Kankwenda Mbaya Justin was born on June 20, 1945. Throughout his distinguished career, he served in numerous leadership positions in academia, government, international development, and diplomacy.
He worked for the United Nations as Deputy to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region from 2003 to 2005. Prior to that, he served as United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in several African countries, including Burundi, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria. He also held the positions of Division Chief and Chief Economist for UNDP Africa in New York.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his home country, he served as Professor at the University of Kinshasa and the School of Journalism from 1980 to 1988, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Scientific Research from 1980 to 1981, Special Adviser to the Minister of Planning from 1984 to 1985, and Vice-Minister for National Economy and Industry from 1985 to 1986.
Kankwenda Mbaya Justin published extensively on development issues affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Africa, including agriculture and food security, industrialization, poverty eradication, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, governance, and international development cooperation. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the Congolese Institute for Development Research and Strategic Studies (ICREDES/CIDRESS) and worked as an international consultant for United Nations agencies, including UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, and the World Food Programme, as well as the African Union, African institutions and organizations, African governments, and other international organizations.
He earned a PhD in Development Economics from the National University of Zaire, a Master's Degree from the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning in Dakar, and a Bachelor's Degree from Lovanium University in Kinshasa.
Kankwenda Mbaya Justin was the recipient of several decorations and honors from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria in recognition of his contributions to development, public service, and international cooperation.
