Edlam Yemeru

Director (a.i), External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge & Innovation Division

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)

Edlam Abera Yemeru is a recognized urban development expert and thought leader with over 20 years of experience in global, regional and national policy and practice. She is currently the Director (a.i.) of the External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge and Innovation Division of UN-Habitat where she leads corporate partnerships, strategy, and think-tank functions to deliver the agency’s mandate to promote sustainable cities and communities to realize global development goals. At the same time, she is the Chief of the Knowledge and Innovation Branch of UN-Habitat leading global policy analysis, data analytics, and smart city solutions for sustainable urbanization. Previously, she served as Director (a.i.) for Gender, Poverty and Social policy and s Chief of Urbanization and Development at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa where she led policy and practice to advise African member States on sustainable urbanization. Earlier in her career, she held several policy and research positions at UN-Habitat and UNODC. Ms Yemeru holds a PhD in Human Geography from Queen Mary, University of London and a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge.