WIPO GREEN Welcomes Philip Thigo as WIPO GREEN Ambassador for Kenya

An award-winning technology and public policy leader, Philip Thigo has been appointed WIPO GREEN Ambassador for Kenya in January 2026.  From pioneering initiatives and technology platforms like the Budget Tracking Tool, Huduma and Uchaguzi, to building networks that span government, industry, academia and civil society, Ambassador Thigo has consistently championed sustainability, transparency and responsible technology adoption.

Ambassador Thigo’s work has significantly shaped inclusive innovation, digital governance, and technology‑driven development across Africa and globally. As Special Envoy on Technology in the Executive Office of the President of Kenya, he shapes national and regional strategies that transform innovation into economic opportunity and sustainable development. His appointment to the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence positions him at the forefront of global conversations on ethical AI governance, ensuring that emerging technologies serve humanity equitably.

His extensive cross-sector influence and proven commitment to leveraging technology for inclusive development make him a powerful voice in advancing green innovation in Kenya, as well as across Africa and globally.

We connected with Ambassador Thigo to discuss how his new role will advance the diffusion of green technologies as part of our ongoing Ambassador interview series.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you think sustainable development is important?

I serve as Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, working at the intersection of innovation, economic transformation and international cooperation. Over the past two decades, I have worked across government, multilateral platforms and technology ecosystems to support digital transformation that delivers tangible development outcomes, including job creation, productivity growth, resilience and expanded opportunities for citizens.

My work has been guided by a simple principle: technology is meaningful only when it improves human well-being and strengthens the resilience of our planet. From early civic technology platforms that enhanced transparency to my current work shaping sovereign AI strategies, the focus has remained consistent — using technology to address real societal challenges.

A defining concern for me has been the risk of what I often call “outsourcing intelligence.” Historically, many developing economies exported raw materials and imported finished goods. In the AI era, there is a risk that countries export data and import finished intelligence. Digital sovereignty requires building capability across the full innovation stack so countries are not limited to being consumers of systems designed elsewhere.

In Kenya, sustainable development is not abstract. It is directly tied to food security, water resilience, and future-ready employment for a young, innovative, and rapidly growing population. Our youth possess inherent creativity that, when paired with technology, becomes our greatest natural resource. The climate and digital transitions are structurally linked, and countries that align them will help shape the next phase of global economic growth.

This work is aligned with the vision of His Excellency President William Ruto, whose focus on digital transformation and environmental sustainability positions green growth as a driver of economic opportunity and long-term competitiveness.

2. What unique role can Kenya’s innovation ecosystem play in advancing global climate and environmental goals?

Kenya is increasingly demonstrating that digital transformation and environmental sustainability can advance together as mutually reinforcing development pathways. We are uniquely positioned to lead because of three distinct factors:

A Hub of Policy and Practice: Kenya is widely recognized for its leadership in digital public infrastructure and mobile financial innovation. At the same time, hosting the United Nations Environment Program’s headquarters places us at the center of global environmental science. This combination enables us to design climate solutions that are scientifically grounded, digitally scalable and economically viable.

A Hub of Innovation and Talent: Our ecosystem is powered by a young, creative and entrepreneurial population that sees technology as the primary tool for solving development challenges. Its activities are underpinned by Kenya’s strong democratic credentials, which provide the stability, transparency and predictability needed for long-term technology investments and global R&D partnerships.

Supply Chain Diversification and Green Growth: Kenya shows that green growth can be operationalized. With a high share of renewable energy on our grid, we provide a strong foundation for AI-enabled grid optimization and climate-smart agriculture. This also positions Kenya as a critical partner in supply chain diversification. As global industry seeks sustainable, low-carbon, digitally integrated and politically stable manufacturing hubs, Kenya offers a compelling alternative for climate technology production and green services.

When climate solutions are integrated into digital payments and national data platforms, they reach populations at scale nationwide. Kenya is contributing to a global consensus: climate technology for developing economies is most effective when co-developed with those regions, rather than merely deployed within them.

3. What are your top priorities during your term as a WIPO GREEN Ambassador?

My priorities focus on accelerating the transition from climate ambition to climate implementation across five areas:

• Accelerating the reach of technology: Many green technologies already exist, but are not reaching the places where they are most needed. I want to strengthen pathways for co-development, local manufacturing and applied research partnerships to ensure that technologies are adapted to local contexts.
• IP as Trust Infrastructure: In a global innovation economy, intellectual property (IP) serves as trust infrastructure. Well-designed IP systems reduce technology transfer risks and build the confidence innovators need to share their breakthroughs.
• Strengthening the Innovation-to-Finance Pipeline: Many climate technologies face scaling challenges due to financing gaps. Clear IP ownership and licensing frameworks can help unlock blended finance and catalytic capital by reducing investment uncertainty.
• Building Talent Ecosystems: Technology transfer must be accompanied by capacity-building. Sustainable innovation depends on training on local research, technical skills and entrepreneurial ecosystems so that technology takes root permanently.
• Strengthening South–South Collaboration: Many climate solutions will emerge from countries with similar climate and development realities. IP-enabled licensing and joint commercialization models can help scale these solutions efficiently across developing regions.

4. Why do you think innovators and industry leaders use the WIPO GREEN platform?

WIPO GREEN represents an important model for collaboration in an increasingly interconnected innovation landscape: sovereignty in an era of interdependence.

Technological sovereignty today does not mean isolation. It means the ability to retain strategic independence while participating meaningfully in global innovation systems — contributing knowledge, protecting value and accessing technology through trusted partnerships. Independence and interdependence are no longer opposites; they are mutually reinforcing.

In the climate transition, innovation leadership depends on the ability to translate research into industrial capabilities.

WIPO GREEN supports a model of climate innovation in which developing countries are not only sites for technology deployment, but also sources of innovation, intellectual property and industrial capability.

In this role, I am guided by Kenya’s national development vision under President Ruto’s leadership, which recognizes digital transformation, environmental sustainability and industrial competitiveness as the pillars of a modern and resilient economy.