New UN office In Addis Ababa

United Nations facility launched by UN chief Ban Ki-moon

A new United Nations office was inaugurated by the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in Addid Ababa on 28 October.

Located off Menelik II Avenue in central Addis Ababa, the new UN facility will house its office to the African Union (AU), its mission in Darfur, its Children Funds, office for project services, World Health Organization (WHO) and its High Commission for Refugees.

Describing it as "a milestone for the UN’’ the UN secretary-general said a shared location would result in greater efficiency and reduced operation costs.

There are now 20 buildings at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) compound which employs more than 1,000 people.

Addis Ababa is now the UN's third-largest duty station in terms of property scale, after New York and Geneva.

It will cater for growing demand for office space Ban is visiting the Horn of Africa to unite the capacities of the UN, World Bank, EU, Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank.