The ceremony included the inauguration of new office buildings and the groundbreaking of a new conference facility at the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), which will substantially expand the Organization’s footprint in Africa.
Approved by the UN General Assembly, the $340 million project is the largest investment undertaken by the UN Secretariat in Africa in its 80-year history, strengthening Nairobi’s role as a global centre for diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
“These are more than buildings,” the Secretary-General said during a press encounter. “They are a vote of confidence in Africa’s place at the heart of international cooperation.”
A UN closer to the people it serves
The project will increase conference capacity at UNON from 2,000 to 9,000 participants, including through the construction of a new assembly hall and expanded meeting facilities.
Mr. Guterres said the expansion reflects the UN’s broader efforts to bring its work closer to the regions most affected by global challenges.
“The United Nations must be closer to the people it serves – connected to their realities and equipped to support the solutions they are building,” he said.
