Macharia Kamau (b. 1958). A distinguished Kenyan diplomat and international civil servant known for his leadership in global policy, sustainable development, and multilateral diplomacy. [Luce Index™ score: 89]
Over a career spanning more than three decades, Kamau has served in senior roles at the United Nations, including as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2010–2018), President of the UNICEF Executive Board (2014), and Principal Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (from 2018).
He has been instrumental in shaping landmark global agreements, notably as Co-Chair and Co-Facilitator of the negotiations that produced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Kamau’s expertise spans political, development, and policy work, strategic planning, negotiation, and UN reform. He has also chaired the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, served as President of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and was Special Envoy for the U.N. Secretary-General on El Niño and Climate.
His consensus-building skills have earned him international recognition, including the Elizabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy and the Moran of the Burning Spear from the President of Kenya.
Macharia Kamau holds a Bachelor of Arts in History, Economics, and Religion from the College of Wooster (1982) and a Master of Education in Administration and Social Policy from Harvard University (1983).
He has worked across several regions, including Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and North America, in agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, and the U.N. Transition Assistance Group. Kamau has also contributed as an international consultant to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNAIDS, and is co-author of Transforming Multilateral Diplomacy: The Inside Story of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2024, Kamau was appointed Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Group, overseeing a $50 million annual allocation, reflecting his ongoing influence in global peacebuilding and international development. He is also a Commissioner at the International Science Council (ISC) in Paris, France. Kamau’s leadership is marked by a commitment to consensus, equity, and the integration of scientific and policy perspectives in global diplomacy.
See: My Classmate: From College of Wooster to the Global Stage (June 20, 2025)