Chioma Umeha
African Renaissance and Diaspora Network, Inc.
(ARDN) announced Tuesday, that Dr. Djibril Diallo, a United Nations Senior
Official, has been appointed to the position of President and Chief Executive
Officer. The appointment will become effective March 25, 2018.
A statement jointly signed by Arlene Katzive,
Secretary of the Board and James Hsui, Legal Counsel, both of ARDN said that
Dr. Diallo currently serves as Regional Director for West and Central Africa
and Senior Adviser to the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
He has held several management positions with the
United Nations (UN) for more than three decades.
“We look forward to continued close collaboration
between UNAIDS and ARDN with Djibril in the lead,” said UNAIDS Executive
Director Michel Sidibé, in a message to all UNAIDS staff.
In his capacity as the chief executive officer of
ARDN, Dr. Diallo will lead the organisation’s ‘Pathway to Solutions’
initiative, which aims to popularise the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and to increase public understanding of the role and functions of
the UN.
The international project has its genesis in the
collective hope and vision of the office of UN Deputy-Secretary-General, Amina
J. Mohammed; and ARDN under the direction of the Chair of its Board of
Directors, Constance B. Newman, a Senior Fellow of the Africa Center at the
Atlantic Council.
Newman has also formerly served as Assistant
Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) and Assistant United States Secretary of State for African Affairs.
After over
nine months of extensive consultations, the ‘A Pathway to Solutions’
strategic plan was presented to the UN Deputy-Secretary-General on December
19, 2017, at a coordination
meeting held at the United Nations headquarters.
“Dr. Diallo’s expertise in international
relations, diplomacy and human development will be critical at a time when the
International Community is pursuing, in tandem, the SDGs, the implementation of
the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024), and the
African Union Agenda 2063,” said Ms. Newman.
“We are confident that under his leadership, ARDN
will be well-poised to contribute to the world we want – one defined by peace,
justice, freedom, respect, social progress, equal rights and human dignity,
tolerance, solidarity and sustainability – starting with Africa and the African
diaspora.”
“I’m deeply humbled by the trust and confidence
that has been placed in me. I’m
excited to see what I can do in this new capacity to advance the United
Nations’ hope and vision of a better world,” said Dr. Diallo.
“When we talk about Africa and the diaspora, we’re
ultimately talking about the entire world. ARDN is built on the fundamental
principle that we are stronger together. Today, more than ever, it’s important
that we remember and reflect on this. This planet earth is the only home we
have, and we are one human family.”
With over 35 years of experience at the United
Nations, Dr. Diallo’s work for peace, sustainable development and protecting
the most vulnerable has been recognized by numerous national and international
organizations.
Previously, Dr. Diallo served as Director in the
Office of the Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport
for Development and Peace, Spokesperson of the President of the United Nations
General Assembly, Director of Communications at the United Nations Development
Programme, and Special Assistant to the Executive Director at the United
Nations Children’s Fund.
A steadfast supporter of youth, Dr. Diallo
initiated the first-ever United Nations Youth Leadership Summit in 2006,
bringing together youth leaders from 192 countries, with a vision toward gender
parity in participation. He speaks twelve languages.
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