UCLG celebrates the appointment of one of its active members as Executive Director of UN-Habitat

Photo credits:@UCLG-CGLU/Joel Sheakoski

United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has announced his intention to appoint Dato’ Maimunah Mohd Sharif of Malaysia as the next head of the United Nations agency tasked with promoting environmentally and socially sustainable cities and towns; a key partner of UCLG on the international agenda.

The current Mayor of Penang Island City Council, Malaysia, Dato’ Maimunah Mohd Sharif is also member of UCLG’s Global Women’s Caucus, a member of the UCLG Policy Council on the Right to the City, and Chair of the UCLG-ASPAC Standing Committee on Women in Local Government. She has further been very active in the work of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments related to the Habitat III process and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She succeeds Joan Clos, who has headed UN-Habitat since 2010, and has been an important ally for the cause of local and regional governments before the international community.

The Presidency, World Secretariat and members of United Cities of Local Governments the world over are thankful to Joan Clos for the work accomplished together, which has allowed for a greater recognition of local and regional governments on the international stage, and celebrate the nomination of Dato’ Maimunah Mohd Sharif as his successor.

In the era of cities, a mayor will be leading the UN’s cities agenda. Her nomination is an important sign of the progress made by local and regional governments in the international arena, and of the work that UCLG, its members and the broad network of local and regional governments are carrying out worldwide.

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