100 Reputable Women of African Descent 2025:Sanda Ojiambo Championing Sustainability and Global Development

Sanda Ojiambo is a distinguished Kenyan administrator who currently serves as the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Global Compact, a position she has held since April 2022. Before assuming this role, she was the Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact from June 17, 2020, to April 22, 2022, succeeding Denmark’s Lise Kingo.

Ms. Ojiambo’s career in international development began in 1997 with CARE International in Somalia. She later joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Somalia, where she spent five years leading impactful programs in education, safe motherhood, environmental conservation, governance, and landmine demining. After her tenure in Somalia, she transitioned to Nairobi, Kenya, to work with the Africa Regional Office of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). In this capacity, she provided technical expertise in service delivery, accreditation standards, financial management, governance, and advocacy, supporting initiatives across 40 countries over a five-year period.

In 2008, Ms. Ojiambo joined Safaricom Plc, Kenya’s leading telecommunications company, as the Senior Manager of the Safaricom and MPESA Foundations. In this role, she championed the development and execution of public-private partnership initiatives in collaboration with various United Nations organizations. Her exemplary leadership led to her promotion in 2010 to Head of Sustainable Business and Social Impact at Safaricom.

During her tenure, Ms. Ojiambo integrated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Safaricom’s operations, laying the foundation for sustainable business practices across the company. She led the Corporate Responsibility Department, overseeing sustainability reporting, the development of technology-for-development products, and the management of the Safaricom and MPESA Foundations. Her efforts in sustainability reporting consistently captured stakeholder attention and set a benchmark for corporate responsibility in the region.

Ms. Ojiambo’s career reflects her unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable development and fostering impactful partnerships that address global challenges. Her work continues to inspire progress, innovation, and the integration of sustainable practices in both public and private sectors.