Global perspective Human stories

General Assembly re-elects Joan Clos as head of UN Human Settlements Programme

UN-HABITAT Executive Director Joan Clos.
UN-HABITAT/CamaraLucida
UN-HABITAT Executive Director Joan Clos.

General Assembly re-elects Joan Clos as head of UN Human Settlements Programme

The General Assembly has re-elected Joan Clos of Spain as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to a second term, which will run from 18 October 2014 until 31 December 2017.

The Assembly took this action yesterday on the recommendation of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and following consultations with Member States.

Mr. Clos, a medical doctor with a distinguished career in public service and diplomacy, has previously served as Mayor of Barcelona – serving two terms from 1997 until 2006. Prior to that, he served as the Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Trade of Spain between 2006 and 2008 and as the Spanish Ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan from 2008 to 2010.

Mr. Clos has earned a reputation in urban renewal projects, as well as international empowerment of local authorities.

Based in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, UN-Habitat seeks to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.