The appointment was announced on 28 March by the UN Secretary-General’s Office.
Baghirov, who has more than 25 years of experience in human development, health, education, and social protection, was serving as the Head of Country Strategy and Support Unit within the Director-General’s Office at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. Prior to that, he led WHO multi-country office in Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau.
Baghirov has also held various positions at the World Bank Group, where he worked closely with governments, civil society organizations, partners, and donor communities to design and implement evidence-based policies and services.
He holds professional degrees in medicine, general management, and health economics from universities in Baku, London, Nottingham, and Aberdeen.