Egypt’s Rania Al-Mashat officially assumed her duties as United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on Tuesday, announcing plans to launch a coalition of regional think tanks to support evidence-based policymaking.
Arriving at the commission’s headquarters in Beirut, Al-Mashat was received in an official ceremony attended by senior officials and staff. Her appointment, initially announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 20 April, coincides with ongoing developments in the Middle East that are placing mounting pressure on energy markets, global trade, and supply chains.
The UN stated that Al-Mashat assumes the high-level position at a globally critical juncture, highlighting ESCWA’s central function in advancing regional integration, expanding shared benefits among Arab countries, and addressing broader economic and social challenges.
“I am honoured by the confidence placed in me by the United Nations Secretary-General to assume this role at a time of increasing regional and global economic interlinkages,” Al-Mashat said. “The UN ESCWA will work to support Member States in advancing national policies and strategies that promote inclusive and sustainable development, while linking these efforts to broader regional benefits. We will continue to foster regional integration, facilitate knowledge exchange, and build strategic partnerships with regional and international organisations. In addition, we aim to launch a coalition of regional think tanks and research institutions to support evidence-based policymaking in the service of our Member States.”
Her tenure aligns with a period of structural transformation within the UN system under the UN80 Initiative, launched by the Secretary-General in March 2025. The programme aims to modernise the organisation’s structures, priorities, and operations for the 21st century. Multiple workstreams are designed to enhance system-wide effectiveness, strengthen service delivery to people, streamline processes, and maximise development impact, reaffirming the UN’s global relevance.
Described in the official announcement as bringing a distinguished track record in multilateral engagement and international partnership building, Al-Mashat has over 25 years of experience in macroeconomic and monetary policy, sustainable development, and climate finance. In the Egyptian government, she held three ministerial portfolios over eight years: Minister of Tourism—the first woman to hold the post—Minister of International Cooperation, and Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation.
Her career also includes roles as an advisor to the chief economist and senior economist at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., and as sub-governor of the Central Bank of Egypt for monetary policy, where she worked to bridge policymaking, financing, and development cooperation. The UN additionally noted her academic contributions, research, and publications in economics as reflecting a commitment to linking policy with practical implementation.
ESCWA, one of the UN’s five regional commissions, is tasked with supporting Arab countries in advancing inclusive and sustainable development pathways, strengthening regional integration, and promoting economic and digital transformation in response to evolving challenges.
