The African Climate Foundation (ACF) has elected 2018 Tutu Fellow Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg PhD to their Advisory Council. She is the Director of African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), which works towards inclusive, agriculture-driven prosperity for the African continent, by strengthening the production and dissemination of more gender-responsive agricultural research and innovation.

The ACF is the first African-led, strategic, climate-change, grant-making foundation on the continent.

The ACF says it is building on the success of partner organisations like the European Climate Foundation and ClimateWorks Foundation.  It was established to provide a mechanism through which philanthropies can contribute to Africa’s efforts to address climate change. As an African-led and African-based foundation, it says it is committed to supporting African solutions to climate change challenges facing the continent. The ACF says it is in the process of developing its Africa strategy and will be establishing regional offices in key African geographies over the next several years.

The pan-African Advisory Council provides strategic oversight and guidance in matters related to political, economic and development issues on the continent.  It currently consists of what the ACF describes as four of Africa’s leading thinkers in the field of energy, development economics, industrial policy and trade, agriculture, gender and social inclusion and the role of technology. The council is expected to grow over the next coming years. Wanjiru is joined on the board by Professor Carlos Lopes, who also serves on the AFLI Global Advisory Board.

Wanjiru has received widespread recognition for her work, including being honored as a White House Champion of Change by the Obama Administration. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African magazine, and recognized as a Ford Foundation Champion of Democracy.  

You can see the entire ACF Advisory Council at their website.