Gilbert F. Houngbo
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has appointed Gilbert F. Houngbo as its next Director-General.
Mr Houngbo, a Togolese, is currently president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
He was elected by the ILO’s governing body, comprising representatives of governments, workers and employers, during their meeting in Geneva on Friday.
He will be the 11th Director-General of the ILO, and the first African to hold the post.
The new Director-General’s five-year term will begin on October 1, 2022. The current Director-General, Guy Ryder, from the United Kingdom, has held the office since 2012.
The ILO’s governing body is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers). The Employer and Worker members are elected in their individual capacity.
The ILO is the oldest specialised agency of the United Nations. Founded in 1919, the ILO has a mandate to promote decent work for all. The ILO has 187 Member States.
About The Author
