George Gigauri or Giorgi Gigauri () is a Special Advisor and former United Nations official with over 20 years of experience in humanitarian and development work.
Early life and education George Gigauri was born in the Soviet Union. He is the son of Georgian scientist Vladimir Gigauri. Through his maternal family, he is a descendant of Georgian general and nobleman Count (tavadi, თავადი) Nestor Gardapkhadze (1867–1924), who led the 1921 anti-Soviet uprising in Svaneti and later participated in the August Uprising of 1924. Gigauri was educated at Battle Abbey School, an independent boarding school in East Sussex, England. He obtained postgraduate degrees from Christ's College, CambridgeGiorgi Gigauri: Tackling complex humanitarian issues, Cambridge Judge Business School and St Antony's College, OxfordRefugee Studies Centre, University of OxfordSt Antony's College Alumni Updates. While studying at Oxford, he founded the Oxford University Georgian Society in 2003.
Pembroke College, University of Oxford In 2025, Gigauri joined Pembroke College, Oxford, as a Visiting Fellow with the Global Security Programme. His research focuses on the humanitarian–development–peace nexus in post-conflict settings.
United Nations
Iraq From 2021 to 2025, Gigauri served as Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Iraq, leading one of the IOM's largest country operations. He oversaw a workforce of more than 1,000 staff and managed an annual programme portfolio exceeding US$150 million. Under his leadership, IOM Iraq expanded its stabilization, peacebuilding, and migration-governance activities across all governorates, supporting the recovery and reintegration of conflict-affected communities. He secured significant international funding for post-conflict reconstruction, spearheaded private-sector partnerships and job creation (over 15,000 jobs), as well as chairing the UN Durable Solutions Taskforce to develop long-term policy frameworks for internally displaced persons and returnees. His tenure marked the transition from humanitarian response toward sustainable development, emphasizing local ownership, economic resilience, and institutional reform.
Bangladesh At IOM Bangladesh, he was overseeing a programme portfolio, which includes humanitarian emergencies, with primary focus on the Rohingya crisis,Q&A: IOM Bangladesh mission chief on post-monsoon priorities for RohingyaIOM Chief Giorgi Gigauri in Bangladesh calls for Continued Support of Japanese Government and People for Resolution of Rohingya Crisis migrant protection,Promoting safe migration to reduce trafficking: IOM chief policy and governance,‘After two years, we need to focus on the local community’, Giorgi Gigauri migration and development,Giorgi Gigauri / Chief of Mission, IOM Bangladesh and economic reintegration.Chief of Mission of IOM Giorgi Gigauri visits YPSA He was one of the three Co-Chairs, with UNHCR and the UN Resident Coordinator, of the Strategic Coordination Group (SEG) which oversees and manages the 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis response in Bangladesh,'Illusion of stability' hides truth about Rohingya camp which is the largest refugee camp in the world. He was also the Coordinator of the United Nations Migration Network that brings together key UN agencies and civil society partners working on migration policy and development in the country. Over 2020–2021, he was the IOM Crisis Management Team Leader for the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency programmes and the UN Inter-Agency Co-Lead for Points of Entry operations in the country.
Papua New Guinea Gigauri served as the IOM Chief of Mission in Papua New Guinea from 2013 - 2016,Training and awareness to fight human trafficking in PNGLuncheon with Mr George Gigauri, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM)Reuters: U.N. fears 'the worst' after typhoon batters Vanuatu leading programmes in disaster management,IOM The UN Migration Agency community stabilization, and border management.The Last Children of the Tide, Shorthand Social, 2016 He led IOM crisis response during the drought of 2015–16 in the Highlands,IOM Expands Drought Response in Papua New Guinea as El Niño Effects DeepenIOM Aids Agricultural Recovery in Drought-hit Areas of Papua New GuineaEuropean Union and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Provide Water, Sanitation, and Agricultural Support to 65,000 Drought-hit People in Papua New Guinea joint counter human trafficking operation in the Dogleg area of Papua New GuineaThe Guardian: Hunt on for slave-crewed Thai trawlers whose catches are UK-bound (Torres Straights),The Courier-Mail: Officials on hunt for ‘slave boats’ in Torres Strait and various peacebuilding initiatives in local conflict affected areas of the country.Peacebuilding Programme Aims to “Give Peace a Chance” in Papua New Guinea
Other Countries During his tenure as the IOM Deputy Chief of Mission in Indonesia, he spearheaded a humanitarian effort leading to release of thousands of refugees from detention across the country.UN Migration Agency Facilitates Release of Refugees from Indonesian Detention Centres His prior assignments include Head of Programme Support in Ukraine, Project Development Officer in Moldova, and research support at the Regional Office in Austria. He has led numerous emergency response surge teams in Asia-Pacific, including in Fiji,Flying the Red-Eye to Fiji By Aaron Watts-Jones Tonga, and Vanuatu.Flash Appeal: Vanuatu – Getting People Home After Devastating
Other He is a contributor to international publications, including The Daily Star, the Bangkok Post, UN Migration Weblog, and Cambridge Judge Business School. Gigauri was inaugurated as an honorary tribal chief in Oro, Papua New Guinea in 2014.
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