Anne Kabagambe

Anne Namara Kabagambe is a Ugandan international development and finance executive who is currently the executive director of the World Bank Group's Africa Group 1 constituency. Until her appointment in November 2018, she served as the consistuency's alternate executive director.

Anne Kabagambe
Born	Anne Namara Kabagambe[1] Kisoro, Uganda
Nationality	Ugandan
Alma mater	UC San Diego Columbia University (MIA) George Washington University (MPP)
Occupation	International development and finance executive
Years active	1981–present
Children	2[2]

Early life and education

Kabagambe was born in Kisoro, a town in the southwestern region of Uganda near the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the eighth of twelve children to a regional government official and a stay-at-home mother.[3][4] She completed her secondary education in Uganda before moving to the United States, where she obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of California at San Diego.[5] She later obtained Master's degrees in international relations from Columbia University and in public policy from the George Washington University. She also obtained diplomas in strategic public-sector negotiations from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and in leadership and management from the Cranfield School of Management.[6]

Career

Early career and African Development Bank

Kabagambe began her career representing the City of New York on trade and investment opportunities in China, India and the Middle East.[3] She also worked for the United Nations and the Third World Institute in New York City.[6] In 1989, Kabagambe joined the African Development Bank, where she eventually rose to her final position as chief of staff and director of cabinet.[7] She worked as part of the team tasked with the formulation of the Bank's long-term strategy, and also played a role in its responses to the financial crisis of 2007–08 and the Western African Ebola virus epidemic.[4] In January 2016, she joined the board of trustees at the Africa-America Institute.[6]

World Bank

In November 2018, Kabagambe was elected to the position of executive director of the World Bank Group's Africa Group 1 Constituency—which represents Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe—after having previously served as the constituency's alternate executive director.[8] She became the second woman to hold the position after Ethiopia's Mulu Ketsela.[9] Kabagambe also serves as co-chair of the World Bank Board's working group on gender[10] and is a member of the Board's committees of budget and development effectiveness.[4][11]

Personal life

Kabagambe has two sons and is fluent in both English and French.[2]

References

1. Assoko, Joël Té-Léssia (16 April 2020). "AfDB's latest controversy: accusations against its president, Akinwumi Adesina". The Africa Report. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
2. "Anne Kabagambe". World Bank Live. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
3. "Women of the AfDB". African Development Bank. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
4. "Trailblazers: Portraits of Female Business Leadership in Emerging and Frontier Markets" (PDF). International Finance Corporation. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
5. "Anne Kabagambe". World Bank. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
6. "AAI Welcome Anne Kabagambe to Board of Trustees". Africa-America Institute. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
7. "Appendix I-2: Principal Officers of the Bank Group as of December 31, 2014" (PDF). African Development Bank. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
8. "Anne Kabagambe élue au Conseil d'administration de la banque mondiale". African Shapers (in French). 19 October 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
9. "EDS14 Former Leadership Photo Gallery". World Bank. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
10. Edwards, Sophie (7 November 2019). "World Bank staff chastise the board over lack of diversity". Devex. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
11. Kabagambe, Anne (2020-07-31). "World Banks Perspective on Covid-19 in Africa and likely pandemics in times to come". The voice of Africa. Retrieved 2020-11-16.