Sarah Degnan Kambou
Encyclopedia
Sarah Degnan Kambou is president of the International Center for Research on Women
(ICRW), a global research institute that focuses on making women integral to alleviating poverty worldwide.
and received her education at the University of Connecticut
and Boston University
. She cofounded and for eight years served as a director of the Center for International Health in the Boston University School of Public Health
. While there, Kambou directed intensive training programs for international health professionals, managed BU’s collaborative programs with Tongji Medical University in China
and Tribhuvan University
in Nepal
, and consulted widely across South and Southeast Asia
.
Kambou later lived in sub-Saharan Africa
for more than a decade, where she managed programs for CARE (relief agency). There, Degnan Kambou focused on addressing social and economic vulnerability of marginalized populations, strengthening civil society in post-conflict settings and participatory development of underserved urban and rural communities. She also established the CARE country office in Cote d’Ivoire during the civil conflict and designed community-led reproductive health programs in post-conflict Rwanda
, Sudan
and Somaliland
.
Prior to being named president, Kambou served as ICRW’s chief operating officer, coordinating internal leadership and management functions, and leading the implementation of the organization’s restructuring and strategic review processes. Earlier, as ICRW’s vice president of health and development, she oversaw research in HIV
and AIDS
, reproductive health and nutrition as well as in gender, violence and women’s rights.
In 2010, Kambou was appointed by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to represent ICRW on the U.S. National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
).
Kambou was honored in 2010 with Boston University's School of Public Health's Distinguished Alumni Award for her contributions to the field of public health.
International Center for Research on Women
-Focus areas:ICRW research identifies women's contributions to their communities and the barriers – like HIV, violence, and lack of education – that prevent them from being economically stable and able to fully participate in society...
(ICRW), a global research institute that focuses on making women integral to alleviating poverty worldwide.
Biography
Kambou grew up in New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and received her education at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. She cofounded and for eight years served as a director of the Center for International Health in the Boston University School of Public Health
Boston University School of Public Health
Boston University School of Public Health is Boston University's graduate School of Public Health. It is located in the heart of Boston University's Medical Campus in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The Dean is Robert Meenan...
. While there, Kambou directed intensive training programs for international health professionals, managed BU’s collaborative programs with Tongji Medical University in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Tribhuvan University
Tribhuvan University
Tribhuvan University [त्रिभुवन विश्वविध्यालय] is a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest of the five universities in Nepal...
in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, and consulted widely across South and Southeast Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Kambou later lived in sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
for more than a decade, where she managed programs for CARE (relief agency). There, Degnan Kambou focused on addressing social and economic vulnerability of marginalized populations, strengthening civil society in post-conflict settings and participatory development of underserved urban and rural communities. She also established the CARE country office in Cote d’Ivoire during the civil conflict and designed community-led reproductive health programs in post-conflict Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Somaliland
Somaliland
Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
.
Prior to being named president, Kambou served as ICRW’s chief operating officer, coordinating internal leadership and management functions, and leading the implementation of the organization’s restructuring and strategic review processes. Earlier, as ICRW’s vice president of health and development, she oversaw research in HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, reproductive health and nutrition as well as in gender, violence and women’s rights.
In 2010, Kambou was appointed by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to represent ICRW on the U.S. National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
).
Kambou was honored in 2010 with Boston University's School of Public Health's Distinguished Alumni Award for her contributions to the field of public health.
Education
Kambou holds a doctorate in international health policy and a master’s in public health from Boston University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Connecticut.Expertise
Kambou is an expert in sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS and adolescent programming. She has worked in 26 countries and dedicated more than 25 years to addressing issues in the developing world.Publications
- "Exploring Dimensions of Masculinity and Violence"
- "Walking the Talk: Inner Spaces, Outer Faces, A Gender and Sexuality Initiative"
- "Gendered Empowerment and HIV Prevention: Policy and Programmatic Pathways to Success in the MENA Region"
Speeches and Statements
- "Education a Key for Girls in Developing World" G(irls)20 Summit in Toronto, June 16, 2010
- "A Message From ICRW President Sarah Degnan Kambou" July 7, 2010
External links
- International Center for Research on Women
- ICRW Facebook
- ICRW Twitter
- "Appointments: The International Center for Research on Women of the District named Sarah Degnan Kambou President", Washington Post, Jun-28, 2010
- "Toronto Hosts 'Girls20' Summit", Inside Toronto, Jun-16, 2010