FORMER UN OFFICIAL FROM JORDAN CHOSEN TO LEAD UN COMMISSION FOR WESTERN ASIA

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today that he is appointing a former senior United Nations official from Jordan as the new head of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Rima Khalaf, who succeeds Bader al-Dafa as Executive Secretary of the Beirut-based ESCWA, takes up her post in October.

Ms. Khalaf served as Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) from 2000 to 2006, launching pioneering projects to promote good governance, human rights and human development in Arab countries. For her efforts, she received a number of international prizes, including the Prince Claus Award and the King Hussein Leadership Prize.

Before joining UNDP, Ms. Khalaf served in a number of senior Government positions in Jordan, including deputy prime minister, industry and trade minister, planning minister and head of the ministerial economic team.

Ms. Khalaf has also participated in a number of international commissions, including the High Level Commission for the Modernization of the World Bank Group Governance (2008-2009).