Mr. Rød-Larsen began his career as an academic, teaching sociology, political science, and philosophy at the Universities of Bergen and Oslo, before establishing the Fafo Institute for Applied Sciences in Oslo in 1981. In 1996, Mr. Rød-Larsen became Norwegian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Planning and Cooperation, before rejoining the United Nations, holding various diplomatic functions. As Director of Fafo, Mr. Rød-Larsen closely involved in the establishment of a secret channel for negotiations between the PLO and the government of Israel, that led to the Oslo Accords. From 1999 to December 2004, he served as UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, holding the rank of Under-Secretary-General. He is President of the International Peace Institute since 2005.