Kofi Annan: A Champion for Development, Security, and Human Rights

Kofi Annan was the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations, serving two terms from 1997 to 2006, and was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff. In 2001, Annan and the United Nations were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the citation praising his leadership for “bringing new life to the organization.”

Since leaving the United Nations, Annan has continued to work for better policies to meet the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, with a strong emphasis on Africa. Through the Kofi Annan Foundation, he remains active in mediation and conflict resolution activities, and is a strong advocate for good governance, the rule of law and human rights. In early 2008, Annan led the African Union’s Panel of Eminent African Personalities, which negotiated a peaceful resolution to Kenya’s political crisis following disputed elections in 2007.

Annan is the Li Ka Shing Professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. He is also chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Africa Progress Panel (APP), and an active member of The Elders. Annan is a board member, patron, and fellow of a number of organizations and universities, including the United Nations Foundation.

How did your personal experience as an international student studying at Macalaster College in Minnesota, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, influence your personal philosophy and career?

By my early twenties I was