UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, with President of Mali, Amadou Toumani Toure
On a working visit to Mali, the Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka held talks with senior government officials including the president, Mr. Amadou Toumani Toure.
She briefed the President on UN-HABITAT activities in Mali and appealed to the head of state to support the World Urban Campaign and invited him to be part of the Presidential Committee she is working to put in place to support the implementation of the World Urban Campaign.
On his part President Toumani acknowledged the importance of UN-HABITAT’s work on urban issues and reassured Mrs. Tibaijuka the Executive Director his full support and commitment to a successful implementation of the world initiative and to be part of the Presidential Committee.
Upon arrival, Mrs. Tibaijuka held a meeting with the UN country team. She was briefed by the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country team on the ongoing activities to support the government of Mali and the preparation for the UN Delivery as One (One UN) in which he called for UNHABITAT involvement and full participation due to the importance of urban issues in Mali. The UN Resident coordinator requested the posting of a UN-HABITAT Programme Manager to strengthen UN-HABITAT presence in Mali.
The ED briefed the UN Country team on ongoing UN-Habitat activities in Mali focusing on water and sanitation, participatory slum upgrading and cities without slums. She particularly stressed the rapid urbanisation in Africa and the cities of Mali and the need to work together with all UN Agencies to assist the government to overcome the urbanization challenges. She welcomed the the request for an HPM in Mali and requested the Direction of the ROAAS to take action.
Mrs. Tibaijuka paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Housing, Land affairs and urban planning and the Prime Minister of Mali. She briefed the Minister and her staff as well as the Prime Minister on the preparations for the Fifth Session of World Urban Forum WUF 5 and particularly the launching of the World urban campaign in March 2010 in Rio de Janeiro.
