The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, yesterday, appointed Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira as Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General for UN-HABITAT.

She succeeds Inga Björk-Klevby, a Swedish national.

Kirabo is the Governor of the Eastern Province, a position she took up in February, 2011, after serving as the mayor of the City of Kigali.

Under her leadership, Kigali became the first African city to win the prestigious UN-HABITAT Scroll of Honour Award "in recognition of the high level of cleanliness, greenness, safety and the sustainable, affordable housing initiatives combined with pro-poor urban employment opportunities.”

Speaking to The New Times last evening, Kirabo said: "It’s an honour and an opportunity for me. I was appointed from among many other contenders. I appreciate the support I got from my family, friends and all Rwandans.”

According to a statement from the UN-HABITANT,

"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,”

It added: "she 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.”

"She 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,” the statement said.

Prior to her election as Kigali City mayor in 2006, Kirabo was a Member of Parliament where she sat on Standing Committee on Land Use and Management, Settlement, and Environment.

Kirabo, 46, holds a Masters Degree in Veterinary Science from James Cook University, Australia. She undertook her first degree in Veterinary Medicine from Makerere University in Uganda.

She is currently pursuing an MBA with the Netherlands’ Maastricht School of Management. The course is hosted at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB) in Kigali.

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