A community of optimists hosted by Melinda French Gates

Angela Nguku, is the Founder and Executive Director for the White Ribbon Alliance (WRA), based in Nairobi, Kenya. A passionate maternal, newborn and adolescent health champion, her career spans over 14 years of dedicated work towards ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths globally and amplifying the voices of marginalized and vulnerable populations in Kenya, throughout Africa, and globally. Angela is politically astute and her proven track record of high-level accountability work has seen her engage with politicians at local, national and international levels; holding government duty bearers to account for commitments made on mothers and newborns.

Due to her unwavering dedication to her work, Angela was recently selected to be a member of the Global Action Plan for Healthier Lives and Well Being Civil Society Advisory Group. She is a member of the People’s Voice Advisory Board of the Lancet Global Health Commission on High Quality Health Systems in the SDGs Era, an advisory member of the Deliver for Good Campaign in Kenya, the CSO Accountability group of the Global Financing Facility in Kenya as well as a member of the Kenya SDGs forum. In 2018, Angela Nguku was nominated by Bill and Melinda Gates as a GOALKEEPER, joining a list of other key change makers across the world.

Due to her unwavering dedication to her work, Angela was recently selected to be a member of the Global Action Plan for Healthier Lives and Well Being Civil Society Advisory Group. She is a member of the People’s Voice Advisory Board of the Lancet Global Health Commission on High Quality Health Systems in the SDGs Era, an advisory member of the Deliver for Good Campaign in Kenya, the CSO Accountability group of the Global Financing Facility in Kenya as well as a member of the Kenya SDGs forum. In 2018, Angela Nguku was nominated by Bill and Melinda Gates as a GOALKEEPER, joining a list of other key change makers across the world.

Q&A


What are you most proud of?

Motherhood. It changed my outlook on life.

If you could go on long walk with anyone, who would it be?

My son. He always has a simple answer to every question, which helps me see the world needs simple answers to its problems.

Please share a favorite quote.

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel