As Managing Director, Mr. Beger is heading the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, which is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. The Directorate is also in charge of developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders. Before assuming his position as Managing Director in October 2022, he also provided his expertise as Special Advisor for Agribusiness at UNIDO.
Prior to working for UNIDO, Mr. Beger served as Executive Director for Germany at the World Bank Group as well as in several leadership positions in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany from 2013-2021, as Director-General for Global Health, Private Sector, Trade, Sustainable Supply Chains and Rural Development and as Head of Political Staff.
From 2006 – 2013, Mr. Beger worked in numerous leading functions at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of Germany, such as Head of Division for International Projects, Twinning; and Head of Division for Promotion of Foreign Trade and Investment.
Earlier in his career, he served as Head of Division for Agriculture at the German Embassy in Moscow, Russia (1995-2000). In the years 1991 to 1995, he worked at the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry as Advisor for International Cooperation and Trade. Gunther Beger holds a Master`s degree in Agricultural Economics.
