The United Nations (UN) has addressed reviews concerning the potential relocation of a few of its key companies from New York City, together with UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN-Women, to Nairobi, Kenya.
Responding to questions from reporters on Friday, August 1, 2025, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq clarified that the relocation determination is just not but closing.
“It’s not a sure thing. There are certain options being considered to make the United Nations more cost-effective,” Haq defined.
Table of Contents
UN Says Relocation Decision is Not Yet Final
According to him, numerous proposals are below dialogue at completely different ranges, together with consultations with employees members, the manager boards of the respective companies, and different stakeholders.
“We are still in the early stages. One of the steps being considered is moving more UN operations into the field and into locations with lower operational costs. This is something the relevant agencies will be exploring,” he added.
Earlier this 12 months, on February 19, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi introduced that Kenya is poised to host three new international UN places of work by the top of 2026, positioning Nairobi as a key UN operations hub.
Mudavadi revealed that the UN plans to ascertain places of work for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) in Nairobi.
During a consultative assembly held at his workplace with Philemon Yang, President of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mudavadi emphasised Kenya’s strategic benefit as a regional logistics and monetary middle.
He famous that this positioning helps the UN’s multilateral diplomacy and advances key international and regional priorities.
“Kenya is working closely with the UN and is committed to making Nairobi a critical hub for UN operations, not only locally but also regionally and globally,” he acknowledged.
Rwanda Expresses Interest in Hosting UN Offices
Mudavadi added that Kenya will construct on the UN’s current presence within the nation, in addition to its rising position within the Horn of Africa, East, and Central Africa sub-regions.
Currently, Nairobi already hosts the worldwide headquarters of two main UN companies — the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat.
Meanwhile, Rwanda has additionally expressed curiosity in internet hosting UN places of work. On May 19, 2025, the Rwandan authorities formally introduced its bid to host UN companies, applications, and features as a part of the UN80 Initiative, aimed toward decentralizing and modernizing UN operations.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Rwandan Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente expressed Rwanda’s readiness to function a dependable and dedicated accomplice within the evolving construction of the UN.
