Dr. James G. Njogu, HSC, PhD, MPhil, BSc
Secretary General & Board Secretary
Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM)
Dr. James G. Njogu is a distinguished environmental expert and public service leader with over two decades of experience in environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management. He holds a PhD in Social Geography from the University of Amsterdam (2003), a Master of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, and a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from Moi University.
Dr. Njogu has served extensively in both governmental and non-governmental organizations in senior leadership, research, and policy advisory roles. He brings a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, policy formulation, multilateral diplomacy, programme design, resource mobilization, and project management. Notably, he has played a central role in shaping Kenya’s position and engagement in global environmental governance frameworks. During his tenure at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Dr. Njogu provided national coordination for Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) related to wildlife and protected areas. He oversaw Kenya’s commitments under key international conventions as a focal point, including: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance; Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) among other CMS family agreements; and International Whaling Commission (IWC). He was also strongly involved in World Heritage Convention (WHC) – Natural Sites; Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). He has also held key management positions, including Natural Resources Manager at Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority and Acting Principal at the Kenya Wildlife Training Institute.
Dr. Njogu’s engagement with intergovernmental organizations has been equally extensive. He has been a leading figure in representing Kenya at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). From 2015 to 2019, he served as a Member of the UNESCO Executive Board, where he also chaired Group V(a) and the Committee on Non-Governmental Partners (NGP). He has been an active contributor to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), serving as Vice Chair of the Kenya MAB National Committee and a member of both the UNESCO Natural Science and Cultural Expert Committees.
Additionally, Dr. Njogu has provided leadership within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), serving as Chair of the IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Committee (2013–2016) and Chair of the IUCN Kenya National Committee. He has also contributed to national representation in the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), where he helped draft and negotiate resolutions of global environmental significance.
In his current role as Secretary General/CEO and Board Secretary at KNATCOM, Dr. Njogu continues to provide visionary leadership in promoting Kenya’s interests within the UNESCO framework, fostering international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication.