Topics: Development Policy
Environment and Climate Change
Economy
Regional focus: Global
Sub-Saharan Africa
Origin: Kenya
Fellowship: Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow

James Shikwati is an expert in development economics in Africa. He is the founder and director of the Inter Region Economic Network (IREN), a think tank developing ideas and strategies to enhance quality of life for people in Africa. James Shikwati is also the founder and CEO of the online business opinion magazine The African Executive and country director of Enactus Kenya, a program present in 33 Kenyan universities (public and private).

James Shikwati is a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Aid by Trade Foundation based in Hamburg. He serves on a Pan Africa Select Committee that networks African think tanks, research institutes and scholars keen to evaluate Africa’s engagement with China and other emerging economies. James Shikwati has authored several books and hundreds of commentaries. He co-edited the book “Geological Resources and Good Governance in Sub Saharan Africa” and edited “China – Africa Partnership, The quest for a win-win relationship.” He received the Jack Shewmaker Leadership Award 2015 for his commitment to introduce African youth to entrepreneurial mindset from Enactus International and The Walter Scheel Prize 2015 for commitment to international development cooperation from the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung and the Freundeskreis Walter Scheel e. V. He was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2008.

He received his university degree in education in 1995 from the University of Nairobi.

Last updated: 2018