Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Zainab Oluwabukola Atta has eight years of experience in the humanitarian aid sector and nine years in the developmental sector. She holds an LLB from Ahmadu Bello University, a Bachelor’s of Law from the Nigerian Law School, a Postgraduate Diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria as well as certifications from the London School of Economics, Harvard Business Publishing, and Humentum. Zainab currently works with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an organization she has worked with since 2015 as a capacity building officer, a senior protection officer, a protection manager, and now a protection and rule of law coordinator. She works to ensure that the human rights of affected populations in Northeast Nigeria are protected and they receive support when they experience harm. Zainab serves as the Coordinator of IRC’s Women at work platform that promotes female IRC staff’s career growth and emotional well-being.

Mercy Njogu is an experienced HR professional currently serving as the Human Resource Manager for Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) in Nairobi, Kenya. With over eight years of experience in Human Resource Management, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a specialization in Human Resources from Moi University, a Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management from the Institute of Human Resource Management, and a Diploma in Business Administration from the Nairobi Institute of Business Studies. Her role revolves around ensuring that SHOFCO’s HR policies and procedures align with its goals and objectives. One of Mercy’s significant achievements at SHOFCO was spearheading a comprehensive HR review that resulted in organizational restructuring, job evaluations, and the successful implementation of a new pay structure. This initiative significantly enhanced employee engagement and satisfaction within the organization. Prior to her role at SHOFCO, Mercy worked as an HR and Administrative Assistant at the Kenya office of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and also dedicated her time as a volunteer HR professional at The Aga Khan University Hospital. As a leader, Mercy places a strong emphasis on the value of human capital and is deeply passionate about mentoring and empowering young girls, recognizing the transformative impact it can have on their lives and communities.

Jessica Sanchez was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and at a young age, she was sent to live in South Central Los Angeles, California, which became her home. Currently, she is working towards earning her High School Diploma at Twilight Charter High School with the intention of attending UCLA, where she plans to major in psychology. For the past six years, Jessica has been a Social Justice Advocate in the Government Relations Department of Homeboy Industries, focusing on serving the formerly incarcerated and underserved minorities in Los Angeles County and beyond. Her work revolves around empowering marginalized communities by facilitating the transfer of power to them. Notably, Jessica has led advocacy coalitions to successfully pass bills like SB731, which will provide over one million Californians with increased employment, housing, and other crucial opportunities. Through her efforts, she has established essential relationships with influential political figures who support Homeboy Industries’ mission as the world’s largest reentry organization for formerly incarcerated and gang-involved individuals. In addition, Jessica has managed voting flex centers, educating individuals on candidate research and policies to enable informed voting decisions, resulting in hundreds of first-time voters. She has also taken the lead in developing and facilitating educational classes that empower individuals and communities to advocate for their rights and navigate the legislative process.

Cynthia Changufu-Kalaluka has over fourteen years of experience in public health. Cynthia has a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Bachelor of Science Honors Degree in Pharmacology which she obtained from Leeds Beckett University and the University of the Witwatersrand respectively. She has worked for large international organizations such as Population Services International (PSI) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). She is currently working for PATH which she joined in 2016. Cynthia is particularly passionate about working with vulnerable populations that have been disadvantaged because of socio-economic status, gender, age, disability status, and those living with chronic conditions. Cynthia was born with Sickle Cell Disease (genotype: Haemoglobin SS), and she is passionate about raising awareness and advocating for improved services and management of the disease in her country of birth, Zambia.

Roman Shynkarenko has over five years of experience working in organizations dedicated to improving the social sphere within communities. Roman holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Dnipro National University in Ukraine. He currently serves as a Referral Officer at Humanity & Inclusion, where he collaborates with other organizations involved in humanitarian missions in Ukraine. Previously, Roman served as the Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk region organization of the political party “”UDAR Vitaliy Klitschko”” and worked as a manager at the company Operational Sociology. Throughout his career, Roman has been driven by a strong commitment to helping vulnerable individuals affected by the war in his country. His primary focus lies within the field of protection, as he currently works in the protection department at Humanity & Inclusion. Roman is dedicated to ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive the necessary support and protection they need in the aftermath of the conflict.

Lilian Nyalusi is a human rights lawyer who specializes in International Human Rights Law, with emphasis on refugee law and guiding principles on internal displacement. She has proven experience and knowledge on gender-based violence (GBV) and women’s rights. With over eight years of experience, she has been working with the Women’s Legal Aid Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council in Tanzania. Through her advocacy efforts she supported access to legal identity and documentation in Tanzania and women’s rights and GBV. She has engaged in various crossborder programs between Tanzania and Burundi in establishing effective partnerships with local organizations and other INGOs. She has also supported women’s housing, land, and property rights in Tanzania through provision of legal counseling and drafting. She provided capacity building trainings on Security of Tenure to the members of the Land Tribunals and relevant stakeholders, improved access to justice through a combination of support to traditional and formal develop programs that increase access to legal assistance and promote efficient use of alternative dispute resolution methods, especially related to land disputes, developed systems that link the informal and traditional systems to the formal legal system in the camps.

Dione Sharon has five years of experience in peacebuilding and humanitarian coordination programming. She has a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Social Science from the Protestant University of Central Africa and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Buea. She is also Certified in Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Management from the Pan African Institute for Development – West Africa and is an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiatives (YALI). She currently works as INGO Forum Officer, fostering coordination initiatives, collaboration, joint research, analysis, and advocacy among 24 international NGOs advancing emergency relief and development response within complex security contexts in Cameroon. Prior to this role, Sharon volunteered with the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network as a Program Consultant where she facilitated joint program coordination, collaboration, and learning for effective peacebuilding by youth organizations within the Network in Cameroon. Sharon previously led as the program team lead for a National Peacebuilding NGO, implementing peace and conflict management initiatives including USAID-funded community peace and security initiatives, peace research and policy, as well as community dialogue, and mediation processes. She is a lifelong learner, passionate, and committed to supporting collaboration and partnership in delivering humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding.

Astrid Leon, hailing from Puebla, Mexico, holds a degree in International Relations from the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla. Since 2021, she has served as the Director Assistant at Compañeros en Salud Mexico (Partners in Health). In this role, Astrid has played a part in establishing strategic communication with other NGOs, governmental agencies, and private entities to foster relationships and enhance cooperation. She has also been involved in the organization’s strategic planning and has contributed to various activities encompassing coordination and support across multiple areas. Astrid has further engaged in research projects at the National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (CONAVIM), exploring topics such as violence against women in prisons and identifying aggravating factors in femicides across Mexico’s justice system. With a deep passion for development cooperation, project development, migration, and child protection, Astrid remains dedicated to making a positive impact in these areas.

Lydiah Salome is a finance professional with 12 years of experience in accounting. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from Kenyatta University and is a Certified Public Accountant (Kenya). Currently serving as the Senior Finance Manager for Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) in Nairobi, Kenya, Lydiah has played a pivotal role in ensuring compliance and operational efficiency within the organization. Lydiah’s responsibilities encompass various aspects of financial management, including cash management, financial reporting, donor financial reports, payroll processing, compliance, and internal controls review and improvements. She is recognized as a reliable and supportive team member, who has earned trust from stakeholders and increased funding for SHOFCO through her diligent work. Lydiah is driven by her passion for teamwork, cohesiveness, and the empowerment of those living below the poverty line. Her ultimate professional goal is to influence operational decisions across functions and contribute to resource redistribution for the betterment of disadvantaged communities.

Sharaf Al-Faqawi, a Palestinian humanitarian worker, has fourteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Currently serving as the Gaza Area Manager at Humanity & Inclusion (HI), he is responsible for developing and implementing intervention strategies, proposal development, coordination of shared services, and security management. Previously, Sharaf held managerial and technical positions, including as the Inclusive Education Project Manager, where he focused on mainstreaming the educational needs of children with disabilities. He also worked as a Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy Officer, improving access to rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities and providing technical support to local partners. Throughout his career, Sharaf has been dedicated to addressing the basic and humanitarian needs of people affected by armed conflict in the region.

Sophia Tiajoloff is the Director of Special Events at Fountain House in New York City where she has built an organizational infrastructure to engage diverse audiences in support of funding innovative initiatives, pilot programs, and evidence-based strategies for people living with serious mental illness. Sophia graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Psychology, focusing in neuroscience and cultural health, and a minor in Russian Studies. During her years at Fountain House, Sophia played a critical leadership role and spearheaded an organizational funding strategy, tapping into new key audiences to support the expansion from a local to national organization when operations grew from a $6M to $16M budget. During a time when public demand and engagement grew at the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sophia led a COVID-19 emergency response fundraising campaign, built an engagement plan recognizing long-standing donors and developed new pathways for a more diverse donor base to engage in public events. Previously, Sophia has volunteered at organizations at the intersection of youth education and disability rights. Her experiences fostered a commitment towards disability rights, social justice work and mental health reform.

Daniel Ng’andu is a tech enthusiast who is passionate about making a community impact. He graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the Copperbelt University in Zambia in 2018 and is driven by the potential of technology to revolutionize healthcare delivery and improve the well-being of underserved populations. He actively engages in global and national technical working groups, such as the Digital Square Digital Health & Interoperability Working Group, the Ministry of Health M&E and Digital Health Technical Working Groups, and the Health Data Collaborative Digital Health & Interoperability Working Group. With over five years of experience as a software engineer, he has contributed to three transformative national projects, particularly in the tax and healthcare sectors. Currently, as a project officer at PATH Zambia he leads the Zambia Digital Community Health Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He seeks to bridge the gap between healthcare and technology, ensuring that communities benefit from digital tools and innovations.