Africa Bazaar Staff Writer | WORLD BRIEFS
At a moment when Washington is recalibrating its role in global development and governments worldwide are rethinking the architecture of foreign aid, global health and economic partnerships, ONE Campaign, a global advocacy group is turning to a veteran of American diplomacy and development policy to steer the organization through its next phase.
The group named Mark Green as its next president and chief executive officer, effective May 25, succeeding Ndidi Okonkwo-Nwuneli, who moved the organization through a period of organizational expansion and strategic restructuring.
The appointment comes as geopolitical competition, shifting aid priorities and pressure on multilateral institutions are reshaping the landscape for organizations working across Africa. Against that backdrop, ONE is betting on a leader with bipartisan credibility in Washington, deep ties across the development world and firsthand experience spanning government, diplomacy and global health policy.
Green, most recently president of the Wilson Center and previously served as Administrator of the now defunct U.S.Agency International Development (USAID), and was a four term member of Congress, where he helped shaped major development initiatives, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief and the Millennium Challenge Corporation—programs long viewed as pillars of U.S. soft power and engagement across Africa.
His appointment underscores the increasingly political environment global advocacy organizations now navigate as debates intensify in Washington over foreign assistance, health financing and America’s role abroad.
ONE, founded in 2004 by activists and business leaders including Irish rock musician Bono, for over two decades has focused debt relief for countries, health access and economic opportunity in Africa, helping secure more than $1 trillion in development commitments, according to the organization.
“Mark is an old friend of ONE’s core issues, a statesman with stellar credentials,” Bono said in a statement announcing the transition. “He is of politics but above politics, respected by both Republicans and Democrats in Washington DC, with a global network built while running USAID and in the U.S. foreign service.”
Bono added that the organization now needs “bodyguards for global health financing” alongside “pragmatic visionaries who can work as partners in rethinking global health systems”— language reflecting broader concerns among development advocates about shrinking aid budgets and growing uncertainty around international cooperation.
Green’s background appears tailored to that moment. Beyond Washington, he has longstanding ties to Africa, having served as U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, taught in Kenya and spent part of his childhood in South Africa.
“I’m honored to join ONE at such an important moment,” Green said. “Africa’s future is central to global progress, and I’ve seen firsthand the ingenuity and potential across the continent.”
The leadership transition also marks a new phase for Nwuneli, who led ONE through a period of operational and strategic transformation while expanding its footprint across Africa. She will remain on the organization’s board and chair a newly established committee focused on strengthening ONE’s presence on the continent, while also returning to her entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures in Nigeria.
“Ndidi deftly led ONE through a period of transformation, strengthening our strategy, systems and leadership while deepening our impact across Africa,” said Tom Freston, chair of ONE’s board.
Nwuneli said the organization enters the transition “from a position of strength,” citing a clear strategy, a strengthened leadership team and what she described as a proven track record of results.
