More
- List of Directors and Commissioners-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
See also
In Spanish: Filippo Grandi para niños
