Ms. Illuminate Maerere (Tanzanian) is a UN Retiree since end of 2016. After her retirement, she did consultancies as Management Consultant with UNDP Bangladesh (March 2017, Oct-Dec 2018, and July- October 2019); UNDP Eritrea (June -December 2017 and March to June 2019), supporting Operations and Programme Units and Advisor to Senior Management. From Feb. 2020- to Nov. 2020, she supported UNDP Nigeria to establish Service Centre at the Sub-Office in Maiduguri and Acting Service Centre Manager and Advisor on all aspects of the Sub-Office Management and Operations functions related to the effective delivery of programmatic results. From Feb. 2021-May 2021, she supported UNDP Eswatini as Management Consultant in Operations and Programme.
From August 2021- Mid April 2022, she supported Office of Electoral Assistance/UNAMI/UNDP for Elections Project as Project Manager and Operations Advisor. At the same time supporting UNDP Fiji on part time basis.
From Sept.2022-Jan 2023 was assigned by UNDP HQ Crisis Bureau as Operations Advisor for UNDP After Action Review for UNDP Response to the Afghanistan Crisis. The purpose of this After-Action Review was to examine the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness of UNDP’s response to the crisis in Afghanistan, from the onset of the crisis in mid-August 2021. Also to highlight lessons learned that would help strengthen the functioning, performance, and efficiency of UNDP’s response.
From March-December 2023 supported UNDP Syria as Operations Advisor ensuring strategic direction of operations; financial resources management; human resources management; procurement and logistical services; and information and communication management. Also supporting Operations Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) updates and Business Continuity Plan updates and simulation exercise.
She has also been providing advisory services to the Association of Certified Women Accountants in Tanzania (TAWCA) being a Board Member, and attending various conferences and workshops organised by the Association and making presentations on SDGs, Work Life Balance, Accountants ‘Professional Ethics, IPSAS Financial Reporting as well as Monitoring & Evaluation of Projects.
She is also serving as a Board Member with an NGO-Kijana Jasiri Resilience Organization (KJRO). Mission of this NGO is promoting resilience, volunteering culture, research and strengthening communities through economic empowerment programs, health psychosocial support services for children, youth and families.
She has worked with UNDP for 30 years in different capacities. Her last Duty Station before her retirement was UNDP Sierra Leone where she worked from 2012-2016 in different capacities. She was Operations Manager, Elections Programme from 2012-2014 managing financial resources in the tune of $45.0 mill. from major donors, and collaborating closely with Operations, Programme and Project Teams. Then she was appointed to be Head of PMSU (Programme Management Support Unit) until her retirement end of 2016. She was mainly responsible in providing effective and efficient management advisory support services to senior management and to Programme and Operations Units. Also, the Unit was acting as an oversight and quality assurance aiming to make the CO more accountable in terms of programme performance, management of results and programme financial resources.
Illuminate’s professional substantive experience span over 30 years which has been gained in many countries ranging from most developed to least developed ones in Operations and Programme and managing resources over $250 million for various Projects and Programmes. She held various posts in UNDP besides Sierra Leone UNDP Country Office, including Finance Specialist and Operations Manager in UNDP Tanzania and UNDP/DDR-Khartoum-Sudan; Programme Finance Specialist in UNDP-Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA)-New York and UNDP Regional Service Centre in South Africa and seconded to United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS) in New York for one year.
Illuminate holds an MBA from University of Dar-es-Salaam, Fellow Certified Public Accountant (FCPA) and an Advanced and Post Graduate Diploma in Accountancy. She has also attended various short courses conducted by UNDP and other Entities.
She loves dancing, singing and being around people laughing and enjoying jokes.
She speaks fluent English and Swahili.
She is married and blessed with three beautiful girls.