Hans von Sponeck is a faculty member at Conflict Research Centre, University of Marburg in Germany. His professional experience includes a two-year assignment (1966-68) as Programme Officer at the German Foundation for International Cooperation in Bonn, UN civil servant (1968-2000) with postings in Accra (project management), New York (country programme management for Liberia & Sierra Leone); Islamabad & Ankara (programme supervision), UN head of mission in Botswana, Pakistan, India, Iraq, and UN Assistant Secretary-General for humanitarian assistance (Oil-for Food Programme) in Baghdad. After retirement from UN service, he taught at UN Staff College in Torino (2004-14) as training consultant for young professionals. Since 2006, he has been the faculty member at Conflict Research Centre, University of Marburg in Germany.

His special professional interests include Global governance, multilateralism & UN reform; conflict resolution (focus South Asia & the M.E.); MDG/SDG-based human development; role of civil society, especially of youth in global affairs; and institutional accountability.

He has published articles, book chapters and books including “Human Development – Is There an Alternative”, New Delhi, 1997; “Irak – Chronik eines gewollten Krieges, Cologne, 2003; “A Different Kind of War – The UN Sanctions Regime in Iraq”, New York/Oxford. He has an honorary doctorate.