Ugandan National Ms. Rachel Mayanja, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women since November 2004, is a long-serving career international civil servant with vast experience in normative, policy and operational work of the United Nations including peace-building, peace-keeping and inter-agency collaboration.
Ms. Mayanja’s career with the UN started in the Women’s Division shortly after the first World Conference in Mexico in the midst of sensitization of the world to women’s right to equality, development and peace. As Secretary to the drafting committee of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, she was actively involved in the establishment of this landmark legal instrument.
Ms. Mayanja actively participated in peace-building and peacekeeping missions, first with the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia from 1989 to1990 and later in the United Nations Iraq/Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) from 1992 to1994. This first hand knowledge proved essential in her role as the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, especially in the area of women, peace and security.
Immediately before assuming the position of Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, Ms. Mayanja served as Director of Human Resources Management Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). She was instrumental in the introduction of Human Resources Management reforms at FAO. The challenges faced by FAO were shared by other agencies as well as the Secretariat. Ms. Mayanja’s leadership and management style, founded in consensus-building and teamwork, were critical to the smooth implementation of human resources management reforms not only in FAO but at the UN system-wide level.
Ms Mayanja, a national of Uganda, obtained law degree from Makarere University, as well as Master’s Degree in Law from the Harvard University Law School.
The Uganda Diaspora Network is a forum aimed at bringing together Ugandans who live and work abroad by celebrating their contributions overseas and also encouraging them to give of their time, talents, ideas and expertise whilst inspiring the next generation of Ugandan leaders. Every year the Ugandan Diaspora Network will organize an annual Social Networking Gala and will also produce a quarterly publication highlighting the successes of the various Ugandans residing overseas. Please send us those inspirational stories and philanthropic work involving Ugandans abroad. We shall share these stories using this platform that is rapidly growing and expanding. The Next Diaspora Social Networking Gala will be Held on 30th December 2016 at The Kampala Serena Hotel.
Any relation to a certain Ronnie Mayanja?
Hi Doris, no relation, Seems like Mayanja is a common name
It’s great to see Ugandans doing well on the world stage. Congratulations to Racheal Mayanja. Keep up the good work. You make us proud.
What a joy it is to read about Madam Mayanja’s accomplishments. I am a Ugandan Ph.D student in the diaspora, working with international development and maternal child health. She is a great inspiration to me, as a woman and a Ugandan. Bravo Madam Mayanja!
That was great dear we are proud of you
Rachel,
Remember me from your Harvard days? I just discovered this forum, and was delighted to see your name and read about your success.
Sam Mukasa Dean, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences University of New Hampshire
I salute you Madam, my worry is the Uganda is loosing her slots in UN deployments, just because of the Politics and envy surrounding these deployments. It beats my understanding the Secretary General to fund SAT Interviews and after people passing there not deployed, is that proper accountability as regards to proper accountability. Madam there is something you have to do to ensure Ugandans don’t loose these slots in UN deployments as it is today. Be Blessed.
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