Global Fund for Women

Global Fund for Women

Promoting women’s economic security, health, education and leadership

Musimbi Kanyoro

Musimbi Kanyoro

Musimbi Kanyoro is the President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women and has been a passionate advocate for the health, development and human rights of women, girls and minority groups throughout her life.

Prior to the Global Fund, Musimbi led the Population and Reproductive Health Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, where she advanced support to women’s movements and girl’s education.

She also served 10 years as General Secretary of World YWCA, the largest membership organization in the world, reaching 25 million women and girls in 3,000 communities around the globe. Advocacy around women’s reproductive health and the impact of HIV/AIDS on women were priorities under Musimbi’s leadership.

A champion for young women, Musimbi has successfully spearheaded practices to ensure the representation of women under 30 on local, national and global boards.

The Women’s Funding Network recognized Musimbi’s contributions to philanthropy, women’s funds and gender equity with the 2011 Changing the Face of Philanthropy Award.

Musimbi serves on numerous boards including the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Realizing Rights, the Ethical Globalization Initiative, and the Legacy Foundation.

Musimbi earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and earned her MA and Ph.D. at the University of Texas, Austin. She also earned a doctorate of ministry from San Francisco Theological School and was a visiting scholar at Harvard University.

Achievements and Board Service »

David and Lucile Packard Foundation

  • Provided leadership and strategic direction of the Foundation’s Population and Reproductive Health Program, which includes a grantmaking portfolio of USD 50 million annually and supports work in Africa and Asia, as well as UN agencies
  • Expanded the Foundation’s grantmaking to include grants for women’s movements, gender-based violence and women’s leadership
  • Convened a leadership forum of past presidents of countries to support Reproductive health

World YWCA

  • Steered the YWCA movement to develop and adopt a Global Strategic Plan and an internal tool for monitoring and evaluation, the Standards of Good Management and Accountability; drew upon this experience to collaborate with 10 other international NGOs to develop an NGO Charter of Accountability
  • Supported the growth of the World YWCA movement from 74 to 125 associations through an active capacity building program and strengthened relationships between the World YWCA and its member associations, increasing their participation in joint-programs and contributions to the global budget
  • Facilitated the movement to develop and adopt a new Constitution that reflected the changed environment of the 21st century and initiated policies and practices to ensure the representation of young women under 30 years on local, national and global boards

Lutheran World Federation

  • Developed and implemented the LWF seven year Plan of Action for Women, (1990-1997)
  • Facilitated the active involvement of LWF member churches in the Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women (1988-1998), which encouraged churches to talk about gender justice, domestic and sexual violence against women, rape, discrimination and other forms of injustice against women and girls
  • Succeeded in advocating for several resolutions on women to be made by the LWF Council to guide social justice programmes within churches, including resolutions against female circumcision, violence against women and trafficking of women; and others promoting increased educational opportunities for women and greater participation of women on staff and in LWF programmes

Boards

  • Member, Board of Directors, African Population and Health Research Centre, since 2006
  • Member, Board of Directors, Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative, since 2005
  • Member, Board of Directors, Legacy Foundation, since 2007

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Comments (39)

  1. JOSEPHINE NGALULA KABEYA makes this comment

    Monday, 23 May 2011

    je félicite MUSIMBI KANYORO que j'ai rencontré pour la première fois en 2002 à Know How Kampala, puisse ton ascension aide à booster les droits reproductifs et que l'appropriation de cette question le devienne comme pour celle des violences basées sur le genre

  2. Nadine LOUIS makes this comment

    Monday, 23 May 2011

    Toute l'equi de la Fondation TOYA en Haiti souhaite la plus cordiale bienvenu au Dr Mussimbi Kanyoro. Nous souhaiton que la competente dont elle a su fait preuve dans les autres grandes structures qu'elle a travaille puisse influencer davanta le developpement et l'extentition du programme du Fonds GLobal pour les Femmes. Qu'elle puisse continuer le travail reussi accompli par. L'ancienne presidente. Succes et reussite a vous Mme la Presidente. Nadine LOUIS Fondation TOYAN Haiti

  3. Almendra Robles makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Bienvenida y mucho exito en este nuevo reto. Para las organizaciones de Ciudad Juarez es muy esperanzador las redes con organizaciones como Fondo Global quien ademàs de apoyo nos guian en la profesionalizaciòn de nustras instituciones. Dios la llene de energìa y fortaleza para concretar infinidad de proyectos a favor de las mujeres, niñas y niños. Gracias Almendra Roles Rosales Sin Violencia AC

  4. Judith Res makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Musimbi, compañera! We met in 2000 at the World Council of Church's center where Letty Russell gathered us for her unique DMin program. Wow, she would be so proud of you! Congratulations! I continue to work here in Chile at Con-spirando, a women's collective working in the areas of feminist and ecofeminist theology and spirituality. In your new capacity as CEO of the Global Fund, come and visit! Estarás en tu casa. Un abrazote, Judy

  5. Mugendi Njue makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Congrats Madam Musimbi,its a big inspiration to us young guys

  6. Martha Saavedra makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Congratulations! We look forward to continuing collaborations with the Global Fund for Women.

  7. Cerue Konah Garlo makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Welcome and best wishes! We are looking forward to working with you to globalize women's human rights.

  8. Koura-Napo Awoussi Eléonore makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Au Docteur Musimbi Kanyoro : Au nom de toute l’Equipe de l’Association Togolaise « Femmes et Sida » (A.T.F.S.), Chaleureuses félicitations et bienvenue dans la famille du Fonds Mondial pour les Femmes qui a beaucoup soutenu et ne cesse de soutenir des programmes de femmes pour les Femmes/Jeunes Filles dans le monde. Puisse Dieu vous garder en très bonne santé afin que vous mettez vos expériences louables, votre capacité et votre dévouement en pratique à votre nouveau poste pour continuer et faire développer plus l’œuvre de votre prédécesseur. A Kavita Ramdas : Nous disons également félicitations et merci pour le travail abattu avec grand succès. Nous comptons bénéficier toujours de son soutien, où qu’elle soit. Bonne réussite au poste qu’elle aura à rejoindre. Pour l'A.T.F.S., Mme KOURA-NAPO Awoussi Eléonore Présidente de l'Association Togolaise "Femmes et Sida (ATFS B.P. 81644 Lomé - Togo Tél. (228) 231 01 79 (228) 905 15 60

  9. Marguerite YOLIBI KONE makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    bienvenue a Musimbi au nom du programme femme(WIPNET) de WANEP en Cote d'Ivoire. nous sommes convaincues que vos qualités seront mise a disposition pour épanouissement de la femme et de la fille dans le monde.nous espérons continuer notre partenariat gagnant pour la femme ivoirienne. bon courage dans vos nouvelles fonctions. Margurite YOLIBI KONE coordinatrice nationale West Africa Network for Peacebuilding in CÔTE D'IVOIRE 09 BP 3320 Abidjan 09 cellulaires: 05677677/ 67 20 75 15 / 05 99 67 10/ 08 14 22 48 Tel/Fax:+225 22 42 33 39 Email:wanepci@yahoo.fr /wanep-cotedivoire@wanep.org www.wanep.org

  10. Hannah Koroma (nee) Yambasu makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    I am overwhelmed! I met Musimbi in 1994 when she initiated a training package for the Lutheran World Federation. The training was geared toward empowering young women in leadership, human rights and decision-making. Musimbi drew women from 50 countries where Evangelical Lutheran churches were established. For what I am today emanated from that two years ice-breaking training that Musimbi pioneered. I am proud of you Musimbi - we have met again. GFW you made no mistake in appointing this motivator and dynamic woman - Her leadership style is very unique I can assure you. Bravo Musimbi and keep the fire burning as you use tell us during those trainings in Geneva and Kenya. You gave me an opportunity to maximize my potentials - and today am using it to the glory of God. Hannah Koroma National Coordinator Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society (WAVES) Sierra Leone West Africa

  11. Ngukwase Surma makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Welcome Dear Sister,We at Connecting Gender for developement(COGEN), Kaduna. Nigeria, look forward to fruitful years of working with you and the GFW to promote more open societies where women will not be on the margins. Ngukwase Surma Executive Director COGEN, Kaduna. Nigeria

  12. Irina Yanovskaya makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Dear Musimbi! Our congratulation, welcome to family of GFW with GFW partners We were wery glad to hear this news, We are sure that our joint work will be interesting and will help many girls and women in the world warm regards head of South Ossetian NGO "Journalists for Human Rights"

  13. Batanayi Dizha Matuku makes this comment

    Tuesday, 24 May 2011

    Dear good fellow, We're all truly pleased and inspired by your fine display of good works and invaluable dedication to social development. And we hope you will maintain the good gracious spirit and take this organization to greater heights never imagined. Stay blessed. Sincerely Social Analyst

  14. wadenya amenya makes this comment

    Wednesday, 25 May 2011

    karubi.and congratulation i look forward to meeting and working together.it is also a pleasure to see woken empower one another..f

  15. Cecilia Cárdenas makes this comment

    Wednesday, 25 May 2011

    Congratulations and welcome. I feel honored to be one of the Global Fund Advisors and be part of the important and valuable work that you will be guiding during the coming years.

  16. Nyambura Ngugi makes this comment

    Wednesday, 25 May 2011

    Congratulations on this appointment! Very inspiring to see that GFW continues to grow and I'm sure your experience will continue to make the organization what it is - a funder willing to take a 'risk' that investing in women makes good sense for democracy and development!. I wrote my first proposal to GFW while working in Kenya with a women's rights NGO over 10 years ago and they took the plunge to fund work to promote young women's leadership. Today developing young women's leadership is being embraced even more in Kenyan NGOs and the discourse on women rights. Young women are taking on leadership, getting involved in political processes as private citizens or leaders. I believe GFW's first grant helped contribute to this! Best wishes in your new appointment!

  17. Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI) makes this comment

    Wednesday, 25 May 2011

    Greetings and congratulation Madame Musimbi from your Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI) sisters in the Marshall Islands. We have no doubt that you will be a great asset to GFW and to all of us who have been receiving funds from GFW. All the best and we are looking forward to many fruitful years as you begin your new appointment.

  18. Selvi Memorial Illam Society makes this comment

    Wednesday, 25 May 2011

    Dear Musimbi, Warm Greetings from Selvi Memrial Illam Society, India! It gives us great pleasure to welcome you into our GFW family! Going through your profile we were awed by your experience, work done in various places and your dedication to women. We wish you good health, happiness and long life to continue your good work among women in difficult circumstances. Once more welcome and best wishes! Cheers! Louis

  19. Humaira Mumtaz Shaikh makes this comment

    Thursday, 26 May 2011

    Dear Musimbi, Welcome to Global Fund for women. And congratulation to GFW to have a dynamic women as part of your team. We at Shirkat Gah Women's Resource Centre, look for ward to your guidance and a vibrant relationship with you. Very Warmly, (on behalf of the Shirkat Gah team) Humaira

  20. Tulika Srivastava makes this comment

    Thursday, 26 May 2011

    Welcome Musimbi! We look for to building future collaborations and sharing our work to ensure the strengthening of the owmen's movement for rights globally and in South Asia!! tulika, Puja and Anisha for the SAWF team!
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