The Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) António Guterres has appointed Jean Njeri Kamau as the UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana.
Njeri’s appointment has been approved by the host government and she comes with more than 20 years of experience in human rights, development, political governance, and institutional development.
Prior to her appointment, Njeri served as Kenya’s ambassador to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the African Union. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s Degree in Democratic Studies from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
Her appointment is effective 15 September.
Previously, she served as a diplomat in the Republic of South Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, and Washington DC.
Before joining the diplomatic service, she worked in multiple roles in the public sector and civil society, including as Country Director for Action Aid International in Kenya and Lesotho and as the first Executive Director for the Federation of Women Lawyers, Kenya.
What Is the Role of a UN Resident Coordinator?
A UN resident coordinator is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General and reports to them.
As a UN resident coordinator to Guyana, Njeri will represent Guterres in the country’s government, civil society, and other sectors to help address its needs, priorities, and challenges.
The position also requires one to coordinate operational activities for the development of the country’s efforts to implement the 2030 agenda in addition to promoting and advocating for the fundamental values, standards, and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for and protection of human rights.
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Where is Guyana?
Guyana is a South American country with rich offshore oil reserves that have in the past attracted attention from its neighbor Venezuela. In 2023, Venezuela laid claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region which is rich in oil reserves causing tension between the two countries.
However, Guyana remained staunch stating that it would not give up any of its territory.
Venezuela has for a long time maintained that a decision made in 1899 by an international arbitral tribunal to award Essequibo to Britain, the colonial power which at the time ruled over Guyana, was unfair.
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Guyana was originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century and in 1815 came under British rule. However, it attained independence from the United Kingdon (UK) in 1966.
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