Introduction of Christine Musisi, the new Director of the External Relations Division

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to introduce Christine Musisi as Director, External Relations Division of UN-Habitat

Christine comes with 20 years of international experience in the development field, having worked in varying contexts, including countries in transition, post-conflict settings, and low and middle income countries. Prior to this appointment, from 2012, Christine was the Regional Director for UN Women’s regional office for Eastern and Southern Africa, which covers 25 countries. In this capacity, Christine spearheaded the roll out of UN Women’s new regional architecture, following the establishment of UN Women as a full-fledged UN agency, dedicated to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Under her leadership, UN Women now has operations in 15 countries in the region. Christine was also able to successfully position UN Women as the partner of choice in advancing gender-related normative frameworks nationally, regionally, including within the UN coordination mechanism.

Christine started her career within the UN, in Mongolia (1996-1998), where she worked as a Gender Specialist for the Government of Mongolia’s Poverty Reduction Program. Since then she has held senior positions within UNDP i.e. as Chief Technical Advisor on Poverty Reduction in Kyrgyzstan); Regional Civil Society Empowerment Advisor in Slovakia covering Eastern Europe and CIS, and later for Eastern and Central Africa, based in Ethiopia. She has also been the Deputy Head of Policy and Technical Cluster (UNDP Regional Center for Eastern and Southern Africa); and head of Programs and Deputy Country Director, (UNDP, Ethiopia).

During her career, Christine has championed various initiatives including a successful social mobilization approach to poverty reduction, local economic development and democratic governance; gender equality; business development and localization of MDGs. Christine has also positioned UN Women as a lead agency in evidence-based advocacy and programming to promote gender-responsiveness in the Extractives industries; climate-resilient agriculture; transformational leadership in politics and agribusiness. She has successfully facilitated partnerships with UN Member states, regional bodies, sister UN agencies, civil society, and private sector for increased impact, leveraging of partners’ resources and sustainability. She therefore brings a wealth of experience in substantive, senior leadership, advocacy, partnership development and normative work within the UN, which will be a great asset to UN-Habitat.

Christine is a Ugandan national. She holds a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management; Diploma in Rural Extension and Master’s degree in Gender Analysis in Development.

Christine is married with two children.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Thomas Melin for his service all this time as Acting Head, External Relations Office.

Best regards

Dr. Joan Clos
Executive Director, UN-HABITAT