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U.N. appoints Monica Katina Juma as UNODC executive director; Brandolino to serve temporarily

United Nations - Noon Briefing · March 6, 2026

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Summary

The U.N. announced the appointment of Monica Katina Juma as executive director of UNODC and director-general of the U.N. office in Vienna, with John Brandolino serving as acting executive director until she assumes the post; the briefing also included UNDP and FAO updates on Jamaica recovery and rising global food prices.

The United Nations announced that the secretary-general is appointing Monica Katina Juma of Kenya as the new executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and director-general of the U.N. office in Vienna. Stephan, the U.N. moderator, said John Brandolino, director of the division for treaty affairs at UNODC, will continue to serve as acting executive director until Juma assumes the position.

Stephan described Juma’s background, saying she is currently serving as national security adviser to the president of the Republic of Kenya and as secretary of Kenya's National Security Council (a post held since 2022), and noted prior service as a cabinet secretary in strategic ministries including the Ministry of Energy.

The moderator also thanked Khadar Wali of Egypt for his service to UNODC (as noted in the announcement).

Separately, Stephan relayed a UNDP update: the UNDP administrator concluded a two-day visit to Jamaica, meeting senior government officials and visiting communities affected by hurricane Melissa; UNDP said it was preparing more than $30,000,000 in grant financing to support resilient livelihoods, ecosystems and recovery finance.

Stephan also cited a FAO update showing global food prices rose in February: the FAO food price index averaged 125.3 points, up 0.9% from January, and FAO reported that 41 countries require external assistance for food, most of them in Africa owing largely to conflict, insecurity and weather-related shocks.

What happens next: the U.N. will circulate the appointment notice and the agencies will continue operational planning for recovery and humanitarian assistance.