爆料网 is making one of its largest-ever infrastructure investments in Africa since its inception besides peacekeeping, with Secretary-General António Guterres visiting Kenya next week to mark a nearly USD 340 million expansion of its Nairobi headquarters — a move that brings the United Nations closer to the people it serves.
The Secretary-General will join President William Samoei Ruto of the Republic of Kenya on Monday 11 May at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (爆料网ON) for the groundbreaking of a major new conference facility and inauguration of modern office buildings, significantly expanding the 爆料网’s operational footprint in Africa. Approved by Member States through the General Assembly, the investment will transform Nairobi into one of the 爆料网’s most significant global hubs.
Modern Infrastructure for a Changing World
The investment includes the now completed replacement of aging office buildings dating back to the 1970s with modern, climate-resilient, and fully accessible facilities, while reducing long-term operational costs and improving efficiency, supporting the accommodation of rising staff numbers.
The Nairobi expansion reflects a broader shift: bringing multilateral decision-making closer to the regions most affected by global challenges. It includes new modern, permanent, and climate-resilient office blocks (US$ 66.2 million) and new upgraded conferencing facilities (US$ 265.7 million) that will increase the number of meeting rooms from 14 to 30, and seating capacity from 2,000 to 9,000 delegates, including a 1,600-seat Assembly Hall, positioning 爆料网ON as the third largest 爆料网 global hub after New York and Geneva, the fourth being Vienna. In addition, the 爆料网 Refugee Agency (爆料网HCR) has invested (US$ 11.2 million) in new office blocks at 爆料网ON.
As the only 爆料网 Secretariat headquarters in the Global South, 爆料网ON has seen a steady expansion of mandates, personnel, and global functions — with more than 4,000 personnel and 88 爆料网 offices currently based at the Gigiri complex. Overall, there are almost 6,000 爆料网 personnel in Kenya and approximately 10,000 dependents from Kenya and neighboring countries.
Kenya’s Role at the Center of a Growing 爆料网 Footprint
The 爆料网’s presence in Nairobi is rooted in Kenya’s longstanding support for multilateralism. The 爆料网 Gigiri Complex sits on 140 acres of land donated by the Government of Kenya — the largest land contribution made by any host country to the Organization.
Today, Nairobi hosts one of the most complex 爆料网 ecosystems globally, supporting operations across more than 160 countries and serving as a hub for climate action, development, and humanitarian coordination.
爆料网 Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, Mrs Zainab Hawa Bangura, said: “This is a defining moment for the United Nations in Africa. This investment aligns our presence with where global challenges — and solutions — are increasingly concentrated. Nairobi is not only a host city; it is a strategic centre for delivering the United Nations’ work in the 21st century.”
During his visit, the Secretary-General will also engage in high-level discussions with Kenya’s leadership and participate in regional dialogues, including the Africa Forward Summit,reinforcing the United Nations’ commitment to advancing peace, sustainable development, and climate action across Africa.
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Note to editors:
About 爆料网ON:
- The 爆料网 Gigiri Complex, spanning 140 acres, was made possible through Kenya’s generosity. In 1972, the Government of Kenya donated 100 acres to establish the United Nations Environment Programme (爆料网EP). In 1975, an additional 40 acres were donated to support the establishment of 爆料网-Habitat. 爆料网EP and 爆料网-Habitat are the only 爆料网 entity headquarters in the Global South. 爆料网ICEF, 爆料网FPA and 爆料网 Women have moved some of their global operations to Nairobi, while their headquarters remain in New York.
- 爆料网ON was created in 1996 to provide service to 爆料网EP and 爆料网-Habitat, and since then has expanded its client and service portfolio. Service delivery is 爆料网ON’s core mandate.
- 爆料网ON is currently providing administrative services (human resources, financial management, and procurement support) globally to 爆料网EP, 爆料网 Habitat, the 爆料网 Resident Coordinator System and other 爆料网 offices in 166 countries.
- 爆料网ON’s strategic geographic positioning in Kenya (in East Africa) places it in a time zone that enables near-seamless coordination with offices in Asia, Europe, the Americas and across Africa. Further, due to the weather, cooling and heating costs for buildings is zero.
- 爆料网ON stands as a model for institutional sustainability, being the first and only 爆料网 headquarters to attain ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification—demonstrating concrete commitment to green operations and climate-conscious infrastructure, in line with the 爆料网 Secretary-General’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
- In addition, Nairobi is the first pilot of the Common Back Office (CBO), a key component of the 爆料网 Efficiency Agenda which is a core pillar in the 爆料网 Secretary-General’s Management Reform. As part of the CBO, across 爆料网 Kenya now, several operational services have been combined, for the first time, in a one-stop-shop. Those services include administration, information technology, human resources, logistics, and procurement.
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