Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda

Biography

Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda has served as UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination, and Programme Results since February 2024. She brings more than 35 years of experience in development, human rights, peace and security, and high-level advocacy, with a strong focus on women’s empowerment, gender equality, and the rights of women and children. Prior to joining UN Women, she founded the Rozaria Memorial Trust, supporting rural women and girls in Zimbabwe through education, health, and entrepreneurship initiatives. She also served as the first African Union Goodwill Ambassador on Ending Child Marriage (2014–2022), advocating for progressive, rights-based policies across the continent. Her previous roles include General Secretary of the World YWCA, Regional Director for East and the Horn of Africa at UNIFEM, and positions with UNICEF in Liberia and Zimbabwe. She holds degrees in law from the University of Zimbabwe, the University of South Africa, and Uppsala University, and received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Massachusetts.