Cape Town, UNESCO’s Regional Office for Southern Africa has appointed Nisha as the new Regional Director and Representative, covering nine countries including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Nisha succeeds Professor Arthur Lidia Brito, who has moved to Paris to serve as Assistant Director General Natural Sciences.

According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Nisha brings a wealth of experience, spanning over 35 years, to her new role. She is tasked with leading UNESCO’s diverse portfolio in the region, which encompasses education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and information and communication. Her approach focuses on building resilient and dynamic communities through regional and national collaborations.

Prior to this appointment, Nisha was the Director of the Office and UNESCO Representative to the Pacific States. There, she realigned the UNESCO Office to address both long-term goals and immediate operational challenges, enhancing the organization’s impact and presence in the Pacific. She established four new offices across three sub-regions in the Pacific.

Nisha’s career has been dedicated to multi-sector development, humanitarian action, labor and human rights, peacebuilding, and local, national, and regional development. Her previous roles include positions with Oxfam GB, Christian Aid, UNDP, UNIFEM, and the ILO, as well as working with civil society organizations in India.