Benedict Sorie Kanu
Benedict Sorie Kanu (born May 5, ? in Sierra Leone) is the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for South Sudan. Mr. Kanu is an Agricultural Economist with more than 24 years of international professional experience, including designing, managing and evaluating agricultural programmes. At least 23 years of such experience was gained in serving the African Development Bank (AfDB) in various capacities spanning multiple countries and regions of Africa.
Early Life and Education
Mr. Kanu attended Saint Francis Secondary School in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture General from the Njala University Colleague, University of Sierra Leone, followed by a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Arizona, U.S.A.
Career Highlights and Progression
In 1997, Mr. Kanu was recruited by the African Development Bank as a Senior Agricultural Economist in the Country Department South Region. He was promoted in 2005 to the position of Principal Agricultural Economist in the Sector Department covering the North, East and South Regions. Subsequently, Benedict served the AfDB in Uganda, first as Country Programme Officer of the Uganda Country Office from 2005 to 2009, and for 1 year thereafter, as Officer-in-Charge (O-I-C) and CPO. In his capacity as O-I-C, Benedict provided strategic leadership, advice and managerial oversight to the Country Office, identified new business opportunities for the Bank, as well as supervised a country portfolio comprising 26 national, and multi-national investment projects with financial commitments valued at USD 1.1 billion and over 12 AfDB staff and consultants. He ensured constructive policy dialogue and aid coordination between the Government of Uganda and the international donor community, in the Bank’s capacity as Chair of the Water and Sanitation Sector Development Partners Group that comprised 14 development partners and NGOs including France, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, EU Delegation, USAID, World Bank, UNICEF, Water Aid, Uganda Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, and the International Rescue Committee.
In 2009, Benedict was promoted to the Lead Agriculture Officer in the Bank's Agriculture and Agro-industry Department. His duties included coordinating AfDB agricultural and agribusiness partnerships with the World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), African Union Commission (AUC), Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO), World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), IDH-Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, and international non-profits/Civil Society Organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation, OXFAM, Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP). As Lead Agriculture Expert, Benedict simultaneously held the position of O-I-C of the African Union (AU) initiated Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) for 7 years; AFFM being a special multi-donor initiative hosted and administered by the Bank. He supervised staff and consultants, led resource mobilization, defended the interests of the AFFM, and was instrumental in ensuring that the AFFM became operational.
In January 2018, Mr. Kanu was appointed as the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for South Sudan. In this capacity, he is the advocate of the Bank in the host country, oversees the Bank’s investment operations comprising a current country portfolio with financial commitments valued at USD 158 million, spearheads new business development, as well as leads and manages the policy dialogue and relationships between the African Development Bank, the host government, and other partners.
Awards/Honours
African Graduate Fellowship (AFGRAD) Award, 1988.
Work Related Residence and Travel Within Africa
Lived/worked in Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Tunisia, Sierra Leone, Kenya and South
Sudan.
Multiple project cycle field missions to 30 countries out of 54 in all five regions of Africa.
Early Life and Education
Mr. Kanu attended Saint Francis Secondary School in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Subsequently, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture General from the Njala University Colleague, University of Sierra Leone, followed by a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Arizona, U.S.A.
Career Highlights and Progression
In 1997, Mr. Kanu was recruited by the African Development Bank as a Senior Agricultural Economist in the Country Department South Region. He was promoted in 2005 to the position of Principal Agricultural Economist in the Sector Department covering the North, East and South Regions. Subsequently, Benedict served the AfDB in Uganda, first as Country Programme Officer of the Uganda Country Office from 2005 to 2009, and for 1 year thereafter, as Officer-in-Charge (O-I-C) and CPO. In his capacity as O-I-C, Benedict provided strategic leadership, advice and managerial oversight to the Country Office, identified new business opportunities for the Bank, as well as supervised a country portfolio comprising 26 national, and multi-national investment projects with financial commitments valued at USD 1.1 billion and over 12 AfDB staff and consultants. He ensured constructive policy dialogue and aid coordination between the Government of Uganda and the international donor community, in the Bank’s capacity as Chair of the Water and Sanitation Sector Development Partners Group that comprised 14 development partners and NGOs including France, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, EU Delegation, USAID, World Bank, UNICEF, Water Aid, Uganda Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, and the International Rescue Committee.
In 2009, Benedict was promoted to the Lead Agriculture Officer in the Bank's Agriculture and Agro-industry Department. His duties included coordinating AfDB agricultural and agribusiness partnerships with the World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), African Union Commission (AUC), Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Inter-African Coffee Organization (IACO), World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), IDH-Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, and international non-profits/Civil Society Organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation, OXFAM, Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP). As Lead Agriculture Expert, Benedict simultaneously held the position of O-I-C of the African Union (AU) initiated Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) for 7 years; AFFM being a special multi-donor initiative hosted and administered by the Bank. He supervised staff and consultants, led resource mobilization, defended the interests of the AFFM, and was instrumental in ensuring that the AFFM became operational.
In January 2018, Mr. Kanu was appointed as the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for South Sudan. In this capacity, he is the advocate of the Bank in the host country, oversees the Bank’s investment operations comprising a current country portfolio with financial commitments valued at USD 158 million, spearheads new business development, as well as leads and manages the policy dialogue and relationships between the African Development Bank, the host government, and other partners.
Awards/Honours
African Graduate Fellowship (AFGRAD) Award, 1988.
Work Related Residence and Travel Within Africa
Lived/worked in Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda, Tunisia, Sierra Leone, Kenya and South
Sudan.
Multiple project cycle field missions to 30 countries out of 54 in all five regions of Africa.
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