Joel Rehnstrom’s responsibilities include ensuring the effective governance of the Joint Programme and management of the UNAIDS Secretariat. Specific areas of responsibility include planning, budget, performance monitoring and reporting; finance, compliance and risk management; human resource management, organizational development and ethics; information technology, procurement and general administration. Responsibilities also include participating in UN reform efforts through the work of the UN Development Group and the subsidiary bodies of the UN Chief Executives Board.
Joel Rehnstrom joined UNAIDS in 1998 and his previous positions with UNAIDS include Director of Planning, Finance and Accountability; Chief of Budget, Finance and Administration; Country Coordinator in China; Chief of Planning and Budget; and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist.
Prior to UNAIDS, Mr Rehnstrom worked as an Evaluation and Policy Specialist with the WHO and the UN Volunteers programme in Geneva; Assistant Resident Representative with UNDP in Yemen; and Programme Officer with UNICEF in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bhutan.
Mr Rehnstrom holds a Ph.D. in International Development; a Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. A Finnish national, he also holds a Master’s and Bachelor of Arts degree from Abo Akademi University.
