People
In Memoriam: our friend and colleague Piers Cross
Piers Cross, one of the most influential global activists in the water sector, passed away on March 29, 2017. Piers Cross worked in the World Bank’ s Water and Sanitation Program( WSP) for over 20 years in different positions, including Global Manager and Regional Director for Africa and South Asia.
The late Piers Cross
He also played crucial roles in other water global agencies such as UNICEF, UN-HABITAT, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the UNDP, as well as donor agencies, governments and NGOs.
Piers always had the poor very close to his heart. He was a dynamic and personable man as well as an innovative, out-of-the-box thinker who believed profoundly in the participatory process when developing sanitation projects. His career was full of highlights and achievements, and not just for what he did, but how he did it. He mentored younger colleagues, challenged his peers and managed to inject a sense of fun and adventure into discussions that nonetheless tacked serious issues.
Those who had the privilege to work with Piers also recall his love for his family: his wife, Lynda, his four children, his grandchildren, and a seemingly overflowing house full of extended family and friends. We join them all in our grief that Piers is no longer by our side, but a desire to celebrate and remember his remarkable life.
We are deeply grateful to Piers Cross for paving the way towards a water-secure world for all. We have lost a much loved friend and colleague. His legacy will not be forgotten.
Carole Wamuyu Wainaina, named Chief Operating Officer for Africa50
Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform capitalized by the African Development Bank, 23 African countries, and two African Central Banks, is pleased to announce the appointment of Carole Wamuyu Wainaina as Chief Operating Officer.
Carole Wamuyu Wainaina
She will lead a multi-disciplinary team on the non-investment side of the organization, including Investor Relations, Strategy, Communications, HR and Administration, and Environmental and Social Governance.
“ I am delighted to welcome Ms. Wainaina to Africa50,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Africa50. She has substantial private sector experience and recognized global organizational leadership and team building skills”.
A Kenyan, Wainaina is a well-respected senior executive with global experience in the private and public sectors at senior levels, including strategy formulation, leading multidisciplinary teams, and driving organizational change. Before joining Africa50, she served as the Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources of the United Nations, leading transformational initiatives for the Secretary General and member states. Prior to joining the United Nations in 2014, Ms. Wainaina held senior positions for more than two decades at multinational corporations in Turkey, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Kenya.
She served for three years on the Executive Committee of Royal Philips in the Netherlands as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Prior to this, she worked for 13 years at Coca-Cola in senior roles, including Chief of Staff of the Chairman and CEO, Group HR Director Eurasia and Africa, and President of the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation. She started her career at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Kenya. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of Southern Queensland in Australia.
UNDP Executive Board welcomes appointment of Achim Steiner as new Administrator
Apr 19, 2017
UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. Photo courtesy of David Fisher / Oxford Martin School.
New York – The President of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme( UNDP) today welcomed the appointment of Achim Steiner as the Organization’ s new Administrator.
Mr Steiner’ s nomination for UNDP Administrator was forwarded by Secretary-General António Guterres to the General Assembly, which today confirmed him as the Administrator of UNDP for a term of four years. UNDP supports countries around
Achim Steiner the world to eradicate extreme poverty, strengthen good governance and prevent and respond to crises.
President of the UNDP Executive Board, Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN, said:“ I know that I am speaking on behalf of all members of the Executive Board and all UNDP staff in warmly welcoming Achim Steiner as UNDP’ s new Administrator.
“ Achim Steiner brings a wealth of experience, expertise
28 Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • May- June 2017