Dr. Bocar Diallo, MD, MPH, D.E.S
Specialist, Sexual & Reproductive Health,
Maternal & New born Health,
Health systems Policy, Organization and Management

I am a Medical Doctor, specialized in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, with emphasis on Maternal and New born Health, as well as Sexual and Reproductive Health / HIV/AIDS.  I also hold a Master’s Degree in Public Health, majoring in Health Systems Policy, Organization and Management, advanced Epidemiology/Biostatistics of Disease Control and Prevention; a Diploma of Community Health with special emphasis on community mobilization / participation; a Certificate of Reproductive Health Biology and HIV/AIDS Research as well as a Diploma in the Basics of Health Economics.
I count 27 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in international health and development. Nineteen of these years have been dedicated to working for the ECOWAS, UNFPA and WHO in the area of technical leadership and strategic management of Health Systems, Maternal and New born Health and SRH. During this time, I developed a sound understanding of and familiarity with work in a dynamic multicultural and multidisciplinary environment, especially in the context of the UN system. More over, I possess special skills developed through special training and experience as shown in my CV, with extensive network within the Academia and Development Community.
I have been privileged to assume, alternately, technical and programme management functions at both national and international levels which required technical leadership and strategic direction as well as the formation of strategic partnerships.  This position also involved me in capacity building for sustainable development, integration of SRH into national development frameworks, quality assurance and resource mobilization. Highlights of my resume are as follows:
During the last three years (2004-Jan.2007), I served as a WHO Senior Adviser, Evidence Information for Policy. In this capacity I spearheaded the establishment of the Global Health Workforce Alliance, to strengthen health systems in the era of New Aid Environment. This partnership is dedicated to accelerating implementation of country owned, led and managed initiatives to address the worldwide crisis of Human Resources for Health (HRH) through engaging partners in policy dialogue, negotiation and direct support. The Alliance aimed at improving capacity of member states to develop, implement and evaluate Human Rights, Gender and Evidence-based national HRH policies and plans toward the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in general, especially those related to health (e.g: MDGs 4, 5 and 6).
Prior to holding the above position, I served as the Manager of the WHO Making Pregnancy Safer Initiative, from 2001 to 2004. In this capacity, I was very instrumental in: (i) providing strategic orientation to WHO’s work in Maternal and New born Health; (ii) coordinating technical and policy support from WHO and partners to enhance national capacity to develop, implement, and evaluate cost effective programmes to reduce maternal, new born and child morbidity and mortality; (iii) promoting the formation of the Global Partnership on Maternal New born and Child Health, bringing together relevant partners including United Nations agencies, bilateral, the public and private sectors,  NGOs, and relevant institutions to enhance cooperation in the implementation of quality health services for women and children and (iv) enhancing support for the Road Map to Reduce Maternal, Newborn and Child morbidity and mortality at global, regional and country levels and, to promote consistent, ethical and evidence-based policies and strategies.
During the 6 years (2005- Oct.2001) that preceded my move to WHO-HQ, I served as a UNFPA Regional Adviser in Sexual & Reproductive Health (Organization and Management) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In this capacity I provided policy and technical support to countries in Central, Eastern sub-regions as well as in other parts of the Africa regions in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, and contributed to building of national capacity to develop, implement and evaluate cost effective Human Rights, Gender and Evidence- based interventions, including human resources interventions, to improve service quality and accessibility, especially for the poor and disadvantaged.
Before I joined UNFPA, I served as Professor and Director, Department of Health Systems Management, CESAG (1989-2005); a Dakar based Regional Institute set up by the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) and mandated to assist 20 African countries in building regional capacity in areas of management of Development programmes including Health, Population and Development.
During the 10 years preceding my entry into the international arena, I worked as a civil servant at all levels of the health system of Senegal; from a position of Médecin – Chef de  District, through Regional and then national Director, Medical Services; culminating with my appointment as lecturer at the Dakar University  Teaching Hospital.
Through these  27 years of professional experience, (including 19 years in the international /UN arena),  I have gathered invaluable human, technical and managerial experience in the field of Health Systems, Maternal and New born Health, SRH/HIV_AIDS Policy, Service delivery, Organisation & Management. In addition to this invaluable asset, I am bilingual in French and English.