Gilbert F. Houngbo

Biography

BIOGRAPHY OF GILBERT F. HOUNGBO, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO) In March 2022 Gilbert F. Houngbo was elected by the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) as its 11th Director-General, becoming the first African to hold the position. He took up the role on 1 October 2022. Prior to that post, Mr Houngbo was the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, based in Rome, Italy. First elected in 2017, he was re-elected in 2021. He previously was Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnerships at the ILO. In 2008, Mr Houngbo was asked to serve as Prime Minister of Togo, a position he held until 2012. Prior to that he held several posts at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), including Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Africa, following several years in the private sector and three years serving as Director of Finance at the International Bank of Mali.