Naysán Sahba
Naysán Sahba is a Canadian communications leader who serves as the Director of Global Communication and Advocacy at UNICEF, a role he has held since 2023. Before UNICEF, he led Global Engagement and Partnerships at the World Bank (2020–2023) and was the Global Communications Director at the United Nations Environment Programme (2014–2020).
Born in Iran in 1972 and raised in several countries, Sahba earned a BA in English Literature from the University of British Columbia (1995) and an MA in International Development and English Studies from the University of Guelph (1997). He started Bisharat Media Development Associates, which worked with indigenous radio stations in Latin America and produced multimedia content about development.
He joined UNICEF full-time in 2003. His early work included campaign communications for polio eradication in Lucknow, India, and later entertainment-education initiatives in New Delhi. He created Kyunki Jeena Issi Ka Naam Hai, a popular TV drama with more than 500 episodes and millions of viewers, and he co-authored research on its social impact. In 2009 he became Head of Communication, Advocacy, Partnerships and Participation at UNICEF Mozambique.
In 2014 he moved to UNEP in Nairobi as Director of the Global Division of Communication, leading major campaigns such as World Environment Day and Champions of the Earth. In 2020 he joined the World Bank as Manager of Global Engagement and Partnerships, overseeing global strategies, civil-society and private-sector engagement, and funds like Connect for Climate, until 2023.
Today at UNICEF, he guides the organization’s global communications and advocacy strategy, media and digital content, and engagement with staff, partners, and youth.
Personal: he is the son of Fariborz and Golnar Sahba, with siblings Shamim Sahba (CEO of OfficeSpace Software) and Shirin Sahba (painter), and he is married to Jalan Sahba. He is a member of the Bahá’í Faith.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 10:19 (CET).