Ms. Asya Varbanova assumed the position of Country Director of UN Women Turkey on April 1, 2019. Prior to that, she served as acting Representative of the UN Women Country Office in Moldova (2017-2018), Chief Technical Advisor on women’s political participation and women, peace and security issues for UN Women Moldova (2016-2017), Head of Office for the UN Women Programme Office in the Republic of Serbia (2010-2015) and Head of Office for the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Programme Office in Northern Macedonia (2008-2010). Ms. Varbanova also worked as Gender and Humanitarian Advisor for UN Women’s crisis response in Nepal in 2015, and has managed UN Women’s programmes on gender responsive budgeting and women’s economic empowerment in the Western Balkans region. Ms. Varbanova is a national of Bulgaria and holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota, USA.