Hovig Etyemezian — Head of Innovation Service at UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) — leads the agency’s global efforts to integrate innovation, data, digital tools, and emerging technologies into humanitarian response. Following extensive humanitarian and field experience across Lebanon, DR Congo, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, and beyond, he brings deep expertise in humanitarian operations, human rights work, peacebuilding, and technology-enabled service delivery. Under his leadership, UNHCR’s Innovation Service has launched multiple “Innovation Funds” — covering digital inclusion, data/AI, environmental resilience, and refugee-led initiatives — to support creative, community-driven solutions for displaced populations.

Etyemezian has championed the use of AI and data across UNHCR, from predictive tools anticipating displacement and emergencies to AI-powered chatbots and decision-support systems that improve access to services and democratic communication for refugees. His work reflects a commitment to ethical, human-centered innovation — combining technological acumen, humanitarian insight, and a belief in refugee-led creativity to transform how global displacement challenges are addressed.