Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan Director of Regional Bureau

 

for Arab States, United Nations Development Programme

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan as Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Ms. Bahous will replace Amat Alsoswa.  The Secretary-General is grateful to Ms. Alsoswa for her dedication and commitment to the United Nations during her term as Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States at UNDP.

Ms. Bahous brings many years of leadership experience to this position.  She has been the Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Development Sector at the League of Arab States since 2008.  Prior to this, she served in two ministerial posts in Jordan as President of the Higher Media Council and as Adviser to King Abdullah.  Other posts include Head of the Media and Information Division at the Royal Hashemite Court, Executive Director for the King Hussein Foundation and development and communication specialist and later Executive Director of the Noor Al Hussein Foundation.  She has taught development and communication at Yarmouk University and Petra University in Jordan, and was producer and host at the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation.

Ms. Bahous is deeply committed to promoting sustainable socio-economic development, alleviating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the Arab world.  She works passionately towards enhancing gender equality, youth empowerment, quality education and human rights.  She is a keen advocate of democratic governance and human development, and is a strong believer in international development cooperation.

Ms. Bahous holds a PhD in mass communication and development from Indiana University, United States, a Master of Arts in literature and drama from Essex University, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Jordan University.

Ms. Bahous was born in June 1956.  She is married and has one daughter.

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