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SANDA OJIAMBO
CEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UN GLOBAL COMPACT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL UN
Sanda Ojiambo is an ardent advocate and champion for sustainable business and sustainable development.
In April 2022, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Sanda as Assistant Secretary-General, following her two years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact.
In this role, Ms Ojiambo is responsible for leading the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, a global movement of more than 18,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 62 Local Networks.
Endorsed by chief executives, the UN Global Compact is a practical framework for the development, implementation, and disclosure of sustainability policies and practices, committing businesses to sustainability and shared responsibility for achieving a better world.
Sanda’s appointment came at a critical juncture as businesses partnered with governments to support and find solutions for the public health response to the pandemic. Since then, the private sector has continued to face broader geopolitical uncertainties, growing social unrest and increasing climate impacts.
Ms Ojiambo provides advisory support to both the UN Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General, focusing on the private sector’s role in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN-business engagement, and pivotal organisational partnerships within the private sector. Furthermore, she champions the global significance of businesses in creating a better world, actively engaging in public forums like the Conference of the Parties (COP) climate summits and the Business 20 (B20) business summits.
As part of the UN Global Compact 2021-2023 Strategy, Sanda has advanced the establishment of frameworks that hold member companies accountable. This is achieved through the use of specific, measurable targets within an enhanced reporting framework, accompanied by increased engagement with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Guided by her leadership, the UN Global Compact has effectively launched new national and regional Global Compact networks in the Global South, China and the United States (US).
Under Ms Ojiambo’s stewardship, the UN Global Compact initiated the Africa Business Leaders Coalition and the Global Africa Business Initiative to increase the impact of business across the continent. As a result of these steps and a refreshed strategic direction, the membership of the UN Global Compact has almost doubled since she became Executive Director and CEO.
Going forward, the UN Global Compact is poised to intensify its emphasis on collaborative corporate endeavours. Participants will not merely reflect the global landscape; they will lead it by championing sustainability, responsible business conduct, and creating conducive environments that foster positive transformations.
Sanda brings over 20 years of experience to this position spanning development, the UN and private sectors.
She began her career as a Programme Officer for CARE International in Somalia and quickly rose through the ranks to become Sector Coordinator managing multiple projects across multiple geographies.
Three years later, she joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Somalia where she worked as an Advisor in the Office of the Resident Representative. Here, Sanda played a pivotal role in the development of the first ever UNDP Human Development Report for Somalia.
Ms Ojiambo then moved to the Africa Regional Office of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Nairobi. In this position, she provided technical advice for service delivery, accreditation standards, financial management, governance and advocacy in 40 sub Saharan African countries.
In 2008, Sanda joined Safaricom PLC, the largest telco in East Africa, where she culminated her time there serving as Head of Sustainable Business and Social Impact. She led the implementation of several public-private partnership initiatives between Safaricom and UN organisations at both local and global levels. Throughout her career, Ms Ojiambo has cultivated and managed partnerships with key business entities, civil society organisations and philanthropies.
Sanda’s influential presence extends to her roles on the boards of various esteemed organisations. Notably, she has been a Director at the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest); the Gender Violence Recovery Centre, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that provides services to survivors of gender violence; the Global Development Incubator (GDI), an international social enterprise aiming to drive the adoption of technology for development; the Aga Khan Foundation in East Africa; and Care Pay, a leading health payments company.She also served on the board of governors at M-PESA Foundation Academy.
Ms Ojiambo holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Public Policy from the School of Public Policy at the University of Minnesota, US, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Economics with a Minor in International Development from McGill University, Canada. Additionally, she was a student at the Bob Collymore School at Safaricom PLC.
In 2022, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Literature (DLitt) in recognition of Ms Ojiambo’s substantial contribution to global sustainable development through the NGO sector, the private sector and the UN.
Ms Ojiambo is regularly published in leading publications including the Financial Times, the Daily Telegraph, Fortune and Newsweek.
