The Competition for Next Chief of OCHA Has Narrowed to Two Candidates: Colum Lynch / DEVEX

Robert Piper

Tom Fletcher

The two finalists to replace Martin Griffiths as head of OCHA (Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coordinator) are Robert Piper, an Australian-British national with extensive experience in humanitarian crises, and Tom Fletcher, a former U.K. ambassador to Lebanon with no experience in humanitarian relief but who has led reviews of British diplomacy and the future of the U.N.

Piper has faced criticism from the Israeli government for his stance on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while Fletcher's lack of humanitarian experience has raised concerns among some. 

The UK has held the post since 2007.   The U.N. is under pressure to break the informal monopoly on top cabinet positions held by the five permanent members of the Security Council, but Guterres has not always accepted those governments' favored candidates.

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