image: Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg’s leadership aligns with the Alliance’s mission to foster inclusive agricultural prosperity and climate resilience across Africa.
Credit: Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.
December 4, 2024
[Nairobi, Kenya] – The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is pleased to announce Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg’s appointment as Managing Director for the Africa region. With a distinguished career spanning leadership in food systems, social inclusion, and gender-sensitive agricultural innovation, Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg brings a wealth of expertise to this critical role.
Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg’s leadership aligns with the Alliance’s mission to foster inclusive agricultural prosperity and climate resilience across Africa. Her extensive academic background and professional accomplishments position her to drive impactful solutions in collaboration with regional and global stakeholders.
A Leader of Distinction
Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg’s career reflects a deep commitment to addressing systemic barriers in agriculture and empowering communities through innovation. She is the Founder and inaugural Executive Director of Black Women in Executive Leadership (B-WEL) and previously served as Director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) as well as a Senior Fellow at the Ford Foundation in New York.
Her professional journey includes leadership roles at Schmidt Futures, Akili Dada, and the University of San Francisco, board seats at the Syngenta Foundation, the Autodesk Foundation, and the Global Food Banking Network as well as Advisory Council roles at the Gender Fund of Co-Impact, the Malabo Montpellier Panel, and the African Climate Foundation, among others.
Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg holds a PhD and Master’s in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and a PhD (Honoris Causa) from Whitman College in Washington, USA.
A Vision for the Future
Upon joining the Alliance, Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg enthused:
“It is the honor of a lifetime to get to serve as the next Africa Managing Director for the Alliance! I am particularly excited to join the CGIAR at this exciting moment for the African continent as we face both the daunting challenges, especially those posed by climate change, but also the tremendous opportunity to re-shape the future of food systems on the continent at this exciting moment of population and economic growth. I consider myself fortunate to get to build upon my successors and colleagues’ tremendous efforts and to join our partners as together we build towards a food secure and prosperous Africa”.
Building on Strong Foundations
Announcing the appointment, Juan Lucas Restrepo, the Alliance Director General, stated, “Wanjiru brings with her an exceptional background of leadership, innovation, and dedication to inclusive, agriculture-driven prosperity. Her deep expertise in agricultural development, gender equity, and social inclusion will be instrumental in advancing the Alliance’s mission in Africa. With Dr. Kamau-Rutenberg’s exceptional leadership, the Alliance– a CGIAR research center— will continue to drive transformative change, ensuring agricultural innovation remains at the forefront of Africa’s development agenda.”
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Edith Mutui
Africa Communications Officer
About the Alliance
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives. To do so, the Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. With partners, the Alliance generates evidence and mainstreams innovations in large-scale programs to create food systems and landscapes that sustain the planet, drive prosperity and nourish people in a climate crisis.