James Mwangi appointed to South-North Commission on Development

James Mwangi, Group Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group Holdings, has been appointed to the South-North Commission on Development. The independent body, established by the German government, aims to redefine cooperation between the Global North and the Global South.

Presented in Berlin by Co-Chairs Olaf Scholz, former Chancellor of Germany, and Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica, the 20-member commission includes high-level figures such as the heads of the World Bank and the World Trade Organization, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme, and a Nobel Peace laureate. Mwangi is one of only two business leaders selected and is the sole representative from Africa.

The commission, which features a majority of members from the Global South, will meet for the first time in Bangkok in October. It is scheduled to present interim findings in 2027 and a final report at the end of 2028. These recommendations are intended to shape the global development agenda following the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Mwangi stated that his goal is to move beyond the lens of aid to focus on Africa as a source of growth, innovation, and investment.