She is  a Senegalese personality. She has She began her career at the United Nations in Rome, as a logistics officer for the World Food Programme in 1995. She subsequently served as a national representative or deputy coordinator for humanitarian operations in seven countries: Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger, Madagascar and Nigeria.

During her 21-year career with the United Nations, Fatma Samoura launched and developed several humanitarian programs around the world. Countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe have benefited from her skills in program management and operations. Her leadership and vision have enabled her to empower women and youth, change lives, and protect the environment. With extensive experience in complex development, socio-economic, political, and security issues, Fatma Samoura has helped numerous countries address socio-political, economic, humanitarian, security, and human rights challenges.

Through her work at the UN, she has changed the lives of millions of people. She approaches her new role at FIFA with the ambition of changing the world through football. At the 66th FIFA Congress in 2016, she became the first female Secretary General in the history of the football governing body.