ONE announces the appointment of Mimi Alemayehou to the organisation’s board

The ONE Campaign is pleased to announce the appointment of Mimi Alemayehou to its board.

Mimi has long been a friend and partner to The ONE Campaign. She was a key player in Power Africa, the energy access initiative that was codified in law through the “Electrify Africa Act” during the Obama administration, an initiative for which ONE campaigned. At that time, she served as the Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), appointed by President Barack Obama. Prior to that she served as the U.S. Executive Director on the Board of the African Development Bank, appointed by President George W. Bush.

Gayle Smith, President and CEO of ONE said: ”We are incredibly lucky to have Mimi join our team. She’ll bring an exciting new voice to the Board, rich with experience, insight and determination.”

Tom Freston, Chair of ONE’s Board, said: “On behalf of the Board, and our supporters around the world, it is a great privilege to welcome Mimi Alemayehou. As we enter a new decade, we stand at a crucial time in the fight against extreme poverty, preventable disease and injustice. Mimi’s deep African network and experience will bring us considerably more power to that fight.”

In an exclusive blog written for the ONE Campaign, Mimi Alemayehou said: “People, not programs or budgets or statistics, are the essence of what ONE stands for. The key to ending poverty is realizing that development isn’t about charity or top-down interventions. It’s about empowering people and ensuring they have access to the tools to build their own better future. This belief is at the heart of everything that ONE does, which is what makes it such a compelling organization.”