Mr. Gautam is a distinguished diplomat, development professional, and a former senior official of the United Nations who served as the Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF. With a career spanning three decades serving in senior managerial and leadership positions within the UN in several countries and continents, Mr. Gautam remains active in advocacy of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of child rights, global health, basic education, and human development.
He currently serves on the boards of several international and national organizations, charitable foundations, and public-private partnerships. Mr. Gautam informally advises Nepal’s political and civil society leadership on the consolidation of democracy, human rights, and socio-economic development. He previously served as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Nepal on International Affairs and the Peace Process. Mr. Gautam is a strong champion of inter-faith cooperation to promote the rights and well-being of children and currently serves as the Chairperson of Arigatou International’s Advisory Group.