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6 April 2021 – The French international footballer and World Cup winner, Blaise Matuidi, has been appointed as Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa for the United Nations agency focused on urban issues, UN-Habitat.

The footballer, who was part of the French team that won the World Cup in 2018 and currently plays for Inter Miami CF, will work with UN-Habitat on ensuring decent housing for all, focusing on families living in slums and informal settlements in Central Africa.

The appointment is announced on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which recognizes the role sport and physical activity play in communities and in people’s lives across the world.

“I’m very honoured to be part of this partnership. I have been a champion on the pitch, but it has always been my hope to be a champion in changing people’s lives, especially the children in informal settlements,” said Mr. Matuidi, whose parents are from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, during the virtual signing ceremony.

UN-Habitat signed an agreement with Tremplins Blaise Matuidi, the footballer’s Association, on 24 November 2020, outlining how the two organizations will work together for equal access to decent housing and basic services including schools, recreation, water, sanitation, health and public spaces, for children and families living in informal settlements in Central Africa. This will include raising awareness and mobilizing partners including governments, the private sector and civil society.

“I am delighted that Blaise Matuidi has agreed to be UN-Habitat’s Goodwill Ambassador for Africa as he will undoubtably be an inspiration for the people on the ground,” said Ms Maimunah Mohamed Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

 “I am also pleased to see UN-Habitat and Blaise Matuidi’s Association coming together to advocate for the right of vulnerable families in Africa and across the world to have access to decent housing. UN-Habitat has a long history of working to improve the lives of people living in informal settlements and this partnership will, I believe, make a real difference.”

UN-Habitat and Tremplins Blaise Matuidi will jointly develop projects and programmes for informal settlements including social and sports facilities in Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and São Tomé and Principe.

Launch video: https://youtu.be/7uwzAr3c1w8

UN-Habitat

UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries supporting people in cities and human settlements for a better urban future. Working with governments and local partners, its high impact projects combine world-class expertise and local knowledge to deliver timely and targeted solutions. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on cities, SDG 11, to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

www.unhabitat.org

Tremplins Blaise Matuidi

The Tremplins Blaise Matuidi is a French and international association based in Pontault Combault (77340) in the Paris region founded in 2015 by Blaise Matuidi, an Inter Miami CF player, French international finalist of Euro 2016 and winner of the 2018 World Cup. The Association's goal is to bring a smile back to children's faces through sport and cultural activities, but also to push back the limits of the precarious situation these children encounter in their daily lives.

https://www.tremplinsblaisematuidi.org   Twitter: @MATUIDIBlaise

For more information contact

Alain Ngono, UN-Habitat Regional Office for Africa +254 789153827 alain.ngono@un.org

Susannah Price, UN-Habitat Chief of Communication +254 722719867 susannah.price@un.org

Read the Press release in FRENCH