Gerd is the Manager of the IRH since May 2017. Prior to joining RBEC and the IRH in Istanbul, he served as Director a.i. (07/2016–04/2017) and Deputy Director (07/2013–04/2017) of the Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and, before that, as the Manager of the former RSC for Eastern and Southern Africa (2012-2013), leading its relocation and merger with the RSC for West and Central Africa in Addis Ababa. He was Director a.i. (2011) and Deputy Director (2004-2010) of the Division for Resources Mobilization at headquarters. From 1995 to 2004, he served with UNV in Geneva and Bonn in multiple programme and management functions. Before joining the UN, he headed the office of the Speaker for Development of the Liberal Parliamentary Group in the German Parliament (1992-1994).