Prof. Dr. Benoît Girardin
Professor of Religion, Ethics, and International Politics
- Faculty Type
- Core Teaching Faculty
- Expertise Areas
- Economics & Development Global Governance International Law & Public Policy International Relations & Diplomacy
- Professional Experience
-
- Professor of Religion, Ethics, and International Politics, Geneva School of Diplomacy
- Vice-Chancellor, Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS), Rwanda
- Ambassador of Switzerland to Madagascar
- National Director, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
- Swiss Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Lecturer, Faculty of Protestant Theology, Yaoundé
- Education
-
- Doctorate in Theology, University of Geneva
Biography
Prof. Dr. Benoît Girardin is a professor, diplomat, and international development expert currently lecturing on religion, ethics, and international politics at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations.
He obtained his Doctorate in Theology from the University of Geneva in 1976 and subsequently taught at the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Yaoundé, Cameroon, between 1978 and 1981.
In 1982, Prof. Girardin joined the Swiss Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where he pursued a distinguished diplomatic and international development career for several decades. He served as National Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Cameroon, Pakistan, and Romania, and also worked on urban development and strategic monitoring initiatives. He later served as Ambassador of Switzerland to Madagascar.
Following his retirement from the Swiss diplomatic service in 2008, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (PIASS) in Rwanda, serving from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure, he oversaw institutional development, academic expansion, governance initiatives, and strategic planning. The uploaded institutional documents confirm his leadership role and responsibilities as Vice-Chancellor of PIASS during this period.
Prof. Girardin regularly publishes articles and books on ethics in politics, ethical management of natural resources, intercultural relations, and societal issues. In addition to his academic and diplomatic work, he is active in civic and societal life.