Sanda Ojiambo – executive director of the UN Global Compact – will now be flying the Kenyan flag as the Secretary-General of the United Nations Global Compact.
This was after her appointment was announced by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Ms Ojiambo will now manage the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, an outfit that is key in strategic partnerships, impact, and advocacy across all corporate levels.
“She will advise the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General on the contributions of the private sector to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on the engagement of the United Nations with business, and on key organisational partnerships with the private sector.
Previously, Ms Ojiambo worked at Safaricom PLC as head of sustainable business and social impact before joining the organisation in 2008. Prior to that, she had worked with civil society in various capacities.
Her vast experience with civil society saw Safaricom ink a deal with the UN agency she will be heading and thus birthed the sustainable business reports annually released by the company.
Ms Ojiambo has a Master of Arts in public policy from the University of Minnesota, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Development from McGill University, Canada.