Sharifah Mwajabu
Uganda (Host: Global Fairness Initiative)Sharifah is a monitoring and evaluation practitioner with over ten years of experience in implementing and managing emergency response, developmental and social impact programs while working with non-profit, international, and private sector organizations in and outside Uganda. She has an Economics and Statistics degree from Kyambogo University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation and pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom. Recently worked with ChildFund International’s Global operations unit as Lead Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor under the Come Play with Me Project implemented in Brazil, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Uganda aimed promoting playful parenting and COVID-19 practices amongst caregivers of children 0-8years. Over 60% of caregivers had increased playful practices and understood their role in children’s development, with higher recorded frequencies in playing with toys/games, reading a book or story book, sing songs with their child compared to the baseline period. 98% of caregivers could identify more than three practices to lessen the severity of COVID-19. While working with War Child Canada, she worked closely with Curriculum Development Centre during the development of the Accelerated Education Program curriculum for Lower secondary and piloted a roll-out project targeting out-of-school dropouts and refugees (16-35+yrs) youth in Adjumani district, Uganda. 83% of the 3,500 enrolled learners successfully graduated with the necessary competencies and scores to join the formal education program, 56% of the youth had been trained in life skills and vocational livelihood ventures and with 20% of them operating their small-scale enterprises.
Host Organization: Global Fairness Initiative
Role at Host Organization: As a Project Management Fellow, Sharifah will support GFI’s work to improve the working and economic condition of workers in the informal sector in multiple counties in Africa. The Fellow will support the Tunisia-based Regional Director and the US-based Program Manager to manage program activities and grant management of 2 separate initiatives in 6 counties. The Fellow will walk away with technical grant and management skills, including budget tracking and
project reporting, partner management, performance and project monitoring, and foundational knowledge on issues related to livelihood development and decent work for working poor communities in the informal economy.
Sharifah Mwajabu
Uganda (Host: Global Fairness Initiative)Sharifah is a monitoring and evaluation practitioner with over ten years of experience in implementing and managing emergency response, developmental and social impact programs while working with non-profit, international, and private sector organizations in and outside Uganda. She has an Economics and Statistics degree from Kyambogo University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation and pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at Liverpool John Moores University in United Kingdom. Recently worked with ChildFund International’s Global operations unit as Lead Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor under the Come Play with Me Project implemented in Brazil, Honduras, Ethiopia, and Uganda aimed promoting playful parenting and COVID-19 practices amongst caregivers of children 0-8years. Over 60% of caregivers had increased playful practices and understood their role in children’s development, with higher recorded frequencies in playing with toys/games, reading a book or story book, sing songs with their child compared to the baseline period. 98% of caregivers could identify more than three practices to lessen the severity of COVID-19. While working with War Child Canada, she worked closely with Curriculum Development Centre during the development of the Accelerated Education Program curriculum for Lower secondary and piloted a roll-out project targeting out-of-school dropouts and refugees (16-35+yrs) youth in Adjumani district, Uganda. 83% of the 3,500 enrolled learners successfully graduated with the necessary competencies and scores to join the formal education program, 56% of the youth had been trained in life skills and vocational livelihood ventures and with 20% of them operating their small-scale enterprises.
Host Organization: Global Fairness Initiative
Role at Host Organization: As a Project Management Fellow, Sharifah will support GFI’s work to improve the working and economic condition of workers in the informal sector in multiple counties in Africa. The Fellow will support the Tunisia-based Regional Director and the US-based Program Manager to manage program activities and grant management of 2 separate initiatives in 6 counties. The Fellow will walk away with technical grant and management skills, including budget tracking and
project reporting, partner management, performance and project monitoring, and foundational knowledge on issues related to livelihood development and decent work for working poor communities in the informal economy.
Anthony Akwenyu
Uganda (Org: Norwegian Refugee Council)Anthony Akwenyu is an economist and development policy professional with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. He currently serves as the Chief of Party for the Norwegian Refugee Council-led Resilience program in southern Sudan, overseeing a $30 million USD program focused on livelihoods and food security, disaster risk reduction, nutrition, gender-based violence, conflict resolution, and early warning systems. Previously, he held senior positions in programs implemented by Save the Children, World Vision, and worked as a consultant for organizations such as War Child Holland, and CARE International. Through his work, Anthony has gained expertise in program management, stabilization efforts, education, food security, and data analysis. He holds a Bachelor of Statistics and Applied Economics degree from Makerere University, Uganda, and a MIT MicroMaster’s certificate in Data, Economics, and Development Policy. Anthony’s areas of passion within the nonprofit sector include empowering children, women, and youth, and he currently resides in Juba, South Sudan, where he enjoys building strong relationships with his colleagues and sharing laughter.
Deogratias Agaba
Uganda (Org: PATH)Agaba Deogratias has more than sixteen years of experience developing, coordinating, and implementing large-scale advocacy, social and behavior change, and public health policy campaigns and programs. He holds a master’s degree in Public Health Leadership, a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a Diploma in Performing Arts. He has worked with PATH since 2015. Initially, he led both the communications and community empowerment aspects of the $20 million USAID-funded Advocacy for Better Health project, where he led successful campaigns such as the “Drug Stock-Out Kills, Stop It!” campaign, the “Sing for Change” campaign, and others. He later moved to the Advocacy and Public Policy project, where he serves as Senior Communications Officer, managing communications for a project in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, consisting of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa. The project focuses on primary health care, immunization, medical oxygen, reproductive health, maternal, newborn and child health, and research and development. Prior to joining PATH, Agaba worked as a Behavior Change Communication Advisor for the USAID-funded Strides for Family Health project, where he promoted demand for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health in up to 15 Ugandan districts. Previously, he worked as a journalist in both mainstream media and at a local youth-focused NGO, Straight Talk Foundation. There, he won the Nuffic Fellowship to train in production for radio, TV, and the Internet at the Radio Nederlands Training Center in Hilversum, the Netherlands.
Patricia Ainembabazi
Uganda (Host: The Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition)Patricia Ainembabazi has more than nine years of experience in both non-profit, private and public sectors, leveraging expertise in policy advocacy, strategic communications, project management, report writing and public relations. She holds a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) in Tanzania and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Nkumba University in Uganda. She’s also completed a Masters’ in International Law, from Middlesex University in the UK. Over the years, Patricia has been engaged in policy Advocacy for Human Rights and Rule of Law at the regional level with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Union), as well as the Pan African Lawyers Union in Arusha Tanzania, both experiences that have led to successful judicial reforms to several African governments, NGOs and individuals. Prior to serving in policy advocacy and community management for judiciaries at the regional level, Patricia worked as a news reporter with the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC-Tv) and well as trading with VOLCAFE specialty Uganda. Informed by a deep understanding of current affairs, Patricia’s main interests are political theory, human rights, international public law and international relations. Prior to serving as an Atlas Corps Fellow, she worked as the Engagement Manager at Reteno & Associates, in South Africa, where she to drove several policy shaping projects as well as community development, with an admirable success rate, ranging from the promotion of civic space and reviewing laws that infringe on basic human rights in sub-Saharan African countries.
Host Organization: FACT Coalition
Role at Host Organization: At FACT Coalition, Patricia will be serving as the Research and Advocacy Fellow. Patritia will join a small FACT Secretariat team and will contribute to the achievement of the Coalition’s 2021-22 strategic outcomes. The position is a hybrid post that combines the Atlas Corps’ tracks on research and writing, communications, and policy and advocacy.
Pearl Gahwera
Uganda (Host: Advocates for Youth)Pearl Gahwera has over three years of experience of brand management in advertising, marketing, communication, and public relations, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Finance) from Makerere University Business School, Uganda. For the past 4 years, Pearl has been a full-time volunteer at 40 Days Over 40 Smiles Foundation (4040), a youth-led non-profit organization in Uganda, which supports children in vulnerable communities to improve their learning outcomes. Through her work as the Head of Communications at 4040, she has provided strategic and implementation support towards the organization’s work like the Angaza Literacy Program, which supports 300 children annually to improve their learning outcomes, and the Angaza Learning Centre. Pearl recently transitioned into the Angaza Learning Centre Project Lead role where she oversaw the planning for the set-up of the learning centre as well as liaised with the community leaders where the centre is scheduled for set-up. Previously, Pearl worked at Scanad Uganda, an advertising agency, where she supported 3 brands to improve their products, communications as well as growth in the industry. Pearl is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community in Kampala for the outstanding work she is doing towards social impact in Uganda. From these opportunities, Pearl has developed outstanding leadership skills, project planning and implementation as well as great communications and marketing skills. She is interested in education, unemployment, gender inequality and civic education.
Host Organization: Advocates for Youth
Role at Host Organization: At Advocates for Youth, Pearl will be serving as an AMAZE Global Partnerships Fellow: Assisting in efforts to maintain, expand, and facilitate communications and partnerships associated with Advocates’AMAZE International work.
Ainemagara Isa
Uganda (Org: Heifer International)Ainemagara Isa is from Kampala, Uganda. He is a graduate of Agriculture from Makerere University and pursuing a Master’s degree in Agribusiness. He has 10 years of experience in local economic development. Ainemagara currently works with Heifer International where he provides leadership to a consortium project titled “Learn for Agribusiness Project” implemented in partnership with Edukans. Under this project, he has established farmer institutions that enable 3,200 farmers and 7200 secondary beneficiaries to receive critical services and inputs for sustainable development. He previously worked with Edukans where he led the agri-skills program, bridging employment opportunities for out-of-school youth through designing curricula and training programs. He worked with Alliance One Uganda as an Extension Technician where he led the company’s technical skilling program. Isa built the capacity of 800 farmers enabling the company to achieve its business targets. He worked with World Vision Uganda as a Market Facilitator where through his engagement skills, 4000 smallholder farmers accessed markets with Aponye (U) Ltd among other services. He worked with Excel Hort Consult as a Value Chain Specialist where he helped the organization invest in relevant value chains through conducting informative analyses and capacity building of its staff and partners in Uganda and East Africa. Ainemagara is passionate about sustainable environmental development and youth business inclusion. He is a member of several platforms such as Agri-Pro Focus, Youth and Agro-Ecology Business and Learning Track in Africa, as well as Markets in Crises under the SEEP network.
Erina Nafula
UgandaErina Nafula has eight years of experience in the IT systems Integrator sector and two in the business sector. Erina is pursuing a Master in Business Administration from Cavendish University Uganda and earned a Bachelor’s in Engineering (Hon) Electronics majoring in Telecommunications from Multimedia University, Malaysia. She is a member of ISACA and a Certified Information Systems Auditor. Erina is the Chief Operations Officer and co-founder at JjengoTech Limited, a tech startup incorporated in Uganda. JjengoTech Limited’s primary business is a fintech and an e-commerce platform that provides merchants with a virtual address and access to a vast customer base and allows for the convenience of contactless transactions. In this role, her responsibilities have included the design and implementation of business strategies, team leadership, performance measurement and management, daily operations, and financial management. She is also currently serving as a Solution Architect-IT at The Copy Cat Limited, where, for the last eight years, she has developed mission-critical infrastructure solutions for businesses effectively addressing the IT networking, server-builds, network, and cybersecurity pain points with significant financial yields for the company. She volunteers in Rotary serving in several leadership capacities from the local Club to the District as the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Vice-chair 2019-2021. Through these experiences, she has developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills and honed her creativity and innovativeness. She is passionate about technology, adult literacy, and youth leadership.
Aaron Aliu
Uganda (Host: American Red Cross)Aaron possesses about four years of progressive experience in developing data infrastructure software solutions. He has hands-on experience overseeing the design, development and maintenance of various database systems. He supports War Child Holland in Uganda as the IT Supervisor. In October 2017 he joined PATH, an international organization for global health innovation, as a Software Engineer Research Fellow on Health Systems under the USAID Advocacy for Health Fellowship. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and is also pursuing his Postgraduate degree online in Data Science. His professional history also includes positions such as M&E Database Engineer Research Fellow, Oxfam Database Developer, and Software Engineer. He supported a civil society organization locally known as Jinja Area Communities Federation to develop digital web monitoring and evaluation systems, plus a child participation database, during the twelve month placement period. The monitoring and evaluation systems supported collaboration of regional actors together with data and operations units from all projects. The effective new approach and channel of strengthening and tracking health units performance was linked to the organization performance data in thematic areas of HIV/AIDS and maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). He enjoys solving large, complex data problems in the process of building and determining a solution.
Host Organization: American Red Cross
Role at American Red Cross: At The American Red Cross, Aaron will serve as a Disaster Preparedness ICTs Fellow: supporting coordination and dissemination of innovative programs of the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) and contributing to the GDPC’s knowledge management efforts.
Carolyne Namusisi
Uganda (Host: Spark Microgrants)Carolyne has over eight years of experience in the nonprofit sector and earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Sports and Leisure Management from Kyambogo University Uganda as well as a Post Graduate degree in Monitoring and Evaluation from the Uganda Management Institute. While working as a Senior Program Manager at STiR Education, an education-focused nonprofit in Uganda, she participated in the Uganda National Teachers’ Union, Government and District Education Leadership to create teacher networks for both primary and secondary schools aimed to improve learning outcomes within the Central, Northern, and West Nile regions of Uganda. Previously, Carolyne worked with a health insurance company where she contributed to the research and development of a more affordable medical insurance package targeting low-income families and communities. She is passionate about education, economic development, and youth and gender empowerment.
Host Org: Spark Microgrants
Fellow role at Spark Microgrants: Carolyne will serve as a Partnerships Fellow and support in partnership development through prospecting new funding opportunities, grant writing and managing external communications.
Joshua Eyaru
Uganda (Host: Center for Technology & Workforce)Joshua has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration majoring in Nongovernmental Organizations Management at Kampala International University and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. In 2014 he co-founded Youth for Reconciliation and Leadership, a community based organization in rural Serere promoting peace and digital skills. Acting as Head of Communications and Partnerships he is responsible for acquiring partners, finding new local and international partners within his first six month. Joshua works part-time as a digital skills trainer, helping over five thousand young people with the Google Digital Skills for Africa project under the Ujamaa Tribe. Previously he worked as the IT Support Staff and Google Suite Administrator at Kampala International University. Joshua is an alumni of the Young African Leaders Initiative, a flagship program of President Obama. Over time he has developed skills in grassroots mobilization and improved his cultural intelligence. As he continues to work within the nonprofit sector, Joshua desires to learn new skills in managing growth, volunteers, stakeholder expectations and managing conflicts.
Host Org: Center for Technology & Workforce
Fellow role at Center for Technology & Workforce: Joshua will serve as a Program Manager, working to create events, resources and studies that will help get more people into and retained in tech and tech-enabled careers, preparing them for future employment.
Pheonah Wamayi
Uganda (Host: Voice of America)Pheonah is a journalist with over seven years experience in media development programs. She earned a bachelor’s degree of Arts in Languages with a major in Communication from Uganda Christian University. As the Program Assistant for Center for Media Literacy and Community Development (CEMCOD), Pheonah is a key player in the implementation of the Community Media Project in Uganda, a project that amplifies youth voices in the development agenda of their communities. Working directly with young people she mentors, monitors and trains them in community media strategies. In February 2018, she led a team of selected Community Reporters to a three month exchange program to Zimbabwe, where she oversaw reporters as they shared community initiative practices. Pheonah recently worked on a project that documented the life stories of girls who dropped out of school due to pregnancy, advocating for the retainment and reeducation of these teen mothers. In 2016, she participated in the US Department of State funded Community Solutions Fellowship program, where she demonstrated outstanding leadership in the field of transparency and accountability, earning a Learning Solutions Award from George Mason University. While at her host organization Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, she coordinated the Social Media department for the Swahili division, where she helped to improve two News programs (KwaUndani, VOA Express), to appeal to the younger social media consumers.
Host Organization: Voice of America
Role at Host Organization: Pheonah will conduct research and embark upon independent news reporting assignments. This will include script writing, video editing, and multimedia report and programming