H.E. Madame Nardos Bekele-Thomas

Her Excellency Mrs. Bekele-Thomas is the first woman to lead the African Union’s Development Agency. She was unanimously endorsed as the Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD by the African Union Heads of State and Government during the Thirty-Fifth Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit in February 2022.

Chief Executive Officer of the Premier African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), mandated to inter-alia, coordinate development programs across the continent, mobilize requisite resources, implement Vision 2063 and its priority programs, and provide knowledge-driven and evidenced-based advisory services to Member States.

Mrs. Bekele-Thomas brings nearly 40 years of experience and a visionary leadership style characterized by her robust commitment to advancing Africa’s development agenda. Her tenure is notably focused on socio-economic transformation and the meticulous implementation of Agenda 2063’s key initiatives. These initiatives are integral to fostering sustainable development across the continent.

As Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, she is responsible for the strategic direction and operational execution of the agency. Her leadership ensures that the agency’s initiatives are both innovative and aligned with the long-term vision of Agenda 2063, catering specifically to the needs of Member States. Under her guidance, AUDA-NEPAD has launched several pivotal programmes:

• The Africa Team: This initiative focuses on enhancing coordination across the continent, forging strategic partnerships, and mobilizing essential resources to finance sustainable development flagship projects.
• Energize Africa: Harnessing the creativity and innovativeness of the youth to drive the continent’s economic growth and development, expanding income opportunities through job creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• Programme on Socio-Economic Development in Post-Conflict States: This addresses the intricate nexus of peace, security, and development, advocating for sustainable development and peace through regional integration based on these core principles.

Mrs. Bekele-Thomas’s strategic and inclusive approach has significantly strengthened AUDA NEPAD’s role as a development catalyst. Her emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability is pivotal in driving the agency toward achieving a prosperous, integrated, and united Africa.

Before her appointment at AUDA-NEPAD, Mrs. Bekele-Thomas held several high-level positions within the United Nations and served in prominent positions with governments of multiple nations, where she championed development and humanitarian efforts across various regions.

Mrs. Nardos Bekele-Thomas’ tenure at the UN included roles such as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in various countries. She was known for her strategic acumen, ability to foster partnerships, and dedication to sustainable development.

Her immediate former role was United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in South Africa and Head of the UN System in South Africa in 2019. Resident coordinators are the backbone of UN development entities, providing strength and support while fortifying the 2030 Agenda, a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity. The programme aims to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030 worldwide, ensuring that no one is left behind.

With vast experience providing advisory services and performing advocacy roles in several African countries from 2016 to 2017, she has also served as the Senior Director of the UN’s Office of the Secretary-General. In this post, Mrs Bekele-Thomas oversaw the overall management of the Office of the Secretary-General, the Office of the Chef de Cabinet, and the Deputy Secretary-General. She served as the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya and the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Benin from 2008 to 2013.

Previously, Mrs. Bekele-Thomas served for over four years in Kenya as Country Director/Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP, responsible for formulating and implementing pro-poor and transformative policies and strategies as part of the UNDP programme of assistance to Kenya. Recognized for her selfless role in reforming Kenya’s constitution, the architecture of devolution, and peace infrastructure, her work in preventive peacebuilding and conflict transformation has earned her accolades and peace awards from numerous Kenyan institutions. Using the convening power of the UN, Mrs Bekele-Thomas brought together civil society and the private sector around the table with political parties for a homegrown solution to the election violence in 2007-08.

Her expansive professional experience and background in the field of development include private sector development strategies and policies, public policy, decentralised governance, and participatory development; public/civil service reform and management; public-private sector strategic partnerships; women and youth leadership, empowerment, and employment; and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) for development.