Equity Group Holdings Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi has been appointed to the South-North Commission on Development, joining a high-level panel tasked with reshaping cooperation between the Global South and Global North.

The announcement was made in Berlin on October 5 by the Commission’s co-chairs, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla.

James Mwangi emerges sole African business leader among 20 commissioners

James Mwangi is among 20 commissioners appointed to the independent body and is one of only two private-sector representatives. He is also the sole African business leader on the Commission.

The Commission brings together former heads of government, international organisation leaders, business executives, development experts, civil society representatives and academics from across the Global South and Global North.

Its members include World Bank President Ajay Banga, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, UN Development Programme Administrator Alexander De Croo and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege.

Commission to reshape global development cooperation

Backed by the German government, the South-North Commission on Development was established to examine how cooperation between the Global South and Global North can be strengthened amid changing global development and international relations.

The Commission will develop practical proposals addressing major global challenges while promoting cooperation across political and social divides.

Members will set the Commission’s priorities and programme of work through meetings and consultations held across different regions, including Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

The body will also engage governments, think tanks, research institutions and civil society organisations to gather perspectives and support its recommendations with research and analysis.

The Commission’s first meeting is scheduled for October 16–17 in Bangkok, where members are expected to agree on its priority areas and programme of work.

An interim document is expected in mid-2027, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Brandt Commission, while the final report is scheduled for publication at the end of 2028.

James Mwangi joins influential global leaders

James Mwangi’s appointment adds an African private-sector perspective to discussions on development, international cooperation and economic transformation.

James Mwangi, a top figure in the East African financial services industry, currently holds over 3% stake in Equity Group, equating to more than 127 million shares. Under Mwangi’s leadership, Equity Group has transformed from a struggling microfinance institution into one of Africa’s most expansive banking franchises. The lender now operates across 6 markets: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For Mwangi, the appointment adds to his growing international profile as the head of Equity Group, one of East Africa’s largest financial institutions, and places him alongside prominent political, business and development leaders shaping discussions on the future of global cooperation.