As a jurist, he has been involved in international humanitarian action and public health in fragile countries for 30 years. He was Director General of two international humanitarian NGO's and Director for the World Health Organization in Geneva before becoming Head of the Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations Division at the French Development Agency until May 2021.
Member State authority
Addressing access impediments through humanitarian diplomacy
Studio
The session aims to identify the operational challenges faced by frontline humanitarian workers in better engaging on access, as exemplified by field experiences. It will also outline the advantages of a more systemic and structured approach to strengthening the capacity of country-level humanitarian leadership on access negotiations. The discussions will focus on joined-up approaches among humanitarian and political actors to strengthen the use of humanitarian diplomacy for access while ensuring respect for the humanitarian principles and encouraging States to fulfil their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. Furthermore, the session will analyse how to design humanitarian access strategies in a way that enable accountability to affected populations and facilitate the access of crisis-affected communities to protection services and support.
Antón Leis García has an extensive career in the field of international development and multilateral affairs both in international organisations and the Spanish government. Prior to his appointment as AECID Director, he held several positions at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) both in the Global Relations Secretariat and the Office of the Secretary-General. Most recently, Mr. Leis García was Counsellor to the OECD Secretary-General, with the rank of Head of Division.
From 2018 to 2020 he was Senior Advisor at the General Secretariat for International Affairs, EU, G20 and Global Security of the Cabinet of the Spanish Prime Minister, where he coordinated the participation of Spain in the G20 and was responsible for other multilateral dossiers. He also worked as an advisor to the Secretary of State for International Co-operation.
As a development practitioner, Mr. Leis García specialised in economic governance, competitiveness and private sector development. He worked at the African Development Bank as a Senior Governance and Private Sector Specialist in Tunisia and Côte d'Ivoire after joining as a Young Professional. He also worked at the World Bank in Washington DC as Legal Counsel covering the Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean regions.
Mr. Leis García holds a Law Degree from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, a Master of Laws (LLM) Degree from Harvard Law School and a dual Master in Public Administration (MPA) Degree from the London School of Economics and Sciences Po Paris. In addition to Spanish, he is fluent in English, French and Portuguese
Member State authority
Addressing access impediments through humanitarian diplomacy
Studio
The session aims to identify the operational challenges faced by frontline humanitarian workers in better engaging on access, as exemplified by field experiences. It will also outline the advantages of a more systemic and structured approach to strengthening the capacity of country-level humanitarian leadership on access negotiations. The discussions will focus on joined-up approaches among humanitarian and political actors to strengthen the use of humanitarian diplomacy for access while ensuring respect for the humanitarian principles and encouraging States to fulfil their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. Furthermore, the session will analyse how to design humanitarian access strategies in a way that enable accountability to affected populations and facilitate the access of crisis-affected communities to protection services and support.
Stéphane Romatet, Ministre plénipotentiaire hors classe, graduated from the Paris Institute of
Political Studies (Sciences Po Paris), and from the National School of Public Administration (ENA)
in the “Denis Diderot” class of 1986. Since September 2021, he has been the Director of the Crisis
and Support Centre at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador to Cairo (2017-2021) and Canberra (2011-2014), Stéphane Romatet has held several
diplomatic positions abroad (Senegal, Canada, Jordan). He was also a diplomatic adviser to the
Prime Minister (2014-2016), and adviser then Deputy Director of the Private Office of the Minister
for Europe and Foreign Affairs (2007-2008).
In the Central Administration, Stéphane Romatet headed the Directorate-General for
Administration and Modernization (2008-2011), the Real Estate Affairs Service (2006-2007), and
the Budget and Financial Action Department (1996-1997), after several years in the Private Office
of the Defence Minister (1986-1993).
Member State authority
Addressing access impediments through humanitarian diplomacy
Studio
The session aims to identify the operational challenges faced by frontline humanitarian workers in better engaging on access, as exemplified by field experiences. It will also outline the advantages of a more systemic and structured approach to strengthening the capacity of country-level humanitarian leadership on access negotiations. The discussions will focus on joined-up approaches among humanitarian and political actors to strengthen the use of humanitarian diplomacy for access while ensuring respect for the humanitarian principles and encouraging States to fulfil their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. Furthermore, the session will analyse how to design humanitarian access strategies in a way that enable accountability to affected populations and facilitate the access of crisis-affected communities to protection services and support.