Wanjira Mathai is a formidable force in environmental advocacy, dedicated to advancing sustainable and equitable development across Africa and beyond. With over two decades of leadership experience, she has become a global voice for climate resilience, restoration, and social justice.
She is the Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute (WRI), where she drives strategies that center Africa’s role in shaping global solutions. In this role, she directs attention, research, and funding to climate-vulnerable communities while championing inclusive green growth.
Wanjira has led landmark initiatives throughout her career: she served as Chair of the Green Belt Movement, the pioneering grassroots organization founded by her late mother, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai. She has championed women entrepreneurs in renewable energy, and is at the forefront of a pan-African movement to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Her influence extends across global policy and advocacy networks. She is the Chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation, serves on the Leadership Council of the Clean Cooking Alliance, and sits on the High-Level Group of the Africa-Europe Foundation and the European Climate Foundation Advisory Council.
Named to Time’s list of the 100 Most Influential African Women in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024, Wanjira’s work continues to elevate Africa’s role not as a continent to be saved, but as a partner with the power to lead. Her vision is rooted in restoring land, trust, and dignity—while unlocking the bold, green future Africa deserves.
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