Musimbi Kanyoro (born 30 November 1953) is a Kenyan-born human rights advocate, social activist and feminist theologian who is known for her cross-cultural leadership in international organizations. She is a founding member of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians ("the Circle") and its first coordinator (1996-2002). She is also the first woman from Global South to lead the oldest and largest women's ecumenical organization ( World Young Women's Christian Association). She was the CEO and President of the Global Fund for Women from 2011 - 2019, and serves as the chairperson of the International Board of the United World Colleges.

Early life and education

Musimbi was born in Migori County, Kenya where she attended primary school before joining Alliance Girls School in Nairobi. Being in a girls only space built her confidence in her early life and gave her the assurance that girls can become what they want. As a student in the 1970s, she supported the movement against apartheid in South Africa which led her to fight for women and girls". She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Nairobi and a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin. Musimbi later earned a doctorate in feminist theology at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, and has received three honorary doctorate degrees. She was also a visiting scholar of Hebrew and the Old Testament at Harvard University.

Career

Musimbi was the Executive Secretary, Desk for Women in Church and Society at the Lutheran World Federation from 1982 to 1997. She also edited the book In Search of a Round Table: Gender, Theology and Church Leadership, in 1998. She worked as a translation consultant for the United Bible Societies. From 1998 to 2007, Kanyoro became the first woman from the continent of Africa to serve as the YWCA's World Secretary General. Kanyoro was director of the Population and Reproductive Health Program of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation from 2007 to 2011. She was a member of the International Steering Committee for the Beijing World Conference and led delegations to five UN World Conferences in the 1990s. From 2018 until 2019, she served on an Independent Commission on Sexual Misconduct, Accountability and Culture Change at Oxfam, co-chaired by Zainab Bangura and Katherine Sierra. Musimbi Kanyoro was the president and CEO of Global Fund for Women from 2011 to 2019. Kanyoro has also served in several boards including the Aspen Leaders Council, the CARE Board, the UN High Level Taskforce for Reproductive Health, UN Women Civil Society Advisory Board, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)’s Scientific Advisory Board and the International Board of the United World Colleges. Musimbi also works with former President of Ireland Mary Robinson on several projects, including the Board of Directors of Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative.

Other activities

Kanyoro served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Population and Health Research Centre, and was for seven years the chair of the board of ISIS Work. She also serves on the boards of CARE, Intra Health, CHANGE and Legacy Memory Bank, and is a member of the World Health Organization.

Recognition

Works