Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
LNGG
References
Training
Timeline
Generic

GEBHARD BENJAMIN KANDANGA

Summary

Seasoned diplomat and public administrator with over 35 years of progressive experience in international relations, foreign service, policy planning, and public administration. Served as Namibia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia and concurrently as Ambassador to Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Demonstrated leadership in strategic planning, financial management, and diplomatic representation, both at home and abroad, including roles at the United Nations and various Namibian missions. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, institutional capacity building, and high-level negotiations.

Overview

36
36
years of professional experience

Work History

Head of Directorate of Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation

Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Head of Directorate of Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation / Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation
  • Retired

High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
03.2009 - 01.2016
  • High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to Malaysia / Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Concurrently appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Namibia to Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Counsellor- Deputy Head of Mission at the Namibian Embassy

Pretoria, South Africa
01.2007 - 01.2008
  • Counsellor- Deputy Head of Mission at the Namibian Embassy / Pretoria, South Africa
  • Assisted the Head of Mission in the execution of his duties and serve as Acting High Commissioner in his absence.

Acting Head of Administration

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
01.2003 - 01.2006
  • Acting Head of Administration / Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Responsible for the overall supervision the following sections: Finance, Auxiliary Services, Transport, Human Resources and Registry.
  • Appointed as Financial Advisor and Chair of the Economising Committee.
  • Appointed as member of the Ministerial Training Committee.

First Secretary to the Permanent Mission of Namibia to the United Nations

New York, United States of America
01.1999 - 01.2003
  • First Secretary to the Permanent Mission of Namibia to the United Nations / New York, United States of America
  • Served as Namibia’s delegate to the Fifth Committee, dealing with administrative, budgetary and human resource issues of the United Nations Organisation.
  • Represented Namibia on the Committee on Contributions of the United Nations when Namibia was elected as one of Africa’s representatives on the said Committee. The Committee is responsible for the determination of the scales of assessment for the payment by Member States of their annual assessed contributions to the United Nations.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
02.1996 - 11.1996
  • Was assigned to Kuala Lumpur to secure office and staff accommodation, transport and other logistical arrangements for the opening of the Namibian High Commission to Malaysia.
  • Held consultation together with the then Commercial Counsellor held a number of consultations with Malaysian business people to explore investments opportunities in Namibia.

Deputy Director: Finance and Administration

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
01.1990 - 01.1990
  • Deputy Director: Finance and Administration / Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Joined Foreign Affairs at Independence and was tasked with the preparation of the Ministries first budget and assist with the establishment of the administrative structure since the Ministry did not inherit any operational structure from the colonial administration.
  • Responsible for financial and administrative matters since the establishment of the Ministry.
  • Appointed as Financial Advisor and Chair of the Economising Committee.
  • Acting Head of Administration supervising finance, auxiliary services (registry, transport and diplomatic bag) and human resources divisions.

Accountant

Department of Finance
01.1989 - 01.1989
  • Accountant / Department of Finance
  • Transferred from Division Auxiliary Services to Division Bookkeeping, Sub-Division Loans and Investments.
  • Responsible for the administration of loans to municipalities, second tier authorities and Council for Urban Development.

Chief Clerk

Department of Finance
01.1986 - 01.1989
  • Chief Clerk / Department of Finance
  • Appointed as Secretary of the Department Efficiency Committee.
  • Supervision of Division Auxiliary Services and Finance.
  • Responsible for submissions to Tender Board and Treasury.
  • Responsible for the reconciliation of commitment register, inventory, remittance, register and advanced register.
  • Responsible for subsistence and travelling allowances and appropriation accounts.

Senior Administrative Assistant

Department of Finance
01.1984 - 01.1985
  • Senior Administrative Assistant / Department of Finance
  • Responsible for the preparation of monthly transfer payments to second tier authorities for low cost housing schemes.
  • Responsible for the supervision of sub-ordinates.
  • Responsible for correspondence with suppliers in relation to accounts payable.
  • Supervision of assets management.

Administrative Assistant

Department of Finance
01.1981 - 01.1984
  • Administrative Assistant / Department of Finance
  • Responsible for acquisition of stationary, equipment, furniture and preparation of payments to suppliers.
  • Reconciliation of the Commitment Register, Financial Statement and Ledgers at Division Level.
  • Responsible for assets management and monitoring of vehicle log-books.

Education

Bachelors of Art in Administration -

University of South Africa
01.2010

Grade 12, Matriculation Exemption - undefined

Okakarara Secondary School
12.1980

Skills

  • Problem-solving
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Attention to detail
  • Dependable and responsible
  • Negotiation skills
  • Excellent communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Organizational skills
  • Decision-making
  • Problem resolution

LNGG

Writes and speaks English, Afrikaans as well as Otjiherero very good

References

Available on request

Training

  • Orientation Course (Office of the Prime Minister)
  • Supervisors Course I-II (Office of the Prime Minister)
  • Foreign Service Administration Course (Administration Staff College of India, Hyderabad & INTAN, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  • Diplomatic Training I-II (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • Preparation and Conduct of Disciplinary Hearing (Office of the Prime Minister)
  • Introduction to the UN Multilateral System (UNITA, New York)

Timeline

Head of Directorate of Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation

Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation
01.2016 - 01.2017

High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
03.2009 - 01.2016

Counsellor- Deputy Head of Mission at the Namibian Embassy

Pretoria, South Africa
01.2007 - 01.2008

Acting Head of Administration

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
01.2003 - 01.2006

First Secretary to the Permanent Mission of Namibia to the United Nations

New York, United States of America
01.1999 - 01.2003

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
02.1996 - 11.1996

Deputy Director: Finance and Administration

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
01.1990 - 01.1990

Accountant

Department of Finance
01.1989 - 01.1989

Chief Clerk

Department of Finance
01.1986 - 01.1989

Senior Administrative Assistant

Department of Finance
01.1984 - 01.1985

Administrative Assistant

Department of Finance
01.1981 - 01.1984

Grade 12, Matriculation Exemption - undefined

Okakarara Secondary School

Bachelors of Art in Administration -

University of South Africa

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
GEBHARD BENJAMIN KANDANGA