Biographical Note

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS TOSHIYUKI NIWA AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF UN CAPITAL MASTER PLAN MANAGEMENT PROJECT

The Secretary-General announced the establishment of the Capital Master Plan project and the appointment of Toshiyuki Niwa as its Executive Director, on a full-time basis at the level of Assistant Secretary-General, effective 1 February 2003.  This follows the adoption on 20 December 2002 of resolution A/RES/57/292/Sec.II by the General Assembly.  Mr. Niwa has been in charge of the Capital Master Plan and the Visitors’ Experience projects over the last three years.

As outlined in the Secretary-General’s Report, A/57/285, the project is a time-limited and mission-specific endeavour, will not be a permanent addition to the existing United Nations organizational structure and will operate with sufficient autonomy and maximum flexibility.  Mr. Niwa will continue to report to the Secretary-General through Catherine Bertini, Under-Secretary-General for Management.

Mr. Niwa, a national of Japan, has been the Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services since March 1998.  Mr. Niwa has also been the Executive Coordinator for Common Services at the United Nations Headquarters.  Between 1990 and 1997, Mr. Niwa served as Assistant Secretary-General in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), holding the position of Assistant Administrator and Director, Bureau for Finance and Administration.  In 1994, he was also Acting Associate Administrator.

From 1971 to 1990, Mr. Niwa served in various capacities in UNDP country office and at headquarters.  He was the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Yemen (1980-1983) and Nepal (1983-1988), and UNDP Regional Representative in Thailand (1988-1990).  In Thailand, Mr. Niwa served concurrently as Director of the United Nations Border Relief Operation (UNBRO) for Cambodian Displaced Persons along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Prior to joining the UNDP, Mr. Niwa worked in the private sector.  He holds a B.A. in Economics from Waseda University, Japan, and an M.A.L.D. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, United States.  Mr. Niwa is married and has four children.

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