Lidia Brito

Lidia Arthur Brito (born 13 March 1961) is a Mozambiquan forestry expert and engineer. She was the first Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Mozambique. Arthur Brito is an international civil servant since 2009 and was appointed UNESCO Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences in November 2023.

UNESCO career
Joining UNESCO in November 2009, she became the Director for Science Policy and Sustainable Development at the Natural Science Sector in Paris, then she was designated as the UNESCO Regional Director for Sciences in the Latin America and Caribbean region (UNESCO Montevideo Office) in 2014. Over the period of 2018 to 2021, she helmed the organizing committee for the Open Science Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean (CILAC), a crucial regional platform that facilitates discussions and interactions aimed at fostering sustainable policies across the fields of science, technology, and innovation. Brito assumed office as UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa based in Harare in 2022.

Lidia Arthur Brito was appointed UNESCO Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences in November 2023.