Mr. Martin Kristensson Profile

Since joining the United Nations nearly two decades ago, Swedish national Martin Kristensson has implemented life-saving information technology solutions in many of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Martin started with the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs in Rwanda as inter-agency ICT coordinator. He then went on to work with a number of other UN agencies including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Martin joined the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in 2001 as part of the Fast IT and Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team (FITTEST). As a member of this rapid response team, Martin was directly involved in the IT response to numerous emergencies including Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Darfur, Indonesia and Haiti. Martin later went on to become Chief of FITTEST operating from Dubai. After six years in this position, Martin moved to WFP headquarters in Rome to assume his current position as IT Emergency Coordinator where his role is to ensure a rapid and efficient IT response to humanitarian crises.

Organisation Background:
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s frontline humanitarian agency for urgent hunger needs. In addition to WFP’s core responsibility in reducing hunger and under-nutrition, WFP is also leading the humanitarian community in emergencies in terms of Information Technology services. As nominated lead service provider for the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, WFP has extensive experience in IT programmes and solutions for the humanitarian community.