Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella is a distinguished development economist and an expert in agricultural economics with over 30 years of experience. He currently serves as the Energy Sector Lead and Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, and the Energy Governance Coordination Group (EGCG) in Sierra Leone. In these roles, he oversees the Ministry of Energy's operations, leads the development of the Mission 300 Compact, and provides strategic guidance for the national Clean Cooking Strategy and Delivery Unit.
A former Member of Parliament (MP) in Sierra Leone and the Pan African Parliament, Dr. Yumkella is also the founder and CEO (on leave) of The Energy Nexus Network (TENN), a regional ecosystem hub for sustainable energy solutions.
Leadership in Sierra Leone's Energy and Development Sectors
As the Energy Sector Lead in Sierra Leone, Dr. Yumkella provides managerial and technical oversight for the Ministry of Energy. This includes overseeing the operations of key entities like the Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency (EDSA), Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC), and Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC). He plays a crucial role in tackling Sierra Leone's persistent electricity challenges, such as unreliable and unaffordable power, inefficiencies in transmission and distribution, and inadequate sector governance. His responsibilities extend to offering strategic guidance, providing catalytic support for immediate issues, facilitating necessary policy and institutional reforms, and directing investment promotion initiatives to enhance the sector's capacity and sustainability.
Furthermore, as Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), Dr. Yumkella leads and coordinates nationwide efforts on climate change, renewable energy, and food security. This involves the development, management, and strategic alignment of public policy and national development efforts to achieve climate resilience, access to sustainable energy solutions, and food security.
His political and ministerial experience in Sierra Leone includes serving as Minister for Trade, Industry and State Enterprises from 1994-1995, where he guided policy formulation, deregulation, and promoted private sector and SME development. He also facilitated market reforms and Sierra Leone's accession to the African Regional Standards Organization (ARSO). More recently, he served as a Member of the Pan-African Parliament of the African Union from 2018-2020 and has been a Member of Parliament in Sierra Leone since 2018.
Global and United Nations Contributions
Dr. Yumkella has an extensive background within the United Nations System, spanning two decades. He served as Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) and founding Chief Executive Officer for the SE4All Initiative from 2013-2015. In these roles, he brought critical attention to global energy issues and coordinated the UN's response, mobilizing action towards a sustainable energy future. He successfully engaged with high-level stakeholders across government, business, academia, and civil society to advocate for universal access to sustainable energy. He also co-chaired the High-level Group on Sustainable Energy for All and chaired UN-Energy from 2008-2015, uniting various UN organizations on energy-related matters.
Prior to this, Dr. Yumkella completed two four-year terms as Director-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) from 2005-2013. He was the first person from Sub-Saharan Africa to hold this position. Under his leadership, UNIDO was at the forefront of addressing global challenges such as poverty, job creation, wealth creation, and climate change. The organization saw unprecedented growth in its programs and became the largest provider of trade-related technical assistance to developing countries within the UN system. He was a strong advocate for cleaner production and played a significant role in helping countries phase out ozone-depleting substances. He also held various high-level policy positions within UNIDO, including Special Adviser to former Directors-General.
His broader global advocacy emphasizes strengthening productive capacities to combat poverty, promoting pro-poor sustainable industrial and agribusiness development, and highlighting the link between "energy poverty" and "income poverty." He frequently serves as a consultant, a member of global commissions and advisory boards, and a speaker at major international forums on trade, development, climate change, and energy issues.
Academic Background, Research and Accolades
Dr. Yumkella's foundational expertise stems from his academic career. Between 1987 and 1996, he held various academic positions at Michigan State University and the University of Illinois. As a development expert and former assistant professor, he possesses extensive research and teaching experience in agribusiness management and international agricultural development and trade. His publications include numerous articles, book chapters, staff working papers, and policy briefs covering critical development issues such as economics, international commodity trade, structural transformation in African agricultural and industrial sectors, rural development, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability. He maintains strong connections with academic and research institutions globally and has lectured at universities worldwide.
His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois, USA (1991), an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University, USA (1986), and a B.Sc. in Agriculture (Division One, Cum Laude) from Njala University College, Sierra Leone (1982).
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Yumkella has received numerous international awards and honors, recognizing his profound contributions to global development and energy. These accolades include multiple honorary doctorates from prestigious universities, the Hans Carl von Carlowitz Sustainability Award, the African Utility Week Power Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, the Development Champion Award, the Order of Merit of the Austrian Republic, and the Energy Efficiency Visionary Award, among many others. His commitment to global leadership is further underscored by his memberships and leadership roles on various prominent international commissions and advisory boards, including the Sustainable Energy for All Advisory Group, the International Advisory group for the World Energy Congress, and the IEA Global Commission on Energy Efficiency.
