Johanna Jokinen-Gavidia

Thematic expertise: Fragile States, Terrorism, Non-state Actors, International Military Operations, Democracy, Traditional Governance, Development

Regional/country-specific expertise: Middle East, Gulf Countries, South East Asia, Horn of Africa, Saudi-Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia , Kenya

Languages: Finnish, English, Spanish, Swedish, French

Ms. Johanna Jokinen-Gavidia is currently serving as a Special Advisor for Ukraine. Previously in her career she has served as the Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Deputy Head of Mission to Afghanistan, DHoM / Chargé d’affaires a.i. to Saudi Arabia incl. Kuwait, Oman and Yemen. She has held the position of the Deputy Director for South Asia and Team Leader to Afghanistan, Pakistan and regional conflicts. Her earlier assignments include the position of Senior Adviser on democracy, several assignments in Europe, Africa and South America.

Ms. Jokinen-Gavidia holds Master’s degree in international politics and in international law from the University of Tampere (and Helsinki), Finland. She has published several articles in various newspapers and journals. She has contributed to the UN and OECD publications on international law.

Ms. Jokinen-Gavidia has specialized in peace and conflict studies and fragile states. During his various assignments she has done facilitation work in Afghanistan among the regional countries and the US and have had similar discussions on Yemen while serving in Saudi Arabia.

She is married with one son.