Equity Group Holdings Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Mwangi has been appointed to the South-North Commission on Development.
The announcement was made in Berlin on October 5 by the Commission’s Co-Chairs, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla.
“It is the societies of the Global South that will shape our 21st century. They share a vision of what fairer international relations should look like and what that could mean for international development. Our Commission is uniquely positioned to bring these visions together. At the heart of this Commission is a clear conviction: global cooperation must deliver for the people,” Laura Chinchilla said.
The Commission will focus on strengthening cooperation between the Global South and Global North on development and international affairs.
James Mwangi Named to South-North Commission
James Mwangi is among 20 Commissioners appointed to the body and is one of two representatives from the private sector. He is the only African business leader on the Commission.
The Commission brings together heads of major international organizations, former government leaders, business executives, civil society representatives and experts in development and international cooperation.
Its members include World Bank President Ajay Banga, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, UN Development Programme Administrator Alexander De Croo and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege.
Former senior government officials from South Africa, Senegal, Indonesia, Spain, Brazil, Uruguay and Germany are also part of the Commission, with a majority of its members drawn from the Global South.
The Commission is co-chaired by Olaf Scholz, former Chancellor of Germany, and Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica.
Scholz served as Germany’s Chancellor from 2021 to 2025, while Chinchilla was Costa Rica’s President from 2010 to 2014.
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What the Commission Is All About
Established with the backing of the German government, the South-North Commission on Development is an independent body focused on rethinking cooperation between the Global South and Global North.
Its membership brings together political leaders, heads of international organizations, business executives, academics, labour representatives and civil society figures from different regions.
Members will jointly set the Commission’s agenda and identify priority areas related to international cooperation and global development, drawing on perspectives from both the Global South and North.
Meetings will be held in different parts of the world, alongside regional and global consultations with governments, think tanks, research institutions and civil society organizations.
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Its first meeting is scheduled for October 16 and 17 in Bangkok, where members will agree on the Commission’s priority areas and programme of work.
An interim document is expected in mid-2027, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Brandt Commission, while the final report is scheduled for publication at the end of 2028.
Through its work, the Commission will develop joint, practical proposals to address global challenges and strengthen international cooperation.
The Commission is expected to:
- Develop joint proposals on international cooperation and global development.
- Examine ways of addressing major global challenges through cooperation between the Global South and Global North.
- Encourage cooperation across political and social divides.
- Hold meetings in different regions of the world.
- Conduct regional consultations in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
- Engage think tanks and research institutions to support its work with studies and analysis.
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