Ms Bience Gawanas

Bience Gawanas is a Namibian lawyer. In 2018, she was appointed as Special Adviser on Africa for the United Nations (UN) after having served as Commissioner for Social Affairs at the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, from 2002 to 2012. During her time as Commissioner, in partnership with Member States and UN agencies, she initiated pioneering activities such as the launch of the AU’s Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), a movement for maternal and child health that mobilises global, regional, and country-level support from governments, civil society, and community leaders. She served as a Commissioner on the Public Service Commission in Namibia from 1991 to 1996, and an Ombudswoman in the Namibian Government from 1996 to 2003.

Ms Gawanas has also served as Director of the Board of the Central Bank of Namibia and as a lecturer in Gender Law at the University of Namibia. Throughout her career, she has been involved in many non-governmental organisations, including serving as Secretary-General of the Namibian National Women's Organization and as a patron of the Namibian Federation of Persons with Disabilities. As Chairperson of the Law Reform Commission, she oversaw the passage of the Married Persons'; Equality Act. In recognition of her achievements in the field of human rights and social development, she was given an award by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) for Most Outstanding Contribution to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. 

Ms Gawanas holds an LLB Honours degree from the University of Warwick, UK, and an Utter Barrister Degree from the Council of Legal Education School of Law. She also holds an Executive MBA from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Western Cape.