Lars Johan Lönnback has assumed the position of Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Georgia. As of September 2024, the mission in Georgia will operate as a Country Office with Coordinating Functions (COCFs), overseeing activities in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Belarus.

“It’s an honor and great pleasure to join IOM’s mission to Georgia and I am looking forward to work together with the Georgian government, the UN partners and all other stakeholders on migration. With the recent restructuring at IOM’s Regional Offices, the IOM in Georgia will play a vital role in enhancing coordination and sharing the best practices among countries in the region in particular on protecting the rights and addressing the vulnerabilities of people on the move,” said Lars Johan Lönnback. 

Lars Johan Lönnback has previously served as the Chief of Mission in Moldova from 2018 until 2024. His tenure at IOM spans over 15 years, beginning with his role as Head of Division and Senior Migration Policy Advisor at the headquarters in Geneva. He later served as Senior Migration Policy Advisor on Migration and Development at the IOM Regional Office for Asia Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand.

Before IOM, Mr. Lönnback held various roles at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including positions in Brussels at the Swedish Permanent Representation as Counselor, and at the European Commission as National Expert. His early career also includes a posting in Sarajevo at the Office of the High Representative for the Dayton Peace Accords as a political officer, and experience with UNHCR in Northern Iraq and the Russian Federation.

IOM has been working in Georgia since 1993 on various migration-related priority areas ranging from emergency and post-crisis response, immigration and border management, prevention and fight against human trafficking, migrant protection and assistance, migrant health, labour migration and human development. Under the new changes, the Country office with Coordinating Functions will offer strategic planning and technical advice to countries within its purview.