Marta Lanzoni (Italy), is an experienced international development professional with over 15 years of progressive leadership in program quality assurance, risk management, strategic planning, and gender coordination within complex humanitarian and development contexts. Her work encompasses multiple regions, including the Asia-Pacific, Arab States, and Sub-Saharan Africa, built on a solid foundation in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the broader UN system operations.

As a Risk Management Specialist for UNDP, Marta has provided regional oversight on internal controls, conducted partner risk assessments, facilitated audit follow-ups, and implemented social and environmental safeguards. Additionally, she has developed self-assessment tools, established grievance mechanisms, and provided advisory services to country offices related to project risk mitigation and compliance with UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES).

Before that, Marta worked for over six years as a Program Specialist at the UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. In this capacity, she provided strategic and operational support to UNDP Country Offices on program formulation, the development of theories of change, project risk frameworks, key performance indicator tracking, and crisis response. Her contributions significantly enhanced program design and fortified institutional capacity across the region.

At UNDP Headquarters in New York, Marta served as a Programme Analyst for the Arab States Region, where she oversaw program quality, monitoring and evaluation systems, risk planning, and crisis coordination. She also held policy positions within the United Nations Secretariat and worked in gender coordination roles with the United Nations in Jordan.

Earlier in her career, Marta worked on program and advocacy positions with Concern Universal and Medical Aid for Palestinians and contributed to program implementation at the United Nations Development Programme in Gambia.

Marta has a sharp analytical perspective, a commitment to inclusive development, and substantial practical experience in project quality assurance, results-based management, and stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about incorporating risk-informed strategies and equity principles into program design and delivery.