Claudia Giacovelli joined UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) in February 2016. Based at UNEP-IETC Osaka, she supports developing countries in implementing sustainable solutions to environmental and climate challenges, with focus on waste management. Her background is in development economics and social sciences. Before UNEP she served at UNIDO South Africa for over five years, to secure partnerships and mobilize funds for climate mitigating projects and fast-track the transition towards an energy efficient and low carbon economy.