Bience Philomena Gawanas MBA

Ms. Bience Gawanas of Namibia as Special Adviser on Africa. She succeeds Maged Abdelaziz of Egypt, to whom the Secretary‑General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the Organization. The Secretary‑General also wishes to extend his appreciation to David Mehdi Hamam, who served as Acting Special Adviser since Mr. Abdelaziz’s departure.

Ms. Gawanas has served as Special Adviser to Namibia’s Minister of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare. Prior to this, she was Special Adviser to the Minister of Health and Social Services. A champion of women’s health and rights in Africa, she has been commended for her role in initiating far‑reaching campaigns, such as the continental Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA).

Ms. Gawanas holds a Bachelor of Laws (honors) from University of Warwick, United Kingdom, and an utter barrister degree from the Council of Legal Education School of Law/Lincoln’s Inn, United Kingdom. She also holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and an honorary doctorate in law from the University of the Western Cape.