in political science and business administration from the American University in Cairo.

From 1985 to 1988, Ms. Tallawy was the deputy director of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW).

Ms. Tallawy held the post of the Minister for Insurance and Social Affairs of Egypt from 1997 to 1999.

On 22 November 2000, Mervat Tallawy was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

[3] Tallawy is a board member of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and an executive member of the 2011 founded left liberal Egyptian Social Democratic Party.