Based in Dakar, Thierno Kane is the founder and leader of a number of grassroots organizations in Senegal, his native country, and has acted as advisor and activist for Civil Society Organizations in Africa and worldwide. He specializes in issues of popular participation and has extensive experience in tripartite dialogue and partnerships between Civil Society Organizations, governments and the donor community in Africa and internationally.
In 1998, Thierno launched the UNDP Regional Pilot Program “Civil Society Empowerment for Poverty Reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa” and led the program as Coordinator and Chief Technical Advisor. He served as Director of UNDP’s Civil Society Division in New York, and was the Executive Director and Chairman of CONGAD, a North/South umbrella organization for NGOs in Senegal. He is a former founding Secretary General of FAFD, a grassroots movement in Senegal, and is a founding member of ANAFA (Association Nationale pour l’Alphabetisation et la Formation des Adultes-Senegal). He participated in the creation of FAVDO (Forum of African Voluntary Organizations) and is also a former global Chair of CIVICUS (World Alliance for Citizen Participation).
Additionally, Thierno has served on the boards of a number of Civil Society Organizations and think tanks such as the International Group for Grassroots Initiatives (IGGRI-Mexico/New Delhi) and the Development Group for Alternative Policies (D-GAP-Washington). He is currently a board member of the Montreal International Forum and is also on the board of OSIWA (Open Society Initiative for West Africa). An adult educator by training, Thierno is the author of a wide range of articles on civil society issues.