Rachel Mayanja
Assistant Secretary General, UNITED NATIONS
Special Adviser to UN Secretary General, on Gender & the Advancement of Women

Rachel N. Mayanja was appointed as the United Nations Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women in August 2004. Previously, Ms. Mayanja served with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the Director, Human Resources Management Division, where she was instrumental in the implementation of the reform of human resources management. 

Prior to joining FAO, Ms. Mayanja held 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 United Nations. 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. Her 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 Makerere University, as well as a Master’s degree in law from Harvard University.

Additional Web Link:
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/