There have been changes in various agencies under the United Nations Office in Nairobi in past few months.
INGER ANDERSEN
In February, Inger Andersen was appointed as the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. Until her appointment, she was serving as Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2015.
She succeeded Erik Solheim, who resigned in November last year.
Solheim’s resignation followed audit queries on his huge travel expenses amounting to Sh50 million.
“Andersen has held various leadership positions at the World Bank and United Nations, most recently as Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa Region at the World Bank (2011-2015) and Vice President for Sustainable Development and Head of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research Fund Council (2010-2011),” UNEP said in the statement on her appointment.
MANIZA SULTANA ZAMAN
On Monday, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma received credentials from Maniza Sultana Zaman, who is the incoming Unicef Country Representative for Kenya and Walid Badawi, the new UNDP Country Representative.
Maniza Sultana Zaman when she presented her credentials to Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma PHOTO MFA
Until her current appointment, Zaman was the Unicef Representative in Tanzania.
She is also returning to Kenya after serving as the Chief of Nutrition, Unicef Kenya, between June 2000 – December 2005.
“Honoured to be back in Kenya to serve the children of this beautiful country with @UNICEFKenya, the @UnKenya family & partners at all levels. Heartened @ progress GoK has made 4 children’s rights – we will continue to support the country to reach #everychild,” she tweeted
WALID BADAWI
Walid’s career in UNDP began as a programme officer at UNDP office in Indonesia between 1993-99, before moving to Egypt as UN Resident Coordinator between 1999-2001. He held various roles in the UNDP in Arab states between 2001–07 as Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Adviser to the Regional Bureau Director. He also served as Deputy Resident Representative (Programme), in Iraq based in Amman, Jordan, between January 2007 – March 2009).
Walid Badawi when he presented his credentials to Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma PHOTO MFA
He later was appointed Dep Director Division of Resource Mobilization in UNDP’s Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy in March 2009 – January 2014).
Walid has over 26 yrs of vast experience in UNDP, focusing on international development and leadership. Before his appointment, he served in South Africa as Resident Representative and Country Director between 2014-19.
The position of UNON boss, in which UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Sharif is acting, is yet to be filled.
