United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Ms. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira of the Republic of Rwanda as Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General for UN-Habitat. She succeeds Ms. Inga Björk-Klevby in the position.
Ms. Kirabo is the former Governor of Eastern Province, the largest in Rwanda with a population of 2.5 million. Prior to that, she was Mayor of Kigali City (2006 - 2011), one of the fastest urbanizing cities in the world. In recognition of the high level of cleanliness, greenness, safety and the sustainable, affordable housing initiatives combined with pro-poor urban employment opportunities, under Ms. Kirabo's leadership, Kigali won the UN-HABITAT Scroll of Honour Award in 2008.
Prior to her position as Mayor, Ms. Kirabo was an Elected Member of Parliament (and member of Parliamentary Standing Committee in charge of land use and management, settlement and environment), she actively participated in the legislative and over-sight functions of parliament in addition to community mobilization.
Ms. Kirabo brings to this position a broad knowledge and experience of over 15 years in senior management and strategic leadership in Government and Non-Government institutions; both national and international.
In her new role, Ms. Kirabo will assist the Executive Director, Dr. Joan Clos, in the overall management of UN-HABITAT to achieve its mandate and will support the new UN-HABITAT agenda to face the urban challenges by strengthening urban policies to generate more equitable, wealthy and sustainable cities. Among her many important responsibilities, Ms. Kirabo will support Dr. Clos in advancing the key reviews currently underway at UN-HABITAT, including the review of UN-Habitat's strategic priorities for the coming years leading to Habitat III in 2016.
Ms. Kirabo was educated at James Cook University, Australia where she gained her Masters in Veterinary Science in Animal Production and Economics and at Makerere University, Uganda where she gained her Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently pursuing an MBA in the School of Finance and Banking, Rwanda/Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands. She is 46 years old, married and has four children.
Her skills at fostering regional diplomatic and cross-border trade relations will be essential as UN-Habitat's new urban agenda is embraced by its partners.
Press Release: DR. CLOS: "Ms. Kirabo brings to UN-HABITAT the experience of someone who knows the daily urban challenges that citizens and governments are facing"
Recent Press releases on Secretary-General's activities - SG/A/1309-BIO/4327-HAB/216Secretary-General Appoints Aisa Kirabo Kacyira of Rwanda Deputy Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General for UN-Habitat
