James Nyoro Named Rockefeller Foundation Managing Director
New York, NY, October 30, 2008 – The Rockefeller Foundation today announced the appointment of James Nyoro as Managing Director for its Nairobi, Kenya, programs and operations.
In this crucial regional leadership position, Nyoro will oversee the Foundation’s work in sub-Saharan Africa, including its innovative efforts to promote the development of new carbon sequestration strategies and bolster food security against the risks of climate change. The latter is part of the Foundation’s $70 million initiative to strengthen community resilience to the global climate crisis.
Nyoro will also help administer the Foundation’s continuing partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which the Rockefeller and Bill & Melinda Gates foundations jointly launched in 2006. To date, the Rockefeller Foundation has contributed approximately $75 million to the alliance.
“The Rockefeller Foundation is privileged to welcome James during a moment of extraordinary promise and challenge in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Judith Rodin, the Foundation’s president. “We cannot alleviate poverty in the 21st century without simultaneously addressing the grave and growing risks of climate change. The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support the search for innovative local solutions to the global climate crisis. James will take on vital responsibility in collaborating with our partners and grantees on this movement’s front lines.”
“I’m deeply honored to join an institution with a singular history in and enduring commitment to alleviating hunger and poverty around the world, an obligation that takes on increased urgency in the age of climate change,” said Nyoro. “The Foundation finds and funds ideas at the cutting-edge of agricultural and climate science. I look forward to serving with and learning from a distinctively innovative team of colleagues.”
Nyoro joins the Rockefeller Foundation from Tegemeo Institute, Egerton University's world class policy research organization and think-tank. As the institute’s executive director, he worked with African governments to identify policy needs, develop research themes, build relationships among public, private, and nonprofit partners, advocate for new development initiatives, and conduct thorough program evaluations. He published many of his research findings, including Kenya’s country strategy for AGRA, Kenya Vision 2030.
As Nyoro begins, Akin Adesina, a Rockefeller Foundation Associate Director seconded to AGRA since 2007, will transition to his role as Vice President of AGRA full time. During his decade-long tenure at the Foundation, Adesina expanded the focus of its agricultural sciences program to include market development for smallholder farmers. He also helped lead several major initiatives to engage African governments in agricultural transformation.
“Akin is a scholar of African agriculture, economics, development, policy, politics, and the inextricable connections among them,” said Rodin. “He embodies the Foundation’s century-long commitment to help leading minds pursue groundbreaking achievements, strengthening the impact of our work. He will always remain part of the Rockefeller Foundation family.”
“I’m delighted to congratulate James as he embarks on this new venture,” Adesina said of Nyoro’s appointment. “Serving the Foundation has been the opportunity of a lifetime. The Foundation helped launch my international career in agriculture in 1988, first as a young Rockefeller Foundation Fellow. The Rockefeller Foundation is in my genes. I'm energized by and excited by our continuing work together to realize transformative change in Africa.”
The Rockefeller Foundation was established by John D. Rockefeller, Sr., in 1913, and works around the world to ensure that globalization's benefits and opportunities are spread more fully in more communities. The Rockefeller Foundation recently commenced a $70 million Campaign for American Workers to shape new policy proposals and financial products that promote and protect savings, access to health care, and secure retirements. www.rockfound.org
- James Nyoro Named RF Managing Director
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