Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo (born 4 February 1961) is a politician and diplomat who was Prime Minister of Togo from September 2008 to July 2012. "Reprise de la coopération et gestion de crise", République Togolaise website, 8 September 2008 . He has also held various positions within the United Nations System, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Labour Office and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). In 2022 he was elected as the 11th Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Houngbo travelled to the UN Headquarters in New York on 11 September for a visit to mark his departure from the UN. The same day, he met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who congratulated Houngbo on his achievements at the UNDP. "Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo fait ses adieux au Pnud", République Togolaise website, 12 September 2008 . In Togo, Houngbo's government was named on 15 September 2008. It included 27 ministers, aside from Houngbo himself: 3 ministers of state (one of whom was Houngbo's predecessor, Komlan Mally), 20 ministers, 2 minister-delegates, and 2 secretaries of state. "L'équipe autour de Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo" , République Togolaise website, 15 September 2008 . Houngbo presented his general policy programme to the National Assembly on 16 September. Of the 80 deputies who participated in the vote on Houngbo's programme, 50 (representing the ruling Rally of the Togolese People) voted in favor of it; the opposition Union of Forces for Change voted against it, while the opposition Action Committee for Renewal abstained. "Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo préconise une nouvelle politique de l'emploi", République Togolaise website, 16 September 2008 .
Gnassingbé was re-elected in the March 2010 presidential election and sworn in on 3 May 2010. Houngbo accordingly resigned as Prime Minister on 5 May, "Togolese government resigns", République Togolaise website, 6 May 2010. and Gnassingbé re-appointed him as Prime Minister on 7 May. "Houngbo II", République Togolaise website, 7 May 2010 . His new coalition government was announced on 28 May, "31 ministres dans la nouvelle équipe", République Togolaise website, 28 May 2010 . which included seven members from the UFC, Togo's main opposition party. "Historic agreement between the RPT and the UFC", République Togolaise website, 27 May 2010 .
Houngbo resigned on 11 July 2012,Jean-Claude Abalo, "Togo : démission du Premier ministre Gilbert Houngbo et de son gouvernement", Jeune Afrique, 12 July 2012 . and was succeeded in office by Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu on 23 July. "Pas d’autre solution que le dialogue et la concertation", République Togolaise website, 23 July 2012 .
Following his term as Prime Minister of Togo, Houngbo returned to the United Nations System in 2013 as Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnership at the International Labour Office. "Report of the Director-General; Sixth Supplementary Report: Appointment of a Deputy Director-General", International Labour Office, 25 February 2015 .
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