Idai: President Nyusi meets visiting UN-Habitat executive director

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Idai: President Nyusi meets visiting UN-Habitat executive director

9:54 CAT | 16 Apr 2019

Photo: Twitter / @MaimunahSharif

President Nyusi yesterday held a meeting with Maimuna Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, who will this week be visiting the people and areas in the country affected by Cyclone Idai.

Speaking to the press at the end of the meeting, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat said she was in Mozambique in response to an invitation extended by the president during his visit to Nairobi, but also came to offer her organisation’s expertise in terms of resilient urban development adapted to climate change.

I am in Mozambique this week to visit the individuals & areas affected by #CycloneIdai to see how best @UNHABITAT can assist the Govt. of Mozambique in rebuilding the areas impacted by this disaster. ????

Read more on what we do in Mozambique below. ⬇️https://t.co/mGoQgyKwlJ

— Maimunah Mohd Sharif (@MaimunahSharif) April 15, 2019

“We are also going to work with the government to define policies for housing and human settlements that are capable of dealing with the phenomena of climate change, and this is our main objective,” she said.

Also discussed was alignment of any building programme with Sustainable Development Goal 11 ( Sustainable cities and communities).

“As well as Cyclone Idai, our visit has a more preventive vision for the future, by taking prudent measures to ensure the safety of human settlements,” Sharif said.

Maimuna Sharif is also Acting Director-General of the United Nations Information Centre, for Kenya, Uganda and Seychelles.

About Maimuna Mohd Sharif

Prior to her appointment to the UN in January 2018, Ms. Sharif was the Mayor of the City Council of Penang Island, Malaysia. In 2011, she was the first woman to be appointed president of the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai. As mayor of a local authority, she led the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai to achieve its vision of a “cleaner, greener, safer and healthier place to work, live, invest and play”. She is a champion of Gender‐Responsive Participatory Budgeting and Gender Responsive Participatory Planning, integrating gender perspectives into the governance process as a means of mainstreaming gender into budgetary and development policy and planning. During her tenure, the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai was the first Local Authority to implement and achieve six quality‐based management ISO certifications.

Ms. Sharif began her career as a Town Planner at the Municipal Council of Penang Island in 1985. In 2003, she was promoted to Director of Planning and Development, a position she held until November 2009. As Director, she was responsible for the preparation of structure and local plans, and was directly involved in development control of Penang City projects and landscape development. She also led a team for the planning and implementation of the Urban Renewal Projects in George Town. In November 2009, she was entrusted as the first General Manager to establish George Town World Heritage Incorporated and manage the George Town World Heritage Site, which was inscribed by UNESCO in July 2008.

Born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on 26 August 1961, Ms. Sharif holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Town Planning Studies from the University of Wales Institutes of Science and Technology, the United Kingdom, and a Master of Science in Planning Studies from the Malaysia Science University. She has received a number of awards, among others by the Penang State Government and International Organisations, such as “Planner of The Year 2014” by the Malaysian Institute of Planners as well as the 2016 Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award during Habitat III in Quito, for her contribution in sustainable planning in Seberang Perai.

An honour to have met H.E. Mr. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of Mozambique.
We discussed how @UNHABITAT & Govt. of #Mozambique can work together to rebuild the areas affected by #CycloneIdai & build resilient infrastructure to accommodate their cities rapid urbanization. ???? pic.twitter.com/SjYLspJvjb

— Maimunah Mohd Sharif (@MaimunahSharif) April 16, 2019