Mr. Jelte van Wieren is currently the Director for Sub-Sahara Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He graduated from the University of Groningen with a Masters’ degree in English and International Relations. Mr. Van Wieren worked for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on the linkages between security and the environment. Thereafter, he pursued a career as diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding various positions. His postings abroad include South Africa, Kenya and most recently Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan.
At home his responsibilities included Management Advisor, Co-ordinator Security and Development, Head of Good Governance, Head of Humanitarian Aid and Director for Stability, Humanitarian Aid and Migration. From 2010 until 2012, Mr. Van Wieren was a member of the International Board of EITI, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, representing the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the European Commission. He was a member of the World Humanitarian Summit Task Team on Innovation, created to shape the innovation agenda in preparation for the Summit in May 2016. Furthermore, he served as a member of the Advisory Group of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Advisory Board of Interpeace.
As Director for Sub-Sahara Africa, Mr. Van Wieren co-ordinates the (implementation) of the Africa Strategy of the Netherlands 2023 – 2032, comprising an integrated vision of political and economic cooperation with the continent of Africa, based on shared goals and mutual interests.
