Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the UNEP and UN Habitat

Dr. Ed Barnett MBE

Biography

Ed Barnett MBE is the Deputy High Commissioner & Permanent Representative to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Habitat, taking up his appointment in July 2024.

Ed has extensive experience working in Africa and the Middle East, including on education, health, humanitarian, economic and security issues. He has previously served as Deputy Ambassador in Mogadishu (2022-23) and Development Director in Beirut (2019-21). Since joining the UK Government in 2012, Ed has also held senior roles on Africa Strategy, education and as Head of the Humanitarian Response Group.

Prior to joining the UK Government, Ed worked with the World Bank and NGOs across Africa.

Ed received his PhD from the London School of Economics on education financing and decentralisation in Malawi.

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Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the UNEP and UN Habitat

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office