From 9 -10 June 2026, the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) had the honour of hosting the President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), H.E. Annalena Baerbock, during her two-day official visit to Kenya.
The PGA was warmly received by the Director-General of UNON, Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura, together with the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Ms. Inger Andersen, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Kenya, H.E. Dr Garry Conille.
During her visit, the PGA held discussions with Mrs. Bangura and the UNON Senior Management Team on UNON’s strategic role as the only UN headquarters in Africa and the Global South, as well as updates on the Conference Facilities Project. She also received an update on the Conference Facilities Project, a major modernization initiative aimed at enhancing Nairobi's capacity to host global conferences and multilateral negotiations while strengthening UNON’s conference infrastructure for future generations.
The meeting was followed by a guided walk-through of the modernized UNON office campus, where the PGA gained first-hand insight into the organization’s infrastructure improvements and its role in delivering efficient conference and administrative and operational services to the wider United Nations system.
The PGA also met with Ms. Andersen to exchange views on environmental multilateralism and the priorities of the General Assembly in relation to climate action and sustainable development. This discussion underscored the critical role of UNEP and Nairobi-based UN entities in advancing global environmental governance and supporting Member States in addressing pressing and environmental challenges.
In addition, Ms Baerbock engaged Dr Conille and the UN Country Team (UNCT) for Kenya and Nairobi-based regional directors from across the UN system. The session with the UNCT focused on sustainable development and the UN’s impact in Kenya, and the wider region, with participating entities presenting their work in support of the President’s priorities, including human rights, peace and security, sustainable development, and climate action. The PGA emphasised the importance of reform and strengthening the UN’s capacity to deliver tangible results for communities on the ground.
“As one of four international UN headquarters and the only one in the Global South, UNON is an anchor of the UN and its mission,” the PGA noted. She further emphasised, “Nairobi is one of the UN’s most vital hubs, driving real impact across Africa. Reform must go hand in hand with strengthening our capacity to deliver for people on the ground.”
This visit highlighted Nairobi’s unique importance within the multilateral system. As home to the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Nairobi remains the only UN headquarters location in the Global South, serving as a vital center for international diplomacy, sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and global cooperation.
More photos from the visit can be viewed in the UNON Flickr album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCWcQb