Secretary-General Appoints Josette Sheeran of United States as Special Envoy for Haiti

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Josette Sheeran of the United States as his Special Envoy for Haiti.

The appointment builds on Ms. Sheeran’s extensive experience in the United Nations and her humanitarian work with Haiti.  As Special Envoy, Ms. Sheeran will guide full implementation of the United Nations new approach to reduce the impact of cholera in Haiti and support national efforts to implement Haiti’s 2030 sustainable growth and implementation plan.  The new approach on cholera involves two tracks; the first to intensify efforts to reduce and ultimately end the transmission of cholera, improve access to care and treatment and address the longer-term issues of water, sanitation and health systems in Haiti.  Track two involves developing a package of material assistance and support for those Haitians most directly affected by cholera.

Ms. Sheeran's humanitarian work with Haiti includes serving as United States Under Secretary of State in 2006, visiting Haiti to promote economic growth and to assess United Nations effectiveness in her role as a member of the United Nations high-level panel on humanitarian and development assistance reform; in 2008 to assess the impact on the victims of the mudslides in the city of Gonaives; in 2010, as Head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), to work with the Haitian Department of Civil Protection on hurricane preparedness, and in January 2010, to the earthquake zone to help guide WFP’s $279 million relief operation to reach 2 million Haitians with life-saving food; and in May 2010 to assess WFP’s food and cash for work programmes.

Ms. Sheeran is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Society.  Prior to this position she was Vice Chair of the World Economic Forum (2012-2013) and Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (2006-2012).  She has held several senior positions in the United States Government, among them, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs and Deputy United States Trade Representative.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1025-BIO/3815-SAG/406 of 7 November 2006.