United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 30 December 2019 the appointment of?Zainab Hawa Bangura?of?Sierra Leone as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).??The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation and gratitude to Ms. Maimunah?Mohd?Sharif, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements?Programme?(UN-Habitat), who will continue to serve as Acting Director-General until Ms. Bangura assumes this position.?
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Ms. Bangura, a relentless advocate for conflict resolution and reconciliation,?and human rights champion,?was most recently Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict from 2012 to 2017.??She began her United Nations career in the United Nations Mission in Liberia,?where she was responsible for the management of the largest civilian component of the Mission, including promoting capacity-building of government institutions and community reconciliation.?
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She?was?Minister of Health and Sanitation?(2010-2012)?and Minister of Foreign?Affairs and International Cooperation (2007-2010) for the Government of Sierra Leone.??Ms. Bangura?has also served as Executive Director of the National Accountability Groups?as well as Coordinator and Co-founder of the Campaign for Good Governance.?
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She?holds a bachelor's degree from Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and advanced diplomas in insurance management from the University of London and Nottingham University.?
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