# Stephen Omollo

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**Stephen Omollo** (born 22 August 1968), is a Kenyan humanitarian and leader.[1][2]

Stephen serves as Assistant Executive Director at [World Food Programme](/source/World_Food_Programme), responsible for the workplace and management, since June 2024.[3] Prior to appointment, between November 2021 and April 2024, Stephen was the chief executive officer of [Plan International](/source/Plan_International).[4][5] He had served as the East Africa Regional Director at the [World Vision International](/source/World_Vision_International), from September 2017 to October 2021.[6][7]

Stephen previously served continuously for 24 years in different positions in the [Red Cross](/source/Red_Cross) organizations, between 1993 and 2017.[8][9] As a humanitarian working for Red Cross, Stephen served in onsite programs for various refugee camps in different African regions including [East Africa](/source/East_Africa), [Central Africa](/source/Central_Africa), [Southern Africa](/source/Southern_Africa) and [West Africa](/source/West_Africa).[10][11]

## Early life and education

Stephen was born on 22 August 1968. He grew up and spent his formative years in [Uganda](/source/Uganda) and completed his elementary and secondary education in [Kenya](/source/Kenya). Stephen began his graduate studies in 1988 at the [University of Lucknow](/source/University_of_Lucknow) in India. He earned a bachelor's degree in commerce in 1992. Since 1999, Stephen has held a postgraduate certificate from the [Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland](/source/Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland), known as the International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (I.D.H.A.).[12]

Stephen also enrolled in [Lancaster University](/source/Lancaster_University) in England in 1999 to pursue a postgraduate degree, and he earned a master's in management there in 2003. Additionally, since 2003, [INSEAD](/source/INSEAD) in France has awarded him a postgraduate certificate in International Masters in Practicing Management. Stephen continued his enrollment at the [University of York](/source/University_of_York) in England in 2006 in order to pursue a PhD in political science.[12][13]

## Career

After earning a bachelor's degree in commerce from [Lucknow University](/source/Lucknow_University) in India in 1992, Stephen began working for [Red Cross Kenya](/source/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement)—a.k.a. the [International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement](/source/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movement) in Kenya—as a humanitarian coordinator for the program for [Somali](/source/Somalia) refugees in northeastern of Kenya. He held this role until January 1994. Subsequently, Stephen began working with [Irish Red Cross](/source/Irish_Red_Cross_Society) and he was appointed as Camps Manager in Benaco,[Tanzania](/source/Tanzania) in Congolese refugees. Stephen received a promotion in January 1997 and was assigned to the position of country director and representative for [Irish Red Cross](/source/Irish_Red_Cross) in [Uganda](/source/Uganda), based in [Kampala](/source/Kampala).[14][15]

Stephen began his career with the [International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)](/source/International_Federation_of_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Societies) in February 2000. He began as the region's humanitarian coordinator for [Southern Africa](/source/Southern_Africa) and rose to the position of deputy regional director for the same area, a position he held until June 2003.[16][17] Later on, Stephen worked for the [IFRC](/source/International_Federation_of_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Societies) in [Zambia](/source/Zambia) (2003–2006) and [Zimbabwe](/source/Zimbabwe) (2009–2010) as the country director and secretary general representative.[18][15]

In August 2006, Stephen held the new role at the [IFRC](/source/International_Federation_of_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Societies) as the regional director for [Western Africa](/source/West_Africa) and [Central Africa](/source/Central_Africa) until December 2007.[19] From March 2010 to April 2014, he served as the [IFRC's](/source/International_Federation_of_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Societies) Permanent Representative and head of the Africa Union Office in [Addis Ababa](/source/Addis_Ababa).[20][14] Stephen served as the [IFRC's](/source/International_Federation_of_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Societies) Chief for Humanitarian Diplomacy and Global Director of Partnerships and Resource Development in [Geneva](/source/Geneva), Swiss from April 2014 to August 2017.[21] From September 2017 to October 2021, Stephen served as a vice president and regional director for [Eastern Africa](/source/East_Africa) at [World Vision International](/source/World_Vision_International).[22] Stephen joined and took over [Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen](/source/Anne-Birgitte_Albrectsen)'s position as CEO of [Plan International](/source/Plan_International) in November 2021, she had held the position since 2015.[23]

## Additional career

### Board of directorships

- Board of Directors, [Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health(PMNCH)](/source/Partnership_for_Maternal,_Newborn_%26_Child_Health), (2022-)[24]
- Board of Directors, Generation Unlimited, (2022-)[25]
- Board of Directors, [International Civil Society Centre (ICSC)](/source/International_Civil_Society_Centre), (2022-)[26]

## Other considerations

From January 2008 to February 2009, Stephen served as special advisor to [Kamalesh Sharma](/source/Kamalesh_Sharma) while he was the Secretary General of [the Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations), Stephen, was also director of Good Offices responsible for mediation and conflict resolution at [the Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations).[27] On 20 December 2023, on the International Day of Human Solidarity, Stephen Omollo with [Chido Mpemba](/source/Chido_Cleopatra_Mpemba) and [Chernor Bah](/source/Chernor_Bah), released an article in [Devex](/source/Devex) news named *Africa’s youth will change the world order. Are we ready?* An article which elucidates the narrative of how Africa's young population will transform the international order in multilateral systems.[1]

## See also

- [Plan International](/source/Plan_International)

## References

1. ["Biography"](https://pmnch.who.int/about-pmnch/biography/stephen-omollo). *pmnch.who.int*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Central Sahel Crisis Emergency Response - Plan International West and Central Africa (WACA)/YEM&C, Jan-March 2022 Issue 6 - Burkina Faso | ReliefWeb"](https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/central-sahel-crisis-emergency-response-plan-international-west-and-central-1). *reliefweb.int*. 2022-04-08. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. Team, ThePrint (2024-06-24). ["UN appoints Stephen Omollo as new assistant executive director"](https://theprint.in/world/un-appoints-stephen-omollo-as-new-assistant-executive-director/2145432/). *ThePrint*. Retrieved 2024-07-13.

1. The Star (2021-11-06). ["Kenyan becomes first African to be appointed Plan International CEO"](https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2021-11-06-kenyan-becomes-first-african-to-be-appointed-plan-international-ceo/) (in en-KE). *The Star*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Stephen Omollo steps down as Plan International CEO"](https://plan-international.org/news/2024/04/05/stephen-omollo-steps-down-as-plan-international-ceo/). *Plan International*. Retrieved 2024-07-13.

1. Xinhua (2018-05-19). ["Global Charity says 1.2 million have been affected by flood | News Ghana"](https://newsghana.com.gh/global-charity-says-1-2-million-have-been-affected-by-flood/). *newsghana.com.gh*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Kenyan, Stephen Omollo, appointed Plan International CEO"](https://nation.africa/kenya/news/-kenyan-stephen-omollo-appointed-plan-international-ceo-3610822). *Nation*. 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Chairperson Receives Credentials of The New Permanent Observer of The Red Cross/Red Crescent to The African Union"](https://au.int/sites/default/files/pressreleases/24715-pr-chairperson_receives_credentials_of_new_permanent_observer_of_red_cross_red_crescent_-_12jan2012-1.pdf). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231218072058/https://au.int/sites/default/files/pressreleases/24715-pr-chairperson_receives_credentials_of_new_permanent_observer_of_red_cross_red_crescent_-_12jan2012-1.pdf) 2023-12-18 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Red Cross: Zimbabwe on brink of food crisis"](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna35823724). *NBC News*. 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. Mintzberg, Henry (2001). ["Managing Exceptionally"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3086046). *Organization Science*. **12** (6): 759–771. [ISSN 1047-7039](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1047-7039)

1. ["Climate change impacts on health: Kenya assessment"](https://www.climatecentre.org/wp-content/uploads/RCRC_IFRC-Country-assessments-Kenya-Final-3.pdf). April 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211026125202/https://www.climatecentre.org/wp-content/uploads/RCRC_IFRC-Country-assessments-Kenya-Final-3.pdf) 2021-10-26 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Plan International's Leadership Team"](https://plan-international.org/organisation/structure/leadership-team/). *Plan International*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Stephen Omollo - Executive Bio, Work History, and Contacts - Equilar ExecAtlas"](https://people.equilar.com/bio/stephen-omollo-plan-international/44239594). *people.equilar.com*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["African Union Signs MoU with International Red Cross/Red Crescent - World | ReliefWeb"](https://reliefweb.int/report/world/african-union-signs-mou-international-red-crossred-crescent). *reliefweb.int*. 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Zimbabwe: Red Cross Seeks $32 Million"](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/world/africa/10briefs-Zimbabwebrf.html). *The New York Times*. Associated Press. 2009-12-10. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Southern Africa: Cholera - Information Bulletin n° 1 - Angola | ReliefWeb"](https://reliefweb.int/report/angola/southern-africa-cholera-information-bulletin-n-1). *reliefweb.int*. 2006-06-06. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Southern Africa: Food Aid and Humanitarian Assistance Appeal No. 12/02 Operations Update No. 8 - Lesotho | ReliefWeb"](https://reliefweb.int/report/lesotho/southern-africa-food-aid-and-humanitarian-assistance-appeal-no-1202-operations-upda-2). *reliefweb.int*. 2002-09-12. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Zambia Annual Appeal No. 05AA016 - Zambia | ReliefWeb"](https://reliefweb.int/report/zambia/zambia-annual-appeal-no-05aa016). *reliefweb.int*. 2005-01-01. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["West Africa Floods Emergency Appeal No. MDR61002 Operations Update No. 4 - Focus on Togo - Togo | ReliefWeb"](https://reliefweb.int/report/togo/west-africa-floods-emergency-appeal-no-mdr61002-operations-update-no-4-focus-togo). *reliefweb.int*. 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Stephen Omollo, a Kenyan, appointed as a new CEO of Plan International – Kerosi Blog"](https://www.kerosi.com/stephen-omollo-a-kenyan-appointed-as-a-new-ceo-of-plan-international/). November 2021. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["OCHA"](https://www.unocha.org/sites/unocha/files/dms/Documents/Wed_1_Building%20a%20Colalition_CN.pdf). *www.unocha.org*. Retrieved 2025-07-28.

1. ["World Vision Renews Commitment to Children at Annual Prayer Day"](https://www.wvi.org/kenya/article/world-vision-renews-commitment-children-annual-prayer-day). *www.wvi.org*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Plan International appoints Stephen Omollo as new CEO"](https://plan-international.org/news/2021/11/05/plan-international-appoints-stephen-omollo-as-new-ceo/). *Plan International*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["CEO of Plan International, Stephen Omollo, joins PMNCH Board as NGO constituency representative"](https://pmnch.who.int/news-and-events/news/item/28-03-2022-ceo-of-plan-international-stephen-omollo-joins-pmnch-board-as-ngo-constituency-representative). *pmnch.who.int*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Global Leadership Council | Generation Unlimited"](https://www.generationunlimited.org/global-leadership-council). *www.generationunlimited.org*. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["Governance and Board of Trustees"](https://icscentre.org/about-us/governance/). *The International Civil Society Centre*. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2023-12-18.

1. ["The Post Online (Cameroon): Legal Framework Of ELECAM Is Big Achievement - Commonwealth Official"](https://www.postnewsline.com/2009/02/legal-framework-of-elecam-is-big-achievement-commonwealth-official.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090204083600/http://www.postnewsline.com:80/2009/02/legal-framework-of-elecam-is-big-achievement-commonwealth-official.html) 2009-02-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-28.

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