8 December 2025 | Doha, Qatar — The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in collaboration with the Doha Forum, is pleased to announce that Ms. Malebona Precious Matsoso, former Director-General of South Africa’s National Department of Health, has been awarded the Doha Best Negotiator of the Year 2025.
The award recognises individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in negotiation, resilience in complex diplomatic processes, and a sustained commitment to advancing peace and international cooperation. Ms. Matsoso was selected for her instrumental role in leading negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement, adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025.
About the Recipient
Ms. Malebona Precious Matsoso has held distinguished leadership roles across national, regional, and global health governance. She previously served as Director of Public Health Innovation and Intellectual Property at the World Health Organization (WHO) and led South Africa’s Medicines Control Council for six years.
Her extensive international experience includes serving as Chair of the WHO Executive Board, member of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Health Technologies, Chairperson of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, and member of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
Currently, Ms. Matsoso directs the Health Regulatory Science Platform at the Wits Health Consortium, serves on the Interim Executive Committee of the College for Africa Regulatory Science Professionals (CARSP), and is an Adjunct Professor at Sunway University in Malaysia. She is also a recipient of the South African Medical Research Council’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ms. Matsoso was nominated for the Doha Best Negotiator of the Year Award for her leadership as Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), where she guided UN Member States toward consensus on a landmark global framework for pandemic preparedness.
The Pandemic Agreement aims to:
- Strengthen preparedness and surveillance systems;
- Ensure equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics;
- Enhance coordinated responses to future health emergencies;
- Uphold solidarity, transparency, and evidence-informed decision-making.
Her contribution is widely regarded as one of the most significant multilateral health achievements of the post-COVID era. During the award ceremony, Ms. Matsoso expressed her gratitude to all partners involved in the negotiation process, stating:
“We rebuilt trust, acted as bridge builders, and navigated complex constellations to keep the process moving forward. We have shown that when we come together, adversity can become a catalyst for lasting change.”
She also underscored the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement:
“Dialogue can and will pave the way. Let us continue to be the bridge builders, the trust rebuilders, and the hope keepers that this world needs.”
The award was presented by Mr. Rabih El-Haddad, Director of the Division for Multilateral Diplomacy at UNITAR, together with H.E. Maha Al-Awadi, during the Doha World Negotiation Day 2025.
This year’s edition focused on the role of preventive diplomacy in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment. High-level speakers exchanged perspectives on strengthening multilateral mechanisms, rebuilding trust among international partners, and designing negotiation ecosystems capable of preventing future global crises.
Reflecting on the purpose of the initiative, Mr. El-Haddad noted:
“It is our task at the United Nations to recognise when positive things happen in the world — and to acknowledge negotiators who overcome deadlocks, rather than only those who fail.”
