Our Team in Namibia
Abigail Noko
OHCHR
OHCHR Representative
Aleta Miller
UN Women
UN Women Representative
Ms. Alka Bhatia is a national of India and has 30 years’ experience in poverty alleviation, trade and sustainable development. She has vast experience in providing strategic policy advise on sustainable development to Governments and UN Country Teams.
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Clara Makenya
UNEP
UNEP Representative
Mr. David Chipanta is an expert in global health, HIV, social protection, and health equity. He has worked on strategic management, economic analysis, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization, social movement building, disability, and senior representation with multilateral agencies and government. David has served as Senior Advisor Social Protection with the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Geneva, Switzerland, and as UNAIDS Country Director for Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia. He also worked with Abt Associates in Bethesda, Maryland, USA as Senior Analyst HIV and Health Systems, with the Catholic Relief Services as AIDS Relief-Co-ordinator for Kenya and Team Leader, Care and support in Nigeria. David co-founded the Network of People living with HIV in Africa (NAP+) and the Network of Zambian People Living with HIV (NZP+). David has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedicine, Global Health Track from the University of Geneva, a master’s in public administration, economics, and International Development from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Economics from San Diego State University. He is from Zambia.
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Dr Mary Brantuo
WHO
WHO Representative
Dr Mary Brantuo is a public health physician with over twenty-five years of experience. She has worked at district, national and international levels, in a wide range of technical areas including Health Systems Strengthening, Advocacy and Partnerships, Sexual, Reproductive and Child Health, Nutrition, Disease Prevention and Control, and Emergency Preparedness and Response.
In addition to her current designation as Officer in Charge, Dr Brantuo is the Health Systems Advisor in the WHO Country Office /Namibia.
Prior to her post in Namibia, she worked in the WHO Country Office in Ghana, where she established partnerships with a wide range of health professionals, policy makers, development partners and stakeholders to advance Child and Adolescent Health, and Nutrition. She has provided short term technical assistance missions to Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.
She has a Master of Public Health from the University of Ghana, and a Professional Doctorate in Health Policy and Practice from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.
In addition to her current designation as Officer in Charge, Dr Brantuo is the Health Systems Advisor in the WHO Country Office /Namibia.
Prior to her post in Namibia, she worked in the WHO Country Office in Ghana, where she established partnerships with a wide range of health professionals, policy makers, development partners and stakeholders to advance Child and Adolescent Health, and Nutrition. She has provided short term technical assistance missions to Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.
She has a Master of Public Health from the University of Ghana, and a Professional Doctorate in Health Policy and Practice from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.
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In her role as UNFPA Resident Representative, Erika Goldson will provide overall vision and leadership for the work of UNFPA in Namibia and is accountable for the implementation of UNFPA’s country programme and operations.
A national of Belize, Erika brings over 34 years of experience in strategic leadership, programme management and international development at regional and national levels.
Prior to assuming her role as Resident Representative, Erika was most recently the UNFPA Deputy Representative of Nigeria, providing strategic direction and technical leadership for the implementation of the UNFPA programme.
Erika has also served in several other capacities in UNFPA including as the UNFPA Deputy Representative of Ghana and the Assistant Representative for UNFPA Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean in Belize.
Prior to these appointments, Erika worked in various positions with the Government of Belize, Ministry of Health. This included but is not limited to the Technical Adviser Health Promotion, Coordinator Health Education Unit and Public Health Inspector.
She has a Master of Public Health – Health Promotion Stream (MSc.), University of London, Post-Graduate Diploma, Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Health, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica and Associate Degree in Environmental & Sanitary Engineering, University of Belize, Belize City, Belize.
A national of Belize, Erika brings over 34 years of experience in strategic leadership, programme management and international development at regional and national levels.
Prior to assuming her role as Resident Representative, Erika was most recently the UNFPA Deputy Representative of Nigeria, providing strategic direction and technical leadership for the implementation of the UNFPA programme.
Erika has also served in several other capacities in UNFPA including as the UNFPA Deputy Representative of Ghana and the Assistant Representative for UNFPA Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean in Belize.
Prior to these appointments, Erika worked in various positions with the Government of Belize, Ministry of Health. This included but is not limited to the Technical Adviser Health Promotion, Coordinator Health Education Unit and Public Health Inspector.
She has a Master of Public Health – Health Promotion Stream (MSc.), University of London, Post-Graduate Diploma, Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Health, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica and Associate Degree in Environmental & Sanitary Engineering, University of Belize, Belize City, Belize.
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Ms. Eunice Smith (Grenada) has worked in public service for over 29 years, 25 of which has been as an International Civil Servant with UNESCO. She began her career in 1990 as a tourism marketing officer with the Grenada Board of Tourism in New York (United States). In 1998 she joined UNESCO as a Young Professional/Assistant Officer, and has held roles such as Chief of the UNESCO Antenna Office in the Republic of South Sudan (2008-2011), Officer-in-Charge of the UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office (2015), Programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences, and Programme Planning Officer in UNESCO’s Bureau of Strategic Planning. She was appointed Head of Office and Representative to Namibia effective 30 September 2023.
Ms. Smith has worked on a variety of development programs focused on promoting the human rights and social inclusion of vulnerable population groups, poverty eradication, and post conflict recovery and reconstruction; she has contributed to policy formulation, supported development research, and institutional capacity building including in China, Mongolia, Palestine, South Sudan, and the Great Lakes region in Africa. Her experience include coordinating the UNESCO Category 2 partnership modality, reporting to UNESCO’s governing bodies, and monitoring programme implementation.
She holds a Masters degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), a Postgraduate diploma in Law from the University of Law (England and Wales, United Kingdom), and a Masters degree in Tourism Management from New York University (United States of America).
Ms. Smith has worked on a variety of development programs focused on promoting the human rights and social inclusion of vulnerable population groups, poverty eradication, and post conflict recovery and reconstruction; she has contributed to policy formulation, supported development research, and institutional capacity building including in China, Mongolia, Palestine, South Sudan, and the Great Lakes region in Africa. Her experience include coordinating the UNESCO Category 2 partnership modality, reporting to UNESCO’s governing bodies, and monitoring programme implementation.
She holds a Masters degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), a Postgraduate diploma in Law from the University of Law (England and Wales, United Kingdom), and a Masters degree in Tourism Management from New York University (United States of America).
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Fafa N’KONOU has a strong background in international law and conflict resolution. Her career with UNHCR started in 2010 at the Regional Office for West Africa in Sénégal. She then moved on to country operations in Niger and Côte d'Ivoire.
Additionally, she has served as a trainer for peacekeeping operations for the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States.
Mrs. N'Konou's experience also includes a few years of dedicated service to the government of Quebec in Canada.
Additionally, she has served as a trainer for peacekeeping operations for the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States.
Mrs. N'Konou's experience also includes a few years of dedicated service to the government of Quebec in Canada.
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FLORENCE NTOMBESIBINI SITUMBEKO (Ms.) was appointed as IOM Namibia Head of Office in February 2020 up to date. Prior to this appointment Florence worked for the International Detention Coalition (IDC) as the Africa Programme Officer in 2019 where she supported the Africa Regional Coordinator in strengthening the coalition, mapping alternatives to immigration detention, and facilitating regional collaboration on the implementation of alternatives to immigration detention. Florence worked for IOM Namibia for four years under the Counter Trafficking Unit, co-managing counter trafficking projects. Florence started her career as a frontline social worker and as well as a senior social worker where she worked for 12 years at regional and national level for the Namibian Government (Ministry Health and Social Services and Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.) She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in social work from the University of Namibia.
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George brings to Namibia over 30 years of experience in development and humanitarian cooperation, partnerships, resource mobilization, strategy and operations, including 15 years in senior leadership positions. A Kenyan national, George holds a PhD in Human and Organisational Systems from Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
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Philile Masuku
ILO
ILO Representative
Ms. Diao, a national of China, holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology, a Master of Science in Entomology, and a Bachelor of Science in Entomology from China Agricultural University in Beijing, China.
Prior to joining FAO, Ms. Diao has been serving as First Secretary/Chief of the Agricultural Office at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Mexico City, Mexico, since 2018.
Ms. Diao started her career in 1998 as a Scientist at the Institute of Apicultural Research in Beijing, China. From 2007 to 2015, she served as Director of the Management Department of the Institute of Apicultural Research and concurrently, from 2007 to 2010, she was Director of the Management Office of the National Special Research Projects for the Public Welfare Industries in Beijing. From 2010 to 2015, she was Chief Scientist of the National Key Technology Research and Development Programme of China. Between 2009 and 2018, she was the Director of the Management Office of China Apiculture.
Research System in Beijing. From 2014 to 2022, she served as Director of International Cooperation Projects of the Institute of Apicultural Research and, from 2015 to 2021, she was Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing, China.
Prior to joining FAO, Ms. Diao has been serving as First Secretary/Chief of the Agricultural Office at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Mexico City, Mexico, since 2018.
Ms. Diao started her career in 1998 as a Scientist at the Institute of Apicultural Research in Beijing, China. From 2007 to 2015, she served as Director of the Management Department of the Institute of Apicultural Research and concurrently, from 2007 to 2010, she was Director of the Management Office of the National Special Research Projects for the Public Welfare Industries in Beijing. From 2010 to 2015, she was Chief Scientist of the National Key Technology Research and Development Programme of China. Between 2009 and 2018, she was the Director of the Management Office of China Apiculture.
Research System in Beijing. From 2014 to 2022, she served as Director of International Cooperation Projects of the Institute of Apicultural Research and, from 2015 to 2021, she was Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing, China.
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Samuel Ocran
UNICEF
UNICEF Representative
Mr. Samuel Kweku Ocran, is the UNICEF Namibia Representative to Namibia. Mr. Ocran a Ghanian national, served as UNICEF Regional Chief of Supply & Procurement based in Nairobi, Kenya where he commenced his assignment in 2020. He was responsible for overall leadership, guidance, oversight, and direction to the Regional Office, supporting the 21 County Offices on supply chain management, ensuring access to essential products in line with the UNICEF Strategic Plan.
His assignment also saw him supporting capacity building, national systems strengthening, strategic promotion of Supply and results in collaboration with UN Agencies to support the implementation of UNICEF Country Programmes and UN Cooperation Frameworks.
His assignment also saw him supporting capacity building, national systems strengthening, strategic promotion of Supply and results in collaboration with UN Agencies to support the implementation of UNICEF Country Programmes and UN Cooperation Frameworks.
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