United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Ms. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira of the Republic of Rwanda as Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General for UN-HABITAT. She succeeds Ms. Inga Björk-Klevby in the position.

United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon has nominated Mr. Joan Clos, a former mayor of Barcelona as the next head of UN-HABITAT. If the nomination is approved by the General Assembly, he will serve a four year term as the head of the agency.

If elected, he will succeed Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka who has headed UN-HABITAT since it was formed in 2001 to replace the UN Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS). The agency is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of every October as World Habitat Day with the intention of drawing attention and reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and the universal basic right to adequate shelter. The theme this year: "Better city better life" coincides with that of the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, the host city of this year's global celebration.