Since joining UNFPA in 1993, Arthur Erken has held a range of increasingly senior positions, both in policy (ICPD Secretariat; Technical and Evaluation Division; Office of the Executive Director), and programme (Division for Arab States and Europe; Africa Division; Asia and Pacific Division). He has served in both Headquarters and the field.

Since April 2015, he is the Director of the Division of Communications and Strategic Partnerships. Prior to that, he served as UNFPA Representative in Vietnam, providing strategic leadership and direction to the country programme and office. Prior to that, he served as UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh, where he successfully positioned UNFPA as a leader in maternal health and on the prevention of violence against women.

Arthur Erken, a national from the Netherlands, holds a masters degree in cultural anthropology. He is married and has two daughters.

Women, Political International Relations, Foreign Policy,