Professor Chris Kwaja, the Special Envoy on Peace and Security to the Governor of Plateau State, Nigeria, was appointed Senior Advisor – Africa at the Organisation Internationale pour les Pays Les Moins Avancés (OIPMA), also known as the International Organisation for the Least Developed Countries (IOLDCs), on 20th June, 2026. His appointment is reflected on the organisation’s official leadership page: OIPMA .
In his new role, Professor Kwaja will lead the organisation’s work on governance, peace and security across Africa’s 33 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). His mandate is to provide strategic leadership and policy guidance on governance, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and security issues affecting some of the continent’s most vulnerable nations.
OIPMA is a Geneva-based non-profit, non-governmental organisation established in 1996 with United Nations ECOSOC consultative status. It serves as a bridge between civil society organisations in the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and United Nations mechanisms, helping amplify the voices and concerns of vulnerable communities on the global stage.
The organisation operates across all LDCs, with particular attention to conflict-affected regions such as the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Yemen, and Afghanistan. Its work focuses on advocating for sustainable development, human rights, peacebuilding, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth.
OIPMA achieves its mission by participating in international policy discussions, conducting research, producing reports, engaging with local NGOs, organising forums, and promoting advocacy initiatives that address conflict prevention, post-conflict recovery, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Its core mandates include promoting peace and security through political stability and conflict resolution; strengthening climate resilience through environmental conservation and renewable energy initiatives; advancing trade and economic development through debt relief and equitable trade opportunities; and promoting human rights by supporting education, healthcare, digital inclusion, and improved access to water and sanitation.
Professor Chris Kwaja’s appointment is expected to strengthen OIPMA’s engagement across Africa’s Least Developed Countries, leveraging his extensive experience in peacebuilding, governance, security, and public policy to advance the organisation’s mission of supporting sustainable peace and development across the continent.