Thomas Pitaud

With more than 25 years of experience in agriculture, environment, and climate adaptation, Thomas brings extensive expertise in advancing global and multilateral environmental agreements. He has worked on initiatives to halt biodiversity loss, address ecosystem degradation, tackle climate change, and reduce disaster risk. His experience spans key frameworks such as the Rio Conventions (UNCBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC), the Sendai Framework, and related policy and programming processes, including NDCs, NBSAPs, Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, and other national action plans.

Before his current role, Thomas led climate resilience and renewable energy efforts at UNDP’s Sub-regional Office for West and Central Africa in Dakar. From 2015 to 2020, he served at the UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa, supporting the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience Initiative. Between 2010 and 2015, he was UNDP’s Chief Technical Advisor on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Haiti.

Prior to joining UNDP, Thomas worked with the World Bank, the private sector, and community-led organizations on sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation. He holds a BA in Agronomy and Rural Development from the University of the French West Indies and Guyana and an MA in Development Studies from the University of Geneva.