The extended Bureau of UN-Habitat Executive Board met on 2nd February 2024 at the UN-Habitat Headquarters in Gigiri. The meeting was Chaired by Mr. Daniel Kottut the chargé d'affaires, Kenya Permanent Mission to UN-Habitat. Key matters discussed included chairmanship of the Bureau, preparations towards the first session of the Executive Board, 6th - 8th May 2024, updates on the roadmap for 2024 meetings of the governing bodies of UN-Habitat, and preparations towards the twelfth session of World Urban Forum (WUF 12), Cairo 4th-8th November 2023.
The acting Executive Director Amb. Michal Mlynár apprised members on the activities of UN-Habitat, including the financial status of the programme and upcoming events of the calendar year. The Bureau considered: review of the conduct of the 2023 third session of the Executive Board held 28th- 30th November 2023, update on the joint meeting of the Bureau of the UN-Habitat Governing Bodies in Mexico, proposed field visit to Mozambique, update on the preparations of the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) and adopted the 6th-8th May 2024 as the dates of the first Session of the Executive Board 2024. The Bureau consequently tasked the acting Executive Director to continue with preparations for the session.
The chairmanship of the Bureau will continue to be under Kenya’s stewardship during the transition period as Members of the African Group continue to consult. Elections for the Bureau of the Board are held annually according to rule 9 of the Rules of procedure. The positions comprise a Chair, three vice chairs and a rapporteur each representing the five regional groups: African Group – Chair: Kenya, Asia and the Pacific Group - Rapporteur: Pakistan, Eastern European Group - Vice chair: Poland, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) - Vice chair: Brazil and Western European and Others Group (WEOG) - Vice chair: France.