Kaveh Zahedi is the Deputy Executive Secretary for Sustainable Development of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). He oversees UN ESCAP’s work in the areas of energy, environment, natural disasters, ICT and social development, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He also coordinates ESCAP's ASEAN, Northeast Asia and Pacific offices, as well as overseeing the organization’s contributions to, and implementation of, the UN Development System reform.
 
Prior to this, Mr. Zahedi worked at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) including as its Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific and Deputy Director of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, overseeing work on green economy, resource efficiency and climate change. He also set up and headed the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Before UNEP, Mr. Zahedi worked at an NGO as project manager for micro credit and development projects in Latin America and the Middle East.
 
Over two decades Mr. Zahedi has worked for the United Nations in Kenya, Mexico, UK, France and Thailand. He holds a Master’s degree from the Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA, and a BSc first class degree in Economics & Geography, from University College London.