- Musimbi Kanyoro
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Musimbi Kanyoro 
Dr. Musimbi KanyoroOccupation President and CEO, Global Fund for Women Well known for her leadership in international non-government organizations (NGOs), Musimbi Kanyoro is passionate advocate and popular speaker for the promotion of health, sustainable development and human rights, with a special focus on women, children and minority groups. She is currently the President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women and has served on many social justice and international development boards. Dr. Kanyoro has written and published extensively in these areas. In 2005, Dr. Kanyoro was one of the nominees for 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Background
Musimbi Kanyoro (née Angogo) was born 30 November, 1953 the fourth daughter of Dina Nyagoha and Thomas Angogo in South Nyanza Kenya. She attended the Alliance Girls High School and the University of Nairobi for her undergraduate work and did her Masters and PhD at the University of Texas in Austin. Musimbi was a visiting scholar in Hebrew and the Old Testament studies at Harvard Divinity School and obtained a Doctor of Ministry in Feminist Theology at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Musimbi began her involvement with the global agenda of the United Nations at the Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, 1985 where she played a leading role on the national host committee. Moving to Geneva, Switzerland in 1988, she then went on to play a key role in the preparation for and execution of the NGO participation in the five major United Nations conferences of the 1990's: Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, 1992, World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, 1993, International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Cairo, 1994, Commission for Social Development World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 1995, Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995.
Public Appearances
Musimbi Kanyoro appears regularly at various international forums. She was a speaker at the Wachovia’s Leadership Program, Conference for Women in Charlotte North Carolina where the Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf gave the keynote address.
Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro and President Sirleaf spoke at a leadership forum
Dr. Kanyoro Signed together with UNICEF ED the Memorandum of Understanding with UNICEF, committing the World YWCA and UNICEF to working together on country programs to improve the lives of women and girls.
She recently spoke to the United National General Assembly and was a plenary speaker at the International AIDS Conference and chaired the largest panel on women and AIDS.
In October 2008 she was the Inaugural Nelson Mandela Lecturer at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, presented by the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre
The Global Fund for Women
As the largest public foundation investing exclusively in women-led human rights organizations, the Global Fund for Women has awarded nearly $100 million to 172 countries since 1987. The Global Fund for Women believes that social justice philanthropy acts as a catalyst for building a strong and independent civil society. Women’s leadership is seen to be vital for sustainable social change.
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
At the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Musimbi led the Population and Reproductive Health Program, a group committed to tackling major challenges in promoting a sustainable global population. The Foundation’s commitment to women’s reproductive health and rights around the world and in the United States gave Dr. Kanyoro an opportunity to link grant making with the reality of program and project implementation as well as capacity building, advocacy and leadership interventions.
The Packard Foundation Population Program is dedicated to reproductive health and to the integration of those services with critical global health issues like HIV/AIDS as well as with support services such as education, micro-credit and other skill-building opportunities for women and girls. Dr. Kanyoro guided these efforts, which reinforced her commitment to women and girls and to the fight against HIV/AIDS, a pressing reproductive health issue.
Dr. Kanyoro is passionate about empowering young women and her portfolio as director of the Population Program kept her engaged in this arena. A majority of women who need family planning services or access to safe and legal abortion are within their childbearing years, meaning many of them are young. Dr. Kanyoro and the Population Program she oversaw understood that to create a systemic change, civil society must foster women leaders and provide fora for them to keep reproductive health on the development agenda.
The World YWCA
As Secretary General (CEO) of the world’s largest women’s membership-driven organization that implements programs for 25 million women in 125 countries, Dr. Kanyoro oversaw the World YWCA’s revival in regions such as Eastern Europe and China. She steered the organization’s policy to ensure 50% of the World YWCA’s international board is under the age of 30.
She led the YWCA’s involvement in the development and adoption of “NGO Charter of Accountability” with 10 other non-governmental organizations.
Dr. Kanyoro is credited with strengthening working relations among member associations as well as international relationships between the World YWCA and the United Nations, the World Bank, the private sector and other NGOs, leading to increased financial support.
Dr. Kanyoro helped to steer the YWCA’s international response in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which includes programs in more than 70 countries. The World YWCA was elected to serve on the Coordinating Committee for the preparation of the International AIDS conference to take place in Mexico in 2008.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
Between 1988 and 1998, as Head of the Department of Women in Church and Society, Dr. Kanyoro developed a plan of action for leadership development and advocacy of women for 166 member churches and the United Nations. She is credited with using diplomacy to develop programs to enhance the development of women, promoting women’s rights and women’s education. During her time at LWF, Dr. Kanyoro co-founded the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. thanks
Education
Doctor of Ministry, San Francisco Theological Seminary (1999)
Visiting Scholar, Hebrew, Greek and Exegesis, Harvard Divinity School (1981–1982)
Ph.D., Linguistics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA (1980)
MA, Linguistics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA (1977)
BA, Linguistics, Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya (1975)Honorary Degrees
2003 – Philippine Christian University, Manila, Doctorate of Humanities (Honoris Causa) in recognition of distinguished accomplishments as theologian, Church Leader, Civic Worker, Linguist and Author.
1999 – Trinity Lutheran Seminary, (TLS) USA, Doctorate of Divinity (DD honorary) for significant contribution to Christian Theology.Awards and recognition
2011 – Women’s Funding Network, USA, Changing the Face of Philanthropy Award
2006 – Planet Africa, Toronto, Canada, Leadership Award in recognizing leadership, excellence and professionalism among people of African heritage.
2006 – Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, Women, Leadership and Human Dignity Award for significant contribution to advancement of human dignity.
2005 – Kenya Government, Presidential Award in recognition of international leadership
2005 – African Women's Development Fund, Accra, Ghana, Women of Substance Award
2005 – World Vision and International AIDS Trust, USA, Global Leadership Award
2005 – Nominee 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005
2003 - Philippine Christian University, Manila, Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) on recognition of distinguished accomplishments as theologian, Church Leader, Civic Worker, Linguistic and Author
2000 – Luther Institute, USA, The Wittenberg Award in recognition of her outstanding service to church and society.
1999 - Church Women United, (CWU) USA, Human Rights Award in recognition of commitment and dedication to global human rights of women.
1999 Trinity Lutheran Seminary, (TLS) USA, Doctor of Divinity (DD honorary) for significant contribution to Christian Theology
1997 - Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), Chicago, USA, Community Award in recognition of global service with Lutheran world Federation.
1978 - University of Texas, Austin, USA, Best Student Award, in Humanities.
1975 - Kenya chapter of the United Nations Student Movement, Youth Award.External links
- Global Fund for Women
- David & Lucile Packard Foundation
- World YWCA
- Ethical Globalization Initiative Dr. Kanyoro serves as a Member of the Board of the Ethical Globalization Initiative: Realizing Rights
- Legacy Dr. Kanyoro serves as an Advisory Member of Legacy. Dr. Kanyoro donated two hours of high-definition audiovisual life story interviews to Legacy.
Categories:- Kenyan people
- Living people
- Harvard Divinity School faculty
- Kenyan Lutherans
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