This Friday March 25, 2022, the International Labour Organisation Governing Body has elected Gilbert F. Houngbo, from Togo, as the new ILO Director General. He will be the 11^th Director-General of the ILO, and the first African to hold the post.

Houngbo is currently President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). He was elected by the ILO’s Governing Body comprising of representatives of governments, workers and employers during their 344^th Session in Geneva.

There were five candidates for the post of ILO Director General. The other candidates were Kang Kyung-Wha from the Republic of Korea, Mthunzi Mdwaba from South Africa, Muriel Pénicaud from France, and Greg Vines from Australia.

The new Director General’s five-year term will begin on 1^st October 2022. He will replace Guy Ryder, from the United Kingdom, who has held the office since 2012.

The ILO is the oldest specialized agency of the UN. It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men. The ILO’s Governing Body is composed of 56 Regular Members and 66 Deputy Members.

In June 2021, Rwanda has been elected as a Regular Member of ILO Governing Body (GB) for the term 2021-2024. Africa has 13 Seats (Six Regular Seats and Seven Deputy Seats).