Brian Kagoro

MD Programs & Africa Geo Lead Open Society Foundations

Brian Kagoro is Managing Director of Programs and the Africa Geo Lead at the Open Society Foundations. He oversees a diverse portfolio of programmatic opportunities, helping to deliver on Open Society’s strategic goals and ensuring that the Foundations’ full portfolio of work remains balanced, inclusive, future-focused, and transformative. Brian previously served as Director of Justice and Intersectionality, responsible for guiding Open Society’s global work to advance democratic freedoms and ensure accountability for human rights abuses. In that role, he developed and led the Foundations’ strategy to redress abuses of power that undermine democratic practices and rights, and to advance policies that recognize and secure equal rights and just outcomes for underserved communities, including innovative initiatives on caste, racial, and gender justice. Brian brings more than 25 years of strategic leadership experience across international, regional, and intergovernmental organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme, ActionAid International, and several African Union institutions. His extensive work and activism in the areas of transitional/restorative/reparative justice, human rights, social justice, international development, and accountability allow him to lead from a place of deep knowledge and empathy.