10/27/2026
The head of UN-Habitat is Anacláudia Rossbach of Brazil, who serves as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme at the level of Under-Secretary-General. She assumed office on 12 August 2024 for a four-year term.
Anacláudia Rossbach is an economist with more than 20 years of experience in urban development, social housing, informal settlements and urban policy.
Before becoming Executive Director of UN-Habitat, she served as Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
She also worked at Cities Alliance, where she was involved in urban policy, housing and development issues across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The UN General Assembly elected Rossbach following her nomination by the UN Secretary-General.
She was appointed on 7 June 2024 and officially began her role on 12 August 2024. Her appointment is for a four-year term.
The Executive Director provides strategic and executive leadership to UN-Habitat.
The organization focuses on sustainable urbanization and human settlements.
Its work includes:
Housing
Urban planning
Sustainable cities
Informal settlements
Urban poverty
Climate resilience
Urban governance
Land and housing policy
Infrastructure
Inclusive urban development
UN-Habitat works with governments, cities, communities and development partners.
UN-Habitat is the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.
It was established to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities and adequate shelter for all.
The organization plays an important role in implementing Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
UN-Habitat is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
This makes UN-Habitat distinctive among major UN entities because Nairobi is one of the principal UN headquarters locations outside New York, Geneva and Vienna.
More of the world's population is living in urban areas, increasing the importance of housing, transportation, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and urban governance.
Rapid and poorly planned urbanization can contribute to housing shortages, inequality, congestion and environmental problems.
UN-Habitat works with countries and cities to address these challenges.
Yes.
UN-Habitat is a programme of the United Nations and works within the wider UN system.
Its leadership is therefore different from that of a national housing ministry or municipal government.
Anacláudia Rossbach is the current head of UN-Habitat, serving as its Executive Director since August 2024. She leads the UN programme responsible for promoting sustainable urban development, adequate housing and better human settlements.
UN-Habitat – Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach
UN-Habitat – Official Website
United Nations – UN-Habitat
Wikipedia – UN-Habitat
Unchannel - 10/27/2026