(NAIROBI) – The United Nations has confirmed it will relocate the global headquarters of three major agencies UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women from New York to Nairobi by late 2026. The move will position Kenya’s capital among the world’s most significant UN cities, joining New York, Geneva and Vienna as one of only four cities hosting multiple global offices of the UN.
The relocation is part of the United Nations’ broader “UN@80” reform strategy. This initiative aims to decentralise global operations by shifting some headquarters away from high cost urban centres like New York to more affordable, strategically located cities. Nairobi was selected based on existing infrastructure and its growing importance in UN operations.
A source within the UN, who spoke anonymously to the platform DevelopmentAid, confirmed that the new offices for UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women will be located at the United Nations complex in Gigiri, Nairobi. “Yes, there are plans to establish the three offices. The offices are ready,” the official said, referring to the infrastructure, which has already been completed.
However, internal planning is still ongoing, and the total number of staff to be transferred has not yet been finalised. Some agencies remain in internal consultation. At UNICEF’s Kenya office, for example, staff have not yet received detailed communication regarding which departments will relocate or when. A representative stated, “These discussions are currently taking place among top-level executives. As of now, we have not been informed which departments might move or when.”
In contrast, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) appears to be further along in the process. Reports suggest that up to 25 percent of UNFPA’s global staff will be moved to Nairobi in 2025.
The Kenyan government has expressed strong support for the relocation. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced the plan in February 2025 after high level discussions with Philemon Yang, the President of the 79th UN General Assembly. The announcement was reinforced by Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), who highlighted the city’s rapid rise in international status.
“Nairobi is already the fastest growing UN duty station globally,” Bangura said. “When UNEP was founded in 1973, there were just 300 staff. Today, we have over 6,500 staff and 11,000 dependents.”
Nairobi already hosts 86 UN offices, with 73 of them located within the Gigiri UN complex. The addition of three global headquarters will significantly increase the city’s profile and operational scope.
The shift is expected to have considerable impact on the regional labour market, including professionals from South Sudan. Business Daily reports that at least 800 new UN staff will be stationed in Nairobi following the move, with thousands of additional roles expected to emerge in consultancy, logistics, and support services.
For South Sudanese professionals working in governance, gender rights, public health, and education, the Nairobi relocation may provide rare career opportunities close to home. Platforms such as DevelopmentAid, which provide access to real-time UN job listings and tenders for consultancy contracts, are likely to become vital tools for professionals across East Africa seeking employment within these agencies.
Projected UN Staff Relocation Impact
| UN Agency | Expected Staff Move | Year of Move |
|---|---|---|
| UNFPA | 25% of global staff | 2025 |
| UNICEF | Pending | By 2026 |
| UN Women | Pending | By 2026 |
In support of the relocation, the UN is investing approximately $340 million (equivalent to 1.564 trillion Kenyan Shillings or ₦1.564 trillion KES) in infrastructure expansion at the Nairobi UN complex. One of the key developments includes a state-of-the-art assembly hall with a seating capacity of 9,000. This will be the first UN General Assembly facility constructed outside of New York since 1949.
Additional plans include the construction of 30 new conference rooms, placing Nairobi on par with Geneva and New York in terms of facilities and capacity for high level international meetings.
The UN’s growing footprint in Africa offers new pathways for regional expertise, especially as the organisation deepens its operational presence closer to areas where its programmes are implemented.
