Monika Sandvik

Overview

Monika Sandvik serves as the Senior Statelessness Coordinator and Head of Section at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where she leads the organization's global strategy and advocacy efforts to address statelessness. Since assuming the role in 2022, she has been at the forefront of shaping policy, coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives, and driving international engagement to advance the rights of stateless populations worldwide.  With over 25 years of experience in protection and humanitarian affairs, Monika has built a distinguished career across multiple regions and agencies within the United Nations system.
She has lived and worked in Sudan, Kenya, Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and has also served at UN Headquarters in New York. Prior to her current role, Monika was Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF Kenya, following her tenure as Senior Protection Adviser (Children) for East Africa and the Great Lakes, and Senior Protection Officer (Children) at UNHCR, where she led the organization’s global efforts in child protection.

Her career also includes key roles with UNOCHA, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations/UN Mission in Sudan, and Save the Children, reflecting her deep commitment to humanitarian response and protection.

Monika holds an LL.M. from Columbia University and an M.A. in Political Science from Åbo Akademi University in Finland, with her studies focusing on public international law, human rights and humanitarian law. She is also a Registered Nurse and Certified Community Worker, bringing a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her work in international protection and advocacy.