Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella is a distinguished Sierra Leonean politician, economist, and global advocate for energy access, sustainable development, and economic transformation. With a career spanning decades in international diplomacy, governance, and policy-making, he has played a pivotal role in shaping energy and environmental policies at both national and global levels.
Dr. Yumkella currently serves as the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security (PI-CREF) in Sierra Leone, a strategic body established to drive national efforts in climate resilience, clean energy transition, and food security policies. He also chairs the Energy Governance Coordination Group, where he leads initiatives to strengthen Sierra Leone’s energy sector governance, renewable energy adoption, and regulatory frameworks.
Early Life and Education
Born into a family deeply rooted in public service, Dr. Yumkella is the son of Haja Binta Yumkella, an active member of the Fullah Progressive Union, and Alhaji Kolleh Yumkella, a respected community leader. He pursued his higher education in the fields of agricultural economics and development studies, earning degrees from Njala University (Sierra Leone), Cornell University (USA), and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA), where he obtained a PhD in Agricultural Economics.
International Leadership and Contributions
Dr. Yumkella gained global recognition as the former Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) from 2005 to 2013. During his tenure, he championed inclusive and sustainable industrial development, poverty reduction, and global trade policies to benefit developing nations.
In 2013, he was appointed as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). In this role, he spearheaded global efforts to ensure universal energy access, energy efficiency, and renewable energy adoption, which became a key pillar of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Honors and Legacy
Dr. Yumkella’s contributions have earned him numerous awards and international recognitions for his work in energy, development, and economic policy. His induction into the National Fullah Progressive Union – Sierra Leone in 2025 further underscores his deep cultural heritage and lifelong commitment to community empowerment.
With a vision for a prosperous and energy-secure Africa, Dr. Yumkella remains an influential voice in global energy policy, economic transformation, and sustainable development.