Mlambo-Ngcuka is a South African politician and former United Nations (UN) official, who served as UN Women Executive Director with the rank of Under-Secretary-General.
She is listed as a noteworthy South African government official by Marquis Who's Who.
It is evident that she is a strong supporter of women, as she said: "Educate a woman and you educate a nation."
She served as Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008, as the first woman to hold the position and at that point the highest-ranking woman in the history of South Africa.
During her period as Deputy President of South Africa, she oversaw programmes to combat poverty and ensure the poor benefit from the advantages of a growing economy.
Mlambo-Ngcuka obtained a bachelor's degree in Social Science and Education from the National University of Lesotho in 1980, as well as a Master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Cape Town in 2003, which dealt with educational planning and policy.
In 2013, she completed a doctorate from the University of Warwick. The work covered using mobile technologies to support Teacher Development in resource poor nations.
She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2014.
From 1981 to 1983 Mlambo-Ngcuka taught in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, after which she moved to Geneva to work with the World Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) from 1984 to 1989, as the organisation's Youth Director, where she advocated for job creation for young people within the UN system and promoted development education in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
She was the first President of the Natal Organisation of Women. During this time, she also founded and directed the Young Women's International Programme.
From 1987 to 1989 Mlambo-Ngcuka was Director of TEAM, a developmental Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Cape Town, as well as being involved with squatter women and African independent churches to promote economic self-reliance and running skills training programmes.
From 1990 to 1992 she was Director of World University Service, a funding agency, as well as being involved in the management of funds donated to development organisations by Swedish and Swiss government development agencies. She started and managed her own management consulting company, Phumelela Services, during 1993 and 1994.
Throughout her career, Mlambo-Ngcuka directed her energy towards issues of human rights, gender and youth development, equality, and social justice.
In July 2013, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was appointed Executive Director of the UN Women Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women.
She completed her second and last term as UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women on August 17, 2021, after eight years at the helm of the organisation.
--MandisaMagwaza/ChannelAfrica--
