Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo of Togo

LOME (AFP) The UN deputy secretary general and director of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for Africa, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo has been appointed Prime Minister of Togo, according to an official statement on Sunday night.

Before being appointed to his current UN job, Houngbo was part of the UNDP's strategic team and an administrative and financial director within the organisation.

Houngbo was a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Strategic Management Team and was its Director of Finance and Administration before being appointed as the UNDP Chief of Staff in 2003.

His appointment as Prime Minister was read out in a decree by Kouessan Yovodevi, the Director of National Television, who stated, "Mr Houngbo is Prime Minister.

Houngbo took office as Prime Minister on 8 September.

Houngbo was a relatively obscure figure in Togo prior to his appointment as Prime Minister, and his appointment was regarded as surprising.

Gilbert Houngbo was appointed to replace Mally on 7 September, and he succeeded Mally on 8 September.

LOME, September 8, 2008 (AFP) - The UN deputy secretary general and director of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for Africa, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo has been appointed Prime Minister of Togo, according to an official statement in the night of Sunday to Monday.

Houngbo is Prime Minister,' announced a decree read out by the director of national television Kouessan Yovodevi.

the United Nations is not an end by itself.

Gilbert Houngbo is the Assistant UN Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa.

covering the 45 countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

climate change and competition for scarce water resources.

Houngbo leads 1,500 UNDP staff covering the 45 countries of sub-Saharan Africa and the largest of UNDPs five regional programmes.

The UN deputy secretary general and director of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for Africa, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo has been appointed Prime Minister of Togo, according to an official statement in the night of Sunday to Monday.

experience in corporate finance, operations rationalization, strategic planning and financial and management audit.

New Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo is a career diplomat and academic who is seen as politically neutral.