The Advisory Board for the NCD, Digital Health, and Capacity Building Division brings together a distinguished group of experts committed to UNITAR’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives.
The Advisory Board provides critical insights and technical guidance to ensure that the Division’s programmes and activities align with UNITAR’s mandate, UN guidelines, and the strategic framework objectives of promoting health for all. By championing UNITAR’s objective to promote health for all, particularly for the most vulnerable people and countries, the Advisory Board plays a pivotal role in shaping innovative, impactful initiatives that empower individuals and institutions globally to address non-communicable diseases and advance digital health solutions.
UNITAR draws on the wealth of knowledge and experience of the Advisory Board members to remain at the forefront of capacity building, technical assistance, and knowledge sharing in the field of public health. The Board conducts comprehensive evaluations of the Division’s activities, ensuring adherence to the highest quality standards and fostering sustainable impact.
The NCD, Digital Health, and Capacity Building Division is honored to have the expertise and support of the following individuals on its Advisory Board:
H.E. Ambassador Prosper Douglas Kweku Bani
Ambassador Bani is a renowned leader in development, governance, and crisis management, with a career spanning public service, diplomacy, and academia. He has held high-profile positions, including Ghana’s Minister of Interior, Chief of Staff to the President, and Ambassador Extraordinary, where he played a critical role in national security, peacebuilding, and governance reforms.
Ambassador Bani has collaborated with ECOWAS, the African Union, and other international organizations to address conflict resolution and foster regional stability. He has led initiatives to strengthen institutions, oversee elections, and coordinate national crisis responses, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable peace.
With extensive experience in managing complex programmes, Ambassador Bani is a Harvard-trained expert dedicated to promoting governance and development across Africa and the world.
H.E. Ambassador Mohammad Umer Daudzai
Ambassador Daudzai is an accomplished diplomat and political leader with over three decades of experience in governance, peacebuilding, and crisis management. He has held significant roles, including Minister of Interior of Afghanistan, Chief of Staff to two Presidents, and Ambassador to Pakistan and Iran.
Ambassador Daudzai has been a central figure in regional consensus-building, organizing the historic 2019 Peace Loya Jirga and participating in critical peace negotiations with the Taliban. With a career rooted in humanitarianism, he has also worked with the UNDP during pivotal moments in Afghanistan’s history, designing area-based recovery programmes and fostering community empowerment.
A prolific writer and multilingual leader, Ambassador Daudzai is dedicated to advancing stability, democracy, and sustainable peace in Afghanistan and beyond
H.E. Dr Myint Htwe
Dr Htwe is a distinguished public health expert trained as an epidemiologist and former Minister of Health and Sports of Myanmar. With decades of experience, he has played a transformative role in strengthening health systems and improving population health outcomes in the region.
Before his ministerial tenure, Dr Htwe served in senior leadership roles at the World Health Organization for 16 years, where he contributed to global health policy, disease prevention strategies, and programme implementation. Known for his commitment to evidence-based decision-making, he has spearheaded initiatives addressing health inequities in low-resource settings. He has published various books on public health and healthcare delivery systems.
A thought leader in public health, Dr Htwe combines academic excellence and field expertise to advance healthcare for underserved populations.
Dr Nitya Khemka
Dr Khemka is a philanthropist, public health specialist and academic. She is currently a Trustee at the Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation and Nabha Foundation, focussed on the conjunction of climate and public health. She is also Director at PATH- a global Health think-tank dedicated to improving health equity.
Dr Khemka holds a PhD and MPhil in Development Studies from the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge, where she studied health and gender, focusing on the decentralisation of the health sector in two Indian states. She serves on the Women’s Leadership Board of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government supporting the Women and Public Policy Program, is a Trustee of the Eisenhower Fellowships, a member of The Defeat-NCD Partnership, and is on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) UK Advisory Board. Dr Khemka is also a Fellow Commoner for Clare Hall College and is a London Ambassador for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital. She served as co-chair on the health and gender tracks for T20 – the official academic and policy track for the G20 under India’s presidency.
Mr Pierre Roca
Mr Roca is currently head of unit, resource mobilization at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. In his role, Mr Roca is responsible for the coordination of resource mobilization efforts at both regional and country levels within the WHO European Region (53 Member States). Prior to working for WHO, he worked as a Partnerships Development Officer for The Defeat-NCD Partnership as well as a Programme Manager in the health team in the DG for International Partnerships (INPTA) of the European Commission. He also has more than eight years of experience in the private sector, working in both Copenhagen (HQ) and in Algeria for a major pharmaceutical company within the Government and Public Affairs function.
Mr Roca holds an MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an MA in European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Mr Roca is married and has three children.