Dr. Jacqueline Saline Olweya is an accomplished professional and leader with over 25 years of experience in international development, strategic policy analysis and capacity development. She currently serves as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Dr. Olweya holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Planning of Education from Kenyatta University, Kenya, and an M.Phil. in the same field from Moi University. She began her career as a teacher, with a Bachelor's degree in Education and has since established herself as a thought leader in human development. Her academic rigor, combined with extensive field experience, underpins her approach to evidence-based policy dialogue and development cooperation.

Renowned for her analytical acumen, facilitation skills, and ability to lead diverse teams, Dr. Olweya continues to deliver results-driven, people-centered solutions that address complex development challenges across varying contexts. She has served in multiple senior leadership roles within UNDP and the broader UN system, including as Deputy Resident Representative for Programmes in Somalia, Head of the Regional UNDG Secretariat for Eastern and Southern Africa, and at UN headquarters in New York. Throughout her career, she has led and supported strategic programming in over 40 countries across Africa and other regions—spanning post-conflict, fragile, least developed, and middle-income contexts.

Dr. Olweya is widely recognized for her strong leadership in driving institutional reform, facilitating high-level policy dialogue, and managing complex development portfolios. Her technical and advisory expertise and published works spans governance, strategic planning, education, HIV and AIDS, poverty reduction, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse—often through a gender-responsive lens.

A passionate advocate for women’s and girls’ empowerment, she draws inspiration from her mother’s legacy as a community leader and her own path in public service, actively mentoring young women in leadership and career development. Her impact in gender mainstreaming has contributed to the establishment of critical gender institutions in Kenya and informed regional and global advocacy efforts.

She is widely respected for her strategic insight and exceptional facilitation skills, having led training for UN Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams, government and non-governmental organizations in strategic planning, leadership, and results-based management. Her expertise in navigating organizational change and driving reform has earned her multiple recognitions, including:

• An Honorary Leadership Award from the United Kingdom for transformative leadership.

• Commendations from the UN Development Group (UNDG) for her role to UN reform.

• Recognition from the Kenyan Government for her instrumental role in establishing key national gender institutions.

• Acknowledgment from the Government of Kenya for contributions to NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

Dr. Olweya is a member of various senior leadership talent pools within the UN system, including the Special Representative/Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator, and UNDP Resident and Deputy Resident Representative pools, reflecting her standing as a trusted leader in multilateral diplomacy and sustainable development.

With a rare blend of academic rigor, on-the-ground experience, and inspirational leadership, Dr. Olweya continues to shape inclusive and sustainable development across diverse contexts—empowering people, transforming institutions, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).