janneh became deputy executive secretary of the un capital development fund in 1990. in 1993, he was moved to become resident coordinator of the un development programme (undp) in niger, and in 1996 he moved to do the same role in ghana. in june 2000, janneh became the undp regional director for africa, serving until october 2005. in that capacity, he managed the undp's largest regional bureau, covering 45 countries and overseeing 1,500 staff. this role was at the level of assistant secretary-general of the united nations,