Laila Baker

UN Regional Director for Arab States

Laila Baker, an American of Arab origin, comes from a background in health policy from Cardiff University and 25 years of international experience in global humanitarian and development settings primarily in the Arab region. Her career also includes work with major non-UN organizations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s Regional Office in Tunisia, OXFAM UK and as the Director of Strategic Planning of the national branch of the IFRC in Palestine. In her position as Director for UNRWA’s Relief and Services Program at HQ in Amman, Jordan from 2014-2016, she instituted a series of reforms to the poverty and social inclusion programs. A member of the RC/HC pool, Laila comes from a long history of service with the United Nations, most notably, UNDP, UNRWA and a twenty-year career with UNFPA, where she served in Palestine, Geneva and as Representative in Syria from 2012-2014 and Jordan from 2016 until the present.