SG/A/884
BIO/3590
WOM/1466
13 August 2004
Biographical Note
Secretary-General Appoints Rachel N. Mayanja of Uganda as Special Adviser on Gender Issues, Advancement of Women
NEW YORK, 12 August (UN Headquarters) -- The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Rachel N. Mayanja as his Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. The appointment is at the Assistant-Secretary-General level.
Ms Mayanja is currently serving with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the Director, Human Resources Management Division. She has been with FAO on secondment from the United Nations since July 2000. As the Director of Human Resources Management, Ms. Mayanja has been instrumental in the implementation of the reform of human resources management at FAO.
Prior to joining FAO, Ms. Mayanja held 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.
She has also served as secretary to different bodies in the course of her long service with the Organization. In 1999, she served as secretary to the Secretary-General’s Task Force on the reform of human resources management.
Ms. Mayanja has served in peacekeeping missions in Namibia (UNTAG) from 1989 to 1990, and Iraq/Kuwait (UNIKOM) from 1992 to 1994. In Namibia, she worked with the United Nations civilian police to oversee the elections leading to independence; with UNIKOM, she was in charge of ensuring the proper provision of administrative support to the observer mission.
Ms. Mayanja’s career with the United Nations started in the then Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, where she joined the Division for Equal Rights for Women shortly after the first world conference for women. As the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary-General for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, she participated actively 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.
Ms Mayanja, a national of Uganda, obtained a law degree from Makarere University, as well as a master’s degree in law from the Harvard University Law School, United States. She has three children.
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