Amb Martin Kimani named new Executive Director of New York University Center on International Cooperation

Kenya’s outgoing UN Ambassador, Martin Kimani has been named the new Executive Director of New York University Center on International Cooperation (CIC), effective June 3, 2024.

While accepting the offer, Amb, Kimani said honored to join New York University Center on International Cooperation and its brilliant staff to build ambitious partnerships.

“I’m deeply honored to join New York University Center on International Cooperation and its brilliant staff to build ambitious partnerships that deliver real-world impact.” Said Amb Kimani.

Adding that: “I’m especially excited by the university’s world-class researchers. Sarah Cliffe has been an inspirational leader and I look forward to building on her legacy.

The New York University described Amb. Kimani as an accomplished diplomat and organizational leader noting that he will bring exceptional global peace, security, and development expertise to the institution.

“Martin Kimani brings many years of experience in international diplomacy, crisis prevention, and the links between peace, justice, equality, and inclusion at the highest level,” said Sarah Cliffe, the outgoing Executive Director of CIC.

According to the University, his ability to build bridges and identify strategic opportunities to strengthen multilateral action will be a great benefit to CIC, the United Nations, and the International Financial Institutions in the current period of high geopolitical tension.

Ambassador Kimani has been the Permanent Representative and Head of Kenya’s Mission to the United Nations (UN) since December 2020.

He represented Kenya in the Security Council, serving as its President in October 2021, and chaired the Executive Board of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

He also served Kenya as Special Envoy for Countering Violent Extremism, as the Director of the National Counter Terrorism Centre.

Amb. Kiamni made important contributions to securing peace and security in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and supported a successful initiative to accelerate East African Community integration.

He has served as the Permanent Representative to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). As Director of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism, he led efforts in cross-border conflict prevention and resolution in the Horn of Africa.

Ambassador Kimani holds a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London, and his distinguished service to Kenya has been recognized twice by the President, with the awards of the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear and the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear.

CIC, a nonprofit research center within Arts and Science at NYU, is a prominent advocate for international cooperation to prevent crises and promote peace, justice, and inclusion and a leading global think tank on multilateralism.

NYU says, Kimani’s appointment heralds a new era of innovation to produce practical, principled, and evidence-based action to address the world’s most pressing challenges.