Dr. Tibaijuka holds a Doctorate of Science in Agricultural Economics from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala. From 1993 to 1998, when she joined UNCTAD, Mrs. Tibaijuka was Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Dar-es-Salaam. During this period she was also a member of the Tanzanian Government delegation to several United Nations Summits. At these conferences, Mrs. Tibaijuka was an active member of the Civil Society and NGO Forums. At the World Food Summit in Rome, she was elected Coordinator for Eastern Africa in the Network for Food Security, Trade and Sustainable Development (COASAD). Mrs. Tibaijuka has also been a Board Member of UNESCO's International Scientific Advisory Board since November 1997.

Mrs. Tibaijuka is the founding Chairperson of the Tanzanian National Women's Council (BAWATA), an independent, non-politically aligned, organisation advocating for women's rights to land, inheritance and social services. She is also founding Chairperson of the Barbro Johansson Girls Education Trust which is dedicated to promoting high standards of education amongst girls in Tanzania and in Africa.

She is also the convener of Tanzania's Local Entrepreneurs Initiative (TALE), a voluntary group mobilising and assisting Tanzanians to form joint venture companies with overseas investors. She has been a Board Member of the Tanzania Economic Policy Development and Management Foundation and is a Director of a number of private companies dedicated to encouraging entrepreneurship and efficiency in the marketing of agricultural commodities.

Anna Tibaijuka speaks English, Swahili, Haya, Swedish and some French. She is a widow and has four children.