Laudatory profiles, rich backgrounds, proven experience: discover the careers of these African men and women who are leading powerful international organizations, often for the first time.
By Bernard Bangda
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, outbreak management expert at WHO
His first term was marked by the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo and COVID-19. Dr Tedros’ management of these diseases earned him re-election.
First elected in May 2017 for a five-year term, Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been re-elected to head the World Health Organization (WHO) until May 2022. The first African to hold the post, the former Ethiopian Minister of Health and then Foreign Affairs did not study medicine, but has a PhD in community health and a Master of Science (MSc) in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from a university in London, UK.
“After his first election, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made universal health care coverage his enduring priority”
Having been born in Asmara (the capital of Eritrea) and having grown up in a country where health care is not accessible to all (as a child, he lost a brother for lack of the medicines needed to treat him), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made universal health coverage care his enduring priority when he was first elected.
But first Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2018 and then COVID-19 in 2020 disrupted his plans. The Ethiopian is suddenly in the spotlight, regularly called upon to respond to emergencies. Dr Tedros Adhanom and the WHO must find definitive solutions to this crisis. From March 2020, between managing the pandemic and researching drugs and vaccines, Jeune Afrique magazine’s « most influential African 2020,” will rather sleep lightly.
« After the success with Ebola in the DRC, the WHO DG is using the same methods to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic: international mobilization and regular field visits”
Fortunately, the WHO DG has already experienced an epidemic, Ebola, in 2018. The « expert in emergency response to epidemics » will use the same methods to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic: international mobilization and regular field trips (to China once the coronavirus epidemic is officially announced in early 2020) to support WHO’s operations. It was a strategy that paid off, earning him re-election in May 2022.
The 57-year-old can now focus on his priorities for 2017: universal health care coverage, emergencies, women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health, the impact of climate and environmental change on health, and WHO reform.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an « Iron Lady » to revitalize the WTO
This is the mission of the first woman, and the first African, to become Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria took office as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on March 21, 2021. She replaces Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevêdo, who held the post from 2013 to 2020. She is the seventh Director-General of the WTO and the first woman to hold the post since its creation on January 1, 1995 following the Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-1994), which extended the trading system to trade in services and intellectual property and reformed trade in sensitive products such as agricultural goods and textiles.
« The task may seem daunting, but the former Nigerian finance minister (between 2003 and 2006, and again between 2011 and 2013) has no shortage of assets”
The « Iron Lady », as she is known to her compatriots, has a challenge: to revive an institution that has « lost momentum » since the trade crisis between China and the United States. Though the task seems daunting, the former Nigerian finance minister (between 2003 and 2006, then between 2011 and 2013) has not shortage of assets.
The first is that she is well known in the world of economics and finance. Indeed, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spent 25 years at the World Bank, where she rose to the position of Managing Director of Operations, number two in the largest development finance institution. As her country’s finance minister, she was named Global Finance Minister of the Year in 2004.
« Her success as her country’s finance minister has earned her several honorary positions around the world, but most importantly, she was ranked 3rd in Jeune Afrique’s Top 100 Most Influential Africans »
This was a result of her reforms of the country’s financial sector. With a PhD in economics and regional development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in economics from Harvard University, she has held honorary positions in the financial sector (chair of the board of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, co-chair of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, member of the board of directors of Twitter). In 2020, she was ranked 3rd in Jeune Afrique’s list of the 100 most influential Africans.
Louise Mushikiwabo, Africa’s women take over the Francophonie
The Rwandan’s appointment also marks her country’s return to the circle of 84 countries in the world that share the French language.
Louise Mushikiwabo will never forget October 12, 2018. On that day, the Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), meeting in Yerevan, Armenia, unanimously elected her to head the organization. She will take up her post in 2019, replacing Michaëlle Jean at the helm of the Francophonie.
« Louise Mushikiwabo is the fourth secretary general of La Francophonie and the first African woman to hold this position”
The Rwandan is the organization’s fourth secretary-general and the first African woman to hold this position. Her main task is to unite the 84 member states in promoting the French language, human rights and inclusive development. La Francophonie is the community of 274 million French-speaking people in the world who share a certain way of thinking and seeing the world.
Louise Mushikiwabo is no stranger to diplomacy. In fact, she spent 10 years in her country, first as Minister of Information and then as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. It was from there that she left to become Secretary-General of the OIF.
For the record, the OIF is an organization created in 1970 to defend cultural diversity in the world and the values of human rights by protecting the use of the French language. It is headed by its Secretary General, who is elected for four years.
Makhtar Diop takes the helm at the International Finance Corporation
The 63-year-old Senegalese has been appointed Managing Director of the World Bank’s private investment arm from 1 March 2021.
He is one of the first Africans to hold a strategic and powerful position in international organizations. Makhtar Diop will become Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector investment arm, on March 1, 2021. The Senegalese was appointed to this position by the President of the World Bank Group, David Malpass, on February 18, 2021. An economist by training and career, he joins the IFC at a time of public health crisis with many economic repercussions.
« Makhtar Diop is working to turn around the global economy, and in particular the economies of developing countries that have been hit by falling commodity prices and declining economic activity »
Since then, Makhtar Diop has been working to revive the global economy, particularly in the developing world, which has been hit by falling commodity prices and reduced trade. His education helps him to do this. Makhtar Diop has a master’s degree from the University of Warwick, a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Nottingham, and a finance degree from the École supérieure des sciences commerciales appliquées in Paris.
But also his experience. And his rich career. Since 2018, Makhtar Diop has been the World Bank’s vice-president for infrastructure. From 2012 to 2018, he held the same position for sub-Saharan Africa. During that time, he oversaw the commitment of a record $70 billion to address the major development challenges facing African countries.
Dr Muhammad Ali Pate: the new CEO of the Gavi Alliance
On February 14, the Gavi Board approved the appointment of the Nigerian as the new CEO of the Vaccine Alliance
After 12 years at the helm of the Gavi Alliance, Dr Seth Berkley will be succeeded as Director General (DG) by Dr Muhammad Ali Pate. The Nigerian will take office on August 3, 2023. “It will be my privilege to lead Gavi and continue to support countries to scale up critical routine immunization programs, reach more zero-dose children, expand access to new vaccines, transform primary health care systems, and help fight outbreaks and future pandemics,” said the newly appointed CEO.
« As Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health between 2011 and 2013, he revived routine vaccinations and primary health care, chaired a presidential task force to eradicate polio and introduced new vaccines into the country »
He is no newcomer to the world of global health. A physician trained in internal medicine and infectious diseases with an MBA from Duke University in the US, he served as Nigeria’s minister of state for health from 2011 to 2013. In this role, he revived routine vaccinations and primary health care, chaired a presidential task force to eradicate polio, and introduced new vaccines into the country.
« Having worked with him during his time as Minister and at the World Bank, I know he understands intimately the landscape we work in and will be uncompromising in his drive for public health equity,” Dr Berkely said.
As the Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population of the World Bank and Director of the Global Financing Facility at the World Bank between 2019 and 2021, He led the Bank’s $18 billion COVID-19 global health response and represented the Bank on various boards, including those of Gavi, the Global Fund, CEPI and UNAIDS.
He is currently the Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership at Harvard Chan School of Public Health and has served on several health-focused boards and expert panels in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors during his career.
“I am confident in Gavi’s future under Muhammad’s leadership: having worked with him during his time as Minister and at the World Bank, I know he understands intimately the landscape we work in and will be uncompromising in his drive for public health equity,” said outgoing CEO Dr Berkley.
