Name: Kofi Kankam
Current Positions:
- President and CEO, Elizka Relief Foundation
- Co-Chair, Africa Regional Mechanism of the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (ARMMGOS)
- Founder, African Network on Sustainable Development
- West Africa Organizing Partner, UN NGO Major Group
- Africa Regional Coordinator, Action for Sustainable Development Network
- Member, Ghana CSOs Platform Steering Committee
Professional Background:
Kofi Kankam is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Elizka Relief Foundation – www.elizkafoundation.org – an NGO accredited by ECOSOC, UNEP, UNFCCC, UNCCD, GCF, OPCW, ICAN, and VNOC. He currently serves as the West Africa Organizing Partner for the UN NGO Major Group, Co-Chair of the Africa Regional Mechanism for Major Groups and Other Stakeholders—representing the mechanism on the UN HLPF MGoS Coordination Mechanism—Africa Regional Coordinator for Action for Sustainable Development Network, and a member of the Ghana CSOs Platform Steering Committee.
Kofi has contributed in various capacities by serving as a moderator, panelist, facilitator, and more at key sessions of the Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development, High-Level Political Forum, and other notable events hosted by the UN, ECA, and AU. Moreover, he has served in the Expert Group Meeting on SDG 4 as part of the preparations for the 2022 United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Advisory Group for the inaugural 2022 UN Partnership Forum, and the working group for the workshop that explored sustainable development challenges. The outcome of this workshop contributed to the 2023 United Nations Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) and informed the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit (SDG Summit).
He has been leading the coordination and facilitation of the participation of MGoS in UN and ECA-organized events pertaining to the SDGs at both regional and global levels. With the key mission of Regional Facilitators being to coordinate and facilitate the engagement of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders in the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and its processes, Kofi brings extensive expertise and leadership to the role.
His wealth of experience in the sector, coupled with his deep interest in issues, policies, and practices related to climate change, SDGs, environmental sustainability, sustainable agriculture and food systems, and human rights, makes him one of the most qualified candidates for this position.
Key Skills & Expertise:
- Environmental governance & policy advocacy
- Civil society engagement & stakeholder coordination
- Sustainable development & climate resilience
- Disaster risk reduction & community empowerment
- International diplomacy & high-level negotiations
Mr. Kankam remains committed to fostering sustainable and inclusive development solutions across Africa. As Co-Chair of the African Regional Major Groups and Stakeholders (ARMMGoS), he will play a pivotal role in amplifying the voice of African civil society and strengthening its engagement in global environmental governance, fostering inclusive participation and advancing Africa’s environmental priorities on the international stage.
