Yumiko KANEMITSU's work focuses on developing countries, and she has been working in Africa on projects related to as refugees, children living on the streets and urban community development. She started her career with a German NGO, where her work was related to the role of NGOs in developing and implementing local and international environmental policies. In Germany, the high level of consciousness towards the environment inspired an ongoing interest in the impact of environmental degradation on health. Y. Kanemitsu studied social anthropology and international politics in Japan and in the United Kingdom.