Craig Jenness is an international civil servant whose career in the United Nations and the OSCE has spanned more than three decades.
He was Director of the UN Electoral Assistance Division from 2006 to 2025. There, he advised UN senior leadership and the UN system on all matters relating to requests from Member States for electoral assistance. He oversaw UN electoral support (technical and diplomatic) in more than 50 countries each year, guiding teams that worked with governments. opposition groups and citizens to strengthen electoral integrity, promote peaceful political participation and reinforce democratic institutions.
Prior to that assignment Mr. Jenness held an appointment from the UN Secretary-General as International Commissioner on the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq. His electoral experience also includes service as Head of the OSCE Election Observation to Georgia (2004); Head of OSCE’s Election Support Team to Afghanistan (2005); Head of the IOM Out-of-Country Voting Programme in Iran for the 2004 Afghan elections, and Chair of the Bosnian National Elections Implementation Committee (1997).
His service in multilateral diplomacy and peacekeeping includes: OSCE/Ambassador Head of Mission to Skopje (2001-2004), where he oversaw the OSCE’s responsibilities under the Ohrid Peace Agreement; Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (1999-2000); Deputy Head of Mission/Head of Human Rights OSCE mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina (1995-1999); UN civil affairs officer (Bosnia-Herzegovina 1994) and UN human rights officer (Cambodia 1993). Mr. Jenness is a citizen of Canada and a barrister and solicitor by profession.