Gilbert Houngbo, first African to head the ILO

Here is a former collaborator of the Lomé regime, of which the Togolese will never cease to be proud. The former Togolese Prime Minister, Gilbert Houngbo, was elected this Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, 11th Director General of the ILO (International Labor Organization).
He was chosen over four other opponents Greg Vines (Australia), Muriel Pénicaud (France), Kang Kyung-wha (South Korea), and Mthunzi Mdwaba (South Africa) by the ILO Governing Body , composed of representatives of governments, workers and employers.

Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) since April 1, 2017 until today, takes office at the head of the ILO in October 2022. The Togolese is thus the first African to take the orders from this organization.

In addition to IFAD, Mr. Houngbo also chairs UN-Water, an inter-agency mechanism responsible for coordinating the action of more than 30 United Nations entities and other international organizations working on water and sanitation issues. The man has 30 years of experience in the public, multilateral and private sectors, notably as Deputy Director General of the International Labor Organization and Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic. Also, he had held several management positions at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), including those of Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary-General. The holder of a master’s degree in business management from the University of Lomé (Togo) and a postgraduate diploma in specialized accounting from the University of Quebec (Canada), and member of the Canadian Institute of chartered professional accountants, had gained experience in the private sector, notably at Price Waterhouse, in Canada, for about ten years.
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