The Expert Mechanism serves as an advisory body that advances the right to development worldwide. It works to ensure that development processes are fair, inclusive, and human rights-based, allowing individuals and communities to participate meaningfully and benefit from growth. For Africa, where legal recognition often outpaces implementation, this body offers a critical platform through which to influence global development policies.
For Prof Kamga, the appointment represents more than recognition; it is a chance to bring his convictions about justice and the rule of law to the global arena. “This means a lot to me because of the notion of the right to development itself, which calls for global justice and relies on the rule of law to confront poverty. It is my firm belief that the rule of law should tackle poverty and empower everyone to have a flourishing life,” he explains.
Shaping global policy from a local base
Prof Kamga’s work at the United Nations (UN) will involve research, thematic studies, and international cooperation aimed at strengthening the legal recognition and implementation of the right to development. “Professionally, it is great to be an actor at the global level, where I will represent African states and the UFS. My exposure and engagement with the discourse at the global level will inform my teaching, research, and engaged scholarship in the academic space, where I will also remain locally relevant.”
The role comes with both opportunities and challenges. While the right to development is enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, corruption, nepotism, and weak constitutionalism often hinder its implementation. International policies also sometimes limit African countries from fully realising this right. Prof Kamga sees these challenges as a call to enhance cooperation, participation, and the adoption of the Covenant on the Right to Development.
“This appointment is a fantastic opportunity for the visibility and international standing of the UFS, which automatically becomes a space for research in global policies and flourishing lives,” he says. It also opens doors for collaboration, with experts he engages with at the UN potentially joining the university’s teaching and research ecosystem.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Prof Hester C. Klopper described the appointment as a reflection of Prof Kamga’s scholarship and the university’s mission. “We are proud to see Prof Kamga take up this important role within the United Nations system. His appointment speaks to his scholarly contribution and reinforces the University of the Free State’s commitment to shaping knowledge that advances justice, inclusion, and sustainable futures.”