Maputo, 26 May 08

UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, last week held talks with former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and senior government ministers during a visit to explain how the United Nations is striving to make its work in countries the world around the more efficient and better coordinated.

During the visit 20-21 May, Mrs. Tibaijuka held talks with Ms. Luisa Diogo, the Prime Minister, Mr. Oldemiro Baloi, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ms. Alcinda Abreu, Minister for Coordination of Environmental Affairs, and the Mayor of Maputo, Mr. Eneas Comiche, as well as other government and United Nations officials.

“We must make the UN more efficient, effective and coherent,” she told the 2007 Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development seminar. The meeting was called to discuss progress in eight pilot countries, including Mozambique, where the world body has streamlined its operations into One UN  country teams so as to provide better coordinated services.

Mrs. Tibaijuka in her speech stressed that she was in Maputo at the request of Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, the UN Deputy Secretary-General. She congratulated the Government of Mozambique for calling the meeting.

“UN development cooperation is at the crossroads,” Mrs. Tibaijuka said. “Rarely have so many demands been placed on the United Nations system.  Its role in advancing the international consensus on development is recognized by all, as are its responsibilities to support progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development.  The world food crisis and the challenges of climate change are here to remind us of the contribution that the UN should make.”

In her meeting with former President Chissano, Ms. Tibaijuka took the opportunity to invite him to the fourth session of the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China in November.

She also congratulated him on being the first winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. The former President received the inaugural Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in November last year in Alexandria, Egypt. The prize aimed at promoting good governance in Africa.

At the third session of the World Urban Forum in June 2006 in Vancouver, Canada, Mrs. Tibaijuka appointed President Chissano as the agency’s Youth Ambassador.