UN names Jean Njeri Kamau as new Resident Coordinator for Guyana

Jean Njeri Kamau was named as the new United Nations Resident Coordinator for Guyana on Sunday, 15 September. Kamau was sworn into position by the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres.

As the new United Nations Resident Coordinator, Jean Njeri Kamau, a native of Kenya will be serving as one of the highest-ranking representatives for the organization. She will be looking over the United Nations Development System in Guyana.

On the day of her appointment, she was officially handed over the responsibility with the approval of the government of Guyana. After getting selected by António Guterres, Kamau is ready to command the UN Country Team on the ground.

The information about her joining the organization dedicated to its works in Guyana was shared officially by the officials of the United Nations. Her recent tenure as Kenya’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia made her an eligible candidate for the position.

Kamau served as the Permanent Representative to the African Union. Along with that, she brings the experience of more than twenty years to the table in the sectors of development, political governance, human rights, and institutional development.

In her career, she also served as a diplomat in the Republic of South Africa, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Washington, DC. Apart from her diplomatic presence, she also worked for civil society and the public sector in multiple roles.

It is known that she was the first Executive Director for the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya and also served as Country Director for Action Aid International for Kenya and Lesotho. Due to her deep understanding of the sector in the field, the UN selected Kamau to lead in Guyana.

In the section of education, Jean Njeri Kamau completed her masters in the field of Democratic Studies. She collected her degree from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Her bachelor’s degree was in Law, which she did from the University of Nairobi.

Jean Njeri Kamau will be working under the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in her new role for Guyana. The aims of the RCO are no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, Quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and clean and affordable energy.

Decent work and economic growth, industry innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions, and partnerships for the goals are also a key focus of RCO.