Dr Alioune BADIANE
Director, Programme Division
UN-HABITAT
Nairobi, Kenya
I am a Senegalese national and a Senior Urban and Regional Planner with an extensive working experience in both central and local governments and at international level. I completed my economic studies in the Senegal National School of Economics- Enea and later graduated from Laval University Quebec, Canada (1983) and had my Post Graduate Studies at City University of New York at Hunter College, Department of Urban Affairs (1987). I have accumulated thirty years of experience in United Nations as well as in Government (Ministries of Economic Planning, Housing, Urban development and Environment, Interior and Decentralisation) and have served for seven years as Director of City Planning and later on, as Principal Policy Advisor to the Mayor of Dakar. For ten years I served as elected municipal councillor and Chairman of the planning and environment commission in my hometown, Mecke, in Senegal.
I joined UNCHS (Habitat) as Chief Technical Adviser- CTA and International Human Settlements Adviser to the Government of Haiti in 1991 and have since directed, managed and coordinated UN regional and national projects and programme in Africa, the Arab States and in the Caribbean regions. In these positions, I have widened my professional network, strengthened my managerial capabilities, increased my political contacts and working experience with UN partners, central governments and local authorities as well as funding partner institutions and international support agencies.
In Oct 1992, I was appointed Regional Coordinator for Africa, Urban Management Programme, with duty stations in Lomé, Togo (1992), Accra, Ghana (1993), and Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (1996). This international joint endeavour between UNDP, UNCHS and The World Bank and the huge political and urban challenge in Africa, have provided me with real opportunities to contribute in shaping new approaches and strategies for urban development and management policy geared toward better governance of cities in Africa.
Amidst the post Istanbul revitalisation process, I joined UNCHS (Habitat) HQ in Nairobi in January 1999 as Director for Africa and the Arab States. In this position, I have consolidated the two previously separated Regional Units (Anglophone Africa and Francophone and the Arab States) into an integrated and well managed Regional Office. Under my guidance, and within the new Habitat Strategic Vision, we have together elaborated a clear mandate, defined a strategy of action and discussed our corporate identity. In April 2011, I was appointed Acting Director, Regional and Technical Cooperation Division and currently I am the Director of Project Office in UN-Habitat.
In my various positions and responsibilities, I have travelled across Africa and the World and belong to various networks of leaders and development associations. I am proud to be an United States fullbright Alumni of the Hubert H. Humphry Programme Class of 87 88. Over the last twenty five years, I have through my work with national government, local authorities, civil society and the United Nations, developed strong negotiation skills, managerial capabilities, decision-making, gender sensitivity, sense and value of human relationships as well as leadership and vision. In April 2006, I have been honoured by the Federal University of Technology of Minna, Niger State, Federal Republic of Nigeria in conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Technology, D. Tech, in recognition of the meritorious services rendered to Nigeria and Africa. I am since 2007 member of the Montreal ICPC Editorial Board for the International Report on Crime Prevention and Community Safety. I am also a Fellow of the Rio de Janiero Alexandro De Gusmao Foundation of Brazil working on linking Brazil to Africa .I am also a founding member of the Resaud Network in collaboration with The University of Montreal working in Francophone Africa to support Universities and cities to jointly collaborate and work towards sustainable urban development in Africa .
As Director of Programme, UN Habitat, I am the principal policy adviser on project and programme implementation of the Executive Director . I am in charge of coordinating both the normative and the operational portfolio of the Organization while securing the effective delivery of projects and programmes in close collaboration with Branches Coordinators and Regional Directors..
