# Musimbi Kanyoro

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Kenyan activist

Musimbi Kanyoro Born Migori County, Kenya Citizenship Kenyan Education University of Nairobi; University of Texas at Austin (PhD); San Francisco Theological Seminary Occupations Human rights advocate Philanthropist Academic Employer(s) United World Colleges; London School of Economics Organizations Global Fund for Women; World YWCA; Lutheran World Federation; United Bible Societies; CARE; Aspen Leaders Council Known for Leadership in global women's rights and philanthropy Notable work In Search of a Round Table: Gender, Theology and Church Leadership Title Chairperson, International Board of United World Colleges Awards Human Rights Award (1999); Wittenberg Award (2000)

**Musimbi Kanyoro** is a [human rights advocate](/source/Human_rights_advocate), philanthropist, and academic.[1][2] She is the chairperson of the International Board of the [United World Colleges](/source/United_World_Colleges)[3] and independent member at [London School of Economics and Political Science](/source/London_School_of_Economics_and_Political_Science).[4] She is also the founding member of the [Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians](/source/Circle_of_Concerned_African_Women_Theologians) ("the Circle") and its first coordinator (1996-2002).[5]

## Early life and education

Musimbi Kanyoro was born in [Migori County](/source/Migori_County), Kenya, where she attended primary school before joining Alliance Girls School in [Nairobi](/source/Nairobi).[6]

As a student in the 1970s, she supported the movement against apartheid in [South Africa](/source/South_Africa).[7][8]

Kanyoro earned an undergraduate degree from the [University of Nairobi](/source/University_of_Nairobi) and a [PhD](/source/PhD) in [Linguistics](/source/Linguistics) from the [University of Texas at Austin](/source/University_of_Texas_at_Austin). Kanyoro later earned a doctorate in [feminist theology](/source/Feminist_theology) at the [San Francisco Theological Seminary](/source/San_Francisco_Theological_Seminary).[9]

She was also a visiting scholar of [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew) and the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) at [Harvard Divinity School](/source/Harvard_Divinity_School).[10]

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Musimbi Kanyoro at the Global Fund For Women's Dinner in May 2013 in New York

## Career

Kanyoro with [Ellen Johnson Sirleaf](/source/Ellen_Johnson_Sirleaf).

Kanyoro was the executive secretary, Desk for Women in Church and Society at the [Lutheran World Federation](/source/Lutheran_World_Federation) from 1982 to 1997.[11] She also edited the book *In Search of a Round Table: Gender, Theology and Church Leadership*, in 1998.[12] She worked as a translation consultant for the [United Bible Societies](/source/United_Bible_Societies). From 1998 to 2007, Kanyoro became the first non-white General Secretary[13] of the World [YWCA](/source/YWCA).[8]

Kanyoro was director of the Population and Reproductive Health Program of the [David and Lucile Packard Foundation](/source/David_and_Lucile_Packard_Foundation) from 2007 to 2011.[14] 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](/source/Oxfam), co-chaired by [Zainab Bangura](/source/Zainab_Bangura) and Katherine Sierra.[15] Musimbi Kanyoro was the president and CEO of Global Fund for Women from 2011 to 2019.[16]

She has 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[17] and the International Board of the [United World Colleges](/source/United_World_Colleges).[18]

Kanyoro has worked with former president of Ireland [Mary Robinson](/source/Mary_Robinson) on several projects, including the Board of Directors of Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative. She served as a member of the Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) Reference Group.[19][20]

She is also the member of Global Philanthropy Committee of the Council of Foundations.[21][18]

Kanyoro also 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](/source/CARE_(relief_agency)),[22] Intra Health,[23] CHANGE and Legacy Memory Bank,[24] and is a member of the [World Health Organization](/source/World_Health_Organization).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Recognition and honours

- 1999 – Human Rights Award[25]

- 1999 – Doctor of Divinity (honorary), Trinity Lutheran Seminary, (TLS) USA, for significant contribution to Christian Theology

- 2000 – The Wittenberg Award[26]

- 2005 – designated a State Commendations of Kenya Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS)[27]

- 2005 – Women of Substance Award[28]

- 2005 – Global Leadership Award,[29] World Vision and International AIDS Trust, USA

- 2005 – Nominee, 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize,[30]

- 2006 – Women, Leadership and Human Dignity Award[31]

- 2008 – Inaugural address: [Nelson Mandela Lecture Series](/source/Nelson_Mandela_Lecture_series) at the [University of South Australia](/source/University_of_South_Australia)[32]

- 2011 – Changing the Face of Philanthropy[33]

- 2012 – National Council for Research on Women 2012[34]

## Selected bibliography

- Bofu-Tawamba, Ndana (2025). [*The uprising of women in philanthropy*](https://www.routledge.com/The-Uprising-of-Women-in-Philanthropy/Bofu-Tawamba-Bright-Clohesy-Grumm-Kanyoro-LaKellyHunt-Oliveira-Risimini-Sloane-Tomlin/p/book/9781032361468?utm_medium=email&utm_source=EmailStudio&utm_campaign=U7597454184_Books+Author+Post-Publication+Support_5035855&utm_id=). Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-032-36146-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-032-36146-8).

- Dube, Musa and Musimbi R.A. Kanyoro, eds. *Grant me justice!: HIV/AIDS & gender readings of the Bible.* Cluster Publications, 2004. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1570756009](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1570756009)

- Kanyoro, Musimbi R.A. and Nyambura J. Njoroge, eds. *Groaning in Faith: African women in the household of God.* Nairobi: Acton Publishers. Papers From the Interfaith Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, 1996. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9966888242](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9966888242)

- Kanyoro, Musimbi R.A., ed. *In search of a round table: gender, theology & church leadership.* Geneva: WCC Publications, 1997. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [2-8254-1209-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/2-8254-1209-0)

- Kanyoro, Musimbi R.A. and Nyambura J. Njoroge, eds. *A decade of solidarity with the Bible : decade festival : visions beyond 1998.* Geneva: WCC Publications, 1998.

- Kanyoro, Musimbi R.A., *Introducing Feminist Cultural Hermeneutics: An African Perspective.* Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2002. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0829814996](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0829814996)

- Kanyoro, Musimbi R.A., Forward to *The alternative Luther : Lutheran theology from the subaltern,* edited by Else Marie Wiberg Pedersen*.* Minneapolis: Fortress Academic, 2019.

- Oduyoye, Mercy Amba and Musimbi R.A. Kanyoro, eds. *The Will to Arise: Women, Tradition, and the Church in Africa.* Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2005. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1597524742](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1597524742).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["5 lessons for funding innovation for social change"](https://www.devex.com/news/5-lessons-for-funding-innovation-for-social-change-84741). *Devex*. 10 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_2-0)** ["Musimbi Kanyoro | Women's Learning Partnership"](https://learningpartnership.org/people/musimbi-kanyoro).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Cheney, Catherine (1 November 2024). ["Collective leadership is key to lasting impact, in education and beyond"](https://www.devex.com/news/collective-leadership-is-key-to-lasting-impact-in-education-and-beyond-108630). *Devex*. Retrieved 4 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro « The Uprising of Women in Philanthropy"](https://uprisingofwomeninphilanthropy.com/the-author/dr-musimbi-kanyoro/). Retrieved 4 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:1_5-0)** Labeodan, Helen A. (8 July 2016). ["Revisiting the legacy of the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians today: A lesson in strength and perseverance"](https://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v37i2.1586). *Verbum et Ecclesia*. **37** (2). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4102/ve.v37i2.1586](https://doi.org/10.4102%2Fve.v37i2.1586). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2074-7705](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2074-7705).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Musimbi Kanyoro (Kenya) | WikiPeaceWomen – English"](https://wikipeacewomen.org/wpworg/en/?page_id=3038). *wikipeacewomen.org*. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Star Power at a Global Women's Conference"](https://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/star-power-at-a-global-womens-conference/?_r=0). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-KRA_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-KRA_8-1) ["Biography of those awarded"](http://www.kra.go.ke/pdf/news/BIOGRAPHY%20OF%20THOSE%20AWARDED.pdf) (PDF). Kenya Revenue Agency. Retrieved 18 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Lowery, Stephanie A. (22 May 2020). ["9 African Women Theologians You Should Know About"](https://theglobalchurchproject.com/african-women-theologians-you-should-know-about/). *The GlobalChurch Project*. Retrieved 25 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Dr Musimbi Kanyoro"](https://unglobalcompact.org.au/speakers/dr-musimbi-kanyoro/). *UN Global Compact Network Australia*. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** GU (20 June 2011). ["A Discussion with Musimbi Kanyoro, CEO and President of the Global Fund for Women"](https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-discussion-with-musimbi-kanyoro-ceo-and-president-of-the-global-fund-for-women). Retrieved 27 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Molloy, Cathy (Winter 1998). ["Review: \[Untitled\] in Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/30113966). *JSTOR*. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [30113966](https://www.jstor.org/stable/30113966). Retrieved 27 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Salzman, Marian. ["10 Power Women Brands"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariansalzman/2015/09/08/10-power-women-brands/). *Forbes*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Berkley_14-0)** ["A Discussion with Musimbi Kanyoro, CEO and President of the Global Fund for Women"](http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-discussion-with-musimbi-kanyoro-ceo-and-president-of-the-global-fund-for-women). Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Oxfam announces Zainab Bangura and Katherine Sierra to co-lead Independent Commission on Sexual Misconduct](https://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases/2018-03-16/oxfam-announces-zainab-bangura-and-katherine-sierra-co-lead) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190326190036/https://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressreleases/2018-03-16/oxfam-announces-zainab-bangura-and-katherine-sierra-co-lead) 26 March 2019 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) [Oxfam](/source/Oxfam), press release of 16 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Lieberman, Amy (13 August 2019). ["Some gender equality progress 'slipping away,' says former Global Fund for Women CEO"](https://www.devex.com/news/some-gender-equality-progress-slipping-away-says-former-global-fund-for-women-ceo-95440).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Dr Musimbi Kanyoro - Homeward Bound"](https://homewardboundprojects.com.au/profile/dr-musimbi-kanyoro/). 14 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_18-1) ["Musimbi Kanyoro Appointed Chair of UWC International Board"](https://www.uwc.org/musimbiappointment). November 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [FP2020 Reference Group](http://www.familyplanning2020.org/about-us/reference-group) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181015184343/http://www.familyplanning2020.org/about-us/reference-group) 15 October 2018 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Family Planning 2020 (FP2020).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [International Advisory Council](https://www.mrfcj.org/about/international-advisory-council/) [Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice](/source/Mary_Robinson).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Global Philanthropy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131019231902/http://www.cof.org/whoweserve/international/committee/index.cfm?navItemNumber=15638). [Council on Foundations](/source/Council_on_Foundations). January 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.cof.org/whoweserve/international/committee/index.cfm?navItemNumber=15638) on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["CARE Announces Board Member Musimbi Kanyoro"](http://www.care.org/newsroom/articles/2012/10/care-new-board-members-kanyoro-janah-20121009.asp). October 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Musimbi Kanyoro Joins Intra Health International Board of Directors"](http://www.intrahealth.org/page/musimbi-kanyoro-joins-intrahealth-internationals-board-of-directors). September 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Musimbi Kanyoro Joins Board of Legacy Memory Bank"](http://www.legacymemorybank.org/index.php?view=article&catid=36%3Abiography&id=69%3Amusimbi+kanyoro&option=com_content&Itemid=60). November 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["presented by Church Women United, USA, in recognition of commitment and dedication to global human rights of women"](http://www.interpretermagazine.org/umns/usnews_archive.asp?ptid=2&story=%7BE510D330-9DC3-4E68-BAD0-D9C4B7837AD9%7D&mid=883). September 1999. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["presented by the Luther Institute, USA in recognition of outstanding service to church and society"](http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=3673). September 2000. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Selected Gazette Notices From Vol. CVII-No.85"](http://www.law.co.ke/KenyaGazette/view_gazette.php?title=1145). Republic of Kenya. 9 December 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["African Women's Development Fund, Accra, Ghana"](http://allafrica.com/stories/200510241020.html). April 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["World Vision and International AIDS Trust, USA"](http://www.abeingo.org/profiles/musimbi%20kanyoro.pdf) (PDF). March 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["Nominee, 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131021225504/http://www.worldywca.org/YWCA-News/World-YWCA-and-Member-Associations-News/World-YWCA-General-Secretary-Nominated-for-Nobel-Peace-Prize). September 2005. Archived from [the original](https://www.worldywca.org/YWCA-News/World-YWCA-and-Member-Associations-News/World-YWCA-General-Secretary-Nominated-for-Nobel-Peace-Prize) on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["for significant contribution to advancement of human dignity, presented by Birmingham-South College, Birmingham, Alabama, USA"](http://www.bsc.edu/communications/southern/summer06/summer-06.pdf) (PDF). April 2006. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["presented by the University of South Australia and the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Adelaide, Australia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131021225422/http://w3.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/nml/default.asp). 14 October 2008. Archived from [the original](http://w3.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/nml/default.asp) on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["presented by the Women's Funding Network, San Francisco, California, USA"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131021222737/http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org/sites/wfnet.org/files/cfp-awards-presentation.pdf) (PDF). 7–9 April 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.womensfundingnetwork.org/sites/wfnet.org/files/cfp-awards-presentation.pdf) (PDF) on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["30-year anniversary celebrating 30 outstanding women"](http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=208399678&privcapId=102269853&previousCapId=4976197&previousTitle=Arie%20and%20Ida%20Crown%20Memorial%20Foundation). May 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2013.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

## External links

- [Global Fund for Women](http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/)

- [Legacy Memory Bank Advisory Board](https://archive.today/20121220215255/http://www.legacymemorybank.org/)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Netherlands Israel People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Musimbi Kanyoro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musimbi_Kanyoro) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musimbi_Kanyoro?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.