Rachel Mayanja

Rachel N. Mayanja currently serves as United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. She was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2004.

Mayanja joined the United Nations by working for the Division for Equal Rights for Women, a division within the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs. She served as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary-General for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs and actively participated in the development of policies and attended conferences at the intergovernmental and non-governmental levels on topics dealing with gender, the youth, the aged, the disabled and family.

From 1989 to 1990, Mayanja went to work for the peacekeeping missions in Namibia (UNTAG), where she worked with the United Nations civilian police to oversee the elections leading to independence. From 1992 to 1994, she served in the UN Mission in Iraq/Kuwait (UNIKOM).

Later on, Mayanja served on different senior positions in the Office of Human Resources Management, including as Chief, Common System and Specialist Service, dealing with policies regarding salaries and entitlements, as well as appeals and disciplinary cases.

In 2000, she joined the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the Director, Human Resources Management Division. She played a vital role in the implementation of the reform of human resources management at FAO.

Ms Mayanja, a national of Uganda, holds a law degree from Makarere University and a master’s degree in law from the Harvard University Law School, United States.