Ms. Eunice Smith

Areas of Expertise

Biography

Ms. Eunice Smith is the Head of the UNESCO Office in Windhoek and UNESCO Representative to Namibia, a position she assumed in October 2023. With more than two decades of international experience within UNESCO, she has built a distinguished career advancing education, sustainable development, social inclusion, culture, and international cooperation across Africa, Asia, and beyond. A national of Grenada, Ms. Smith joined UNESCO in 1998 as a Young Professional and has since held a series of progressively senior leadership positions within the organization. Her extensive experience includes serving in UNESCO's Social and Human Sciences Sector, leading the UNESCO Outpost in Juba, South Sudan, and serving as Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Office in Beijing, China. In 2015, she was entrusted with the leadership of the UNESCO Office in Beijing, further demonstrating her capacity to manage complex, multicultural, and international programs. Prior to her appointment in Namibia, she served as Programme Planning Officer in UNESCO's Bureau of Strategic Planning at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, supporting organizational planning, monitoring, and reporting processes. Ms. Smith holds a Master's Degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the University of Law (England and Wales), and a Master's Degree in Tourism Management from New York University (United States of America). Before joining UNESCO, she began her professional career as a Tourism Marketing Manager with the Grenada Board of Tourism in New York. Since assuming leadership of the UNESCO Windhoek Office, Ms. Smith has championed initiatives that advance quality education, digital transformation, indigenous knowledge systems, culture, youth empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable development in Namibia. She has been a strong advocate for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships, innovation, and inclusive policies that ensure no one is left behind. Through her leadership and commitment to international development, Ms. Smith continues to promote UNESCO's mission of building peace through education, science, culture, communication, and information, while empowering young people and communities to drive sustainable and inclusive development.