Anacláudia Rossbach

About

I am United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Despite the conflicts, disasters and crises we face globally, I believe we can promote transformational change and overcome structural inequalities in our cities and human settlements, especially in the Global South, where historical gaps in social and physical infrastructure persist. My career spans over 20 years of work in informal settlements, social housing, and urban policy. I have worked on slum upgrading programmes in Brazil, founded and lead a non-profit organization delivering high-impact projects for communities in São Paulo and Recife in Brazil, and served as an expert on housing for the World Bank. I headed the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2 years and served as the Regional Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean with Cities Alliance for 12 years. I am convinced that a radical transformation of our cities is within reach – moving from segregated territories to inclusive spaces where universal access to services and housing becomes a reality, ensuring the right to the city for all.