Perched at the tech x policy x global governance intersection, from which I’m observing and analysing the impact of digital technologies on societies— our cultures and (geo)politics in particular — while looking out for emerging dynamics (even though there might be nothing new under the sun).
Thinking out loud, on Twitter especially, LinkedIn and Medium sometimes, and curating highlights here.
Formal Bio: 👇🏾
Nanjira Sambuli is a researcher, policy analyst and strategist studying the unfolding, gendered impacts of digitalization/ICT adoption on governance, diplomacy, media, entrepreneurship, and culture, especially in Africa.
Nanjira is a nonresident scholar (previously a Fellow) in the Technology and International Affairs Program at The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a Ford Global Fellow. She is also a board member at Development Gateway and Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) and a Diplomacy Moderator at the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA).
Nanjira led policy advocacy to promote digital equality in access to and use of the web at the World Wide Web Foundation (2016-2020). She previously worked at the iHub in Nairobi, where she provided strategic guidance for growth of technology innovation research in the East Africa region. She served as a board member at The New Humanitarian (2018-2023), Commissioner on the Lancet & Financial Times Global Commission (Governing Health Futures 2030), panel member on the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation (2018-19), as a member of DFID’s Digital Advisory Panel (2017-2019), as a trustee at UK Citizens Online Democracy (mySociety) (2016-2019), and as a deputy on the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel for Women’s Economic Empowerment (2016-17), and on advisory roles such as at the Carnegie Council’s AI and Equality Initiative and the <A+> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms.
In recognition of her work, Nanjira was named one of New African Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Africans in 2016, BBC’s 100 Inspiring and Influential Women in 2019, CIO East Africa’s 30 Most Influential Women in Tech in 2020, and Apolitical Foundation’s 50 Influential Researchers Whose Work Could Shape 21st Century Politicians in 2022.