Jens Ole Bach Hansen

Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Benin, Chad / Permanent representative to ECOWAS

Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark

About

I am a Danish diplomat with a focus on the changing international architecture, the European Union, climate, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Africa–Europe relations, and the role of the multilateral system in addressing global challenges. Over the past 20 years, I have gained extensive experience in international relations and negotiations, having worked and studied in the United States, France, Palestine, Israel, Italy, Denmark, Jordan, and Nigeria. Educated at Sciences Po Paris and Columbia University, and further trained at Harvard University, I draw on this background in my current role as Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria and seven other African countries (Benin, Chad, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea), as well as to ECOWAS. My objective is to foster cooperation, exchange, and mutual understanding between our countries and continents. In 2014, I was honoured to be selected as a European Young Leader by EuropaNova and Friends of Europe ([40under40.eu](http://40under40.eu)).

Experience

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (20 yrs 3 mos)
    • Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Eq. Guinea, Gabon, Congo, CAR, Benin, Chad, Cameroun, ECOWAS
      Aug 2024 - Present · 2 yrs

    • Deputy Head of Mission, Royal Danish Embassy Rome
      Aug 2021 - Aug 2024 · 3 yrs 1 mo

    • Team leader and chief adviser, Development policy, East Africa and the SDGs
      Aug 2017 - Aug 2021 · 4 yrs 1 mo

      Team-leader for East-Africa with special focus on Ethiopia, Horn of Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa, Danish Development strategy, Denmark's global contribution to achieving the SDGs.

  • Policy Analysis Officer at UNRWA
    May 2004 - May 2006 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Preparation of daily briefs on political developments in the five fields of UNRWA’s operations – Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Review and analysis of different sources of information, including the Israeli, Arab, and international press and keeping abreast of developments in the conflict and peace process; Bringing to the attention of the Office of the Commissioner-General significant developments in the political and humanitarian situation in the region and propose possible actions to be taken by the Agency; Participation in the design, implementation and follow-up of research and analysis on various policy issues related to the mandate of UNRWA and the services provided to the refugee community; Drafting of Agency reporting and responses to various inter-governmental organisations, United Nations agencies, donors, host countries and civil society organisations.