Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development 2025

She brings over 20 years of strategic and programmatic leadership experience in the UN acquired in both the Headquarters and field levels. Before joining UNFPA, Ms. Sottoli as the UN Resident Coordinator in Bolivia.

With a strong human rights, gender and development background, she has led the development of global and regional programmes on migration, urbanization, adolescent development and participation, social protection, disability inclusion, social and behavioral change communication, among others. An expert of the Latin American and the Caribbean region, she has a demonstrated ability to navigate the sociopolitical complexities of middle- and upper middle-income countries, where she has consistently advocated for the rights of people disproportionally affected by exclusion and inequities. Ms. Sottoli has a strong record of convening broad-based partnership, including with governments, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society organizations, academia and business to deliver results for women, children and young people.

Prior to her appointment as Bolivia UN Resident Coordinator, she served in UNICEF as Deputy Director of the Programme Division (2016-2020) and Associate Director for Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement (2012-2016) in New York Headquarters; Country Representative in Mexico (2007-2012); Social Policy Advisor in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) in Panama (2004-2007), and Deputy Representative/Senior Programme Coordinator in Paraguay (2001-2003). Before joining UNICEF, Ms. Sottoli worked for over a decade as a researcher and consultant in the US, Europe and Latin America advising governments and international organizations on development issues.

Ms. Sottoli holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Universidad Católica in Paraguay, a Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Missouri in the USA, and a Doctorate in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. She is a former Fulbright and DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) fellow.