Un Secretary General, António Guterres has announced the appointment of Nigerian diplomat and development expert Ahunna Eziakonwa as his new Special Adviser on Africa.
Eziakonwa takes over from Cristina Duarte, whose dedication and valuable service to the United Nations was acknowledged and appreciated by the Secretary-General.
With nearly 30 years of experience within the United Nations system, Eziakonwa brings extensive expertise in development, humanitarian affairs, peacebuilding, and political engagement across Africa.
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Currently serving as UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she oversees the agency’s development support across 46 African countries, helping to advance the UN’s Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Since assuming her role in 2018, Eziakonwa has played a key role in shaping UNDP’s strategies for economic transformation, governance, and sustainable development across the African continent.
Her distinguished UN career includes serving as UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, and UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Lesotho, where she led efforts involving humanitarian response, development planning, and political coordination.
Eziakonwa also served as Chief of the Africa Section at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in New York, overseeing humanitarian operations in 15 African nations. She previously held senior roles in Liberia and Sierra Leone during crucial periods in their development.
At UN Headquarters, she contributed to peacekeeping initiatives, political analysis, and strategic communications relating to the UN’s engagement in Africa through the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations, Political Affairs, and Public Information. Before joining the UN, she worked with several African civil society organisations.
Eziakonwa holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs with a concentration in African economic and political development from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pedagogy, English, and Literary Studies from University of Benin.
A native Igbo speaker, she is also fluent in English and Yoruba and possesses a working knowledge of French.
NAN
