Dear GLTN Partners and Members,
 

As you may be aware, UN-Habitat implemented a new organisational structure during January 2020 and the majority of staff reassignments are now complete.

The former Land and GLTN Unit, which provided the Secretariat of the Global Land Tool Network, is now part of the new ‘Land, Housing and Shelter Section’. There is a strong tradition of collaboration between colleagues working on land and those working on housing and shelter in UN-Habitat, both normatively and in our field operations. The new structure reinforces this and supports an even more integrated approach.
 

This new ‘Land, Housing and Shelter Section’ focuses on skills, tools and normative solutions and is designed to work closely with UN-Habitat offices in the field in piloting and replicating its work. This is a good fit with the strategy of the GLTN and steps are already in place to ensure that momentum is not lost through this restructuring.
 

GLTN is one of the flagship programmes of UN-Habitat, enjoying the Agency’s full support. UN-Habitat clearly recognises that sustainable urbanization cannot be achieved without addressing land tenure and governance issues. GLTN shall, therefore, continue enjoying the full support of UN-Habitat.
 

Meanwhile, I am pleased to inform you that Oumar Sylla has taken up the position of Regional Representative for Africa, which is a critical role for UN-Habitat’s work. I would like to sincerely thank Oumar for his great work since joining the GLTN Secretariat in September 2015. As head of the Regional Office, Oumar will continue collaborating intensively with GLTN’s work and be an important contributor to GLTN’s collective endeavours.
 

The Executive Director of UN-Habitat has appointed me to lead the Land, Housing and Shelter Section. I have also been instructed to personally take on the role of Secretary of the Global Land Tool Network. I represented UN-Habitat on the GLTN Steering Committee between 2015 and 2018, was closely involved in the development of the Phase 3 strategy and know many of you personally. I trust that I will be able to serve the Network effectively and build upon the solid foundations created by Clarissa and Oumar.
 

I look forward to working with all of our Network members and partners to meet the challenges of achieving the goals of the Sustainable Development Agenda and maintaining the pace in building more effective and more just land management systems. Please do not hesitate to contact me now, or in the future, if you have any questions.
 

Yours faithfully,