Jo Scheuer

Jo Scheuer is Director for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS).

Focused on addressing climate and disaster risks that threaten development, Jo’s team supports countries in building resilience through risk-informed and zero-carbon approaches to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes policy engagement in support of international agreements and processes, as well as programmatic support to UNDP Country Offices to implement the Sendai Framework for DRR and the Paris agreement. Jo’s team also leads UNDP’s post-disaster recovery efforts, with an aim to seize the recovery effort as a strategic opportunity to Build Back Better.

Jo has over 20 years’ experience in international development through a distinguished career with UNDP. Prior to joining BPPS, he served as Global Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (2012-2014), Country Director with UNDP Cambodia (2007-2010), and as Deputy Country Director with UNDP India (2004 to 2007). Earlier in his career, Jo has served with UNDP in Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Niger, and worked for an environmental consulting company prior to joining the UN.

Jo holds a Master’s degree in Applied Physical Geography from the University of Trier in Germany, with a specialization in climate science and glaciology from the Federal Polytechnic Institute in Zürich, Switzerland.