Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Densley Awa Awafong is a humanitarian aid worker with over twelve years of experience in both the development and humanitarian sectors. He has always had focus on both programs and field operations; optimizing productivity, efficiency, and service quality across various environments. He is a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in the Social Sciences and a Master’s degree in international relations from the Protestant University of Central Africa. He is currently serving at the International Rescue Committee (Cameroon Program) as Senior Field Manager for the past four years. His position entails managing the IRC’s Northwest Region field office with an oversight of all operations and supply chain functions. This includes Safety and Security Protocols, Procurement, Finance, Warehousing and Asset Management, Fleet Management, and Office Administration. Through his leadership and dedication, backed by strong work ethic and excellent breadth of experience in aid programs, the visibility of the organization has met with much positivity. This, because of the highly impactful programs implemented which are geared towards meeting the needs of the most vulnerable. He is very passionate about integrating in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team of Humanitarian aid workers. His strives are to provide life-saving emergency assistance to people living in some of the most inhospitable environments. As a result, he has worked effectively with cross functional teams in local NGOs and International NGOs such as Plan International and INTERSOS in ensuring operational and service excellence.

Grace Namukonde Kayamba is a graduate from the University of Zambia, the National University of Ireland-Galway and the University of Lusaka. She is 43 years old and lives in Lusaka-Zambia. Grace obtained her Bachelor of Arts with Education degree at the University of Zambia in 2005. She later did the Cambridge International Diploma in Project Management with the University of Cambridge-International Examinations in 2009. Grace went on to do further studies at the National University of Ireland-Galway where she studied Gender, Globalisation and Rights and graduated in 2013 with the Second-Class Honours Grade 1. In 2019, Grace graduated with a Master of Science degree in Project Management at the University of Lusaka. Grace joined the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) in 2007 as a Program Officer-Education and has been climbing the ladder to Senior Program Officer, Training Manager, Education Manager and currently serving as a Program Manager. As a Program Manager, Grace plans, coordinates, and oversees the implementation of projects in Education and Young Women Empowerment programs. She provides technical support to the Monitoring and Evaluation team on project evaluations and research. Grace sat on the ZANEC Board as Vice Board Secretary and Gender and Equity Chairperson. Grace has over the years managed different donor contracts ensuring that projects are managed as per donor requirements. Grace represents the organization in various stakeholder high level meetings and networks with other Civil Society organizations and government ministries. Before joining CAMFED, she worked with HODI on a UNHCR Refugee Project as a SGBV/HIV/AIDS Coordinator.

Sunday Nyebe, a 36-year-old professional based in Nigeria, holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Water Resources Engineering from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, and is currently pursuing his Master of Engineering in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Maiduguri. He has demonstrated a successful career as a versatile Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Environmental Health specialist with a strong track record in strategic program development, advocacy, team and financial management. Serving as the WASH/Environmental Health Coordinator for the International Rescue Committee Nigeria Country Program since June 2023, Sunday oversees seven concurrent WASH projects with funding from various institutional donors, including BHA, FCDO, GAC, SIDA, ECHO, UN-OCHA, New York Times, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His responsibilities involve strategic program development, advocacy, partnership building, and effective monitoring and evaluation. Sunday has excelled in emergency response management, coordinating with various stakeholders, and demonstrating effective team management skills. His expertise extends to previous roles, such as Project officer for Water Security at Catholic Relief Service and WASH Program Manager at Action Against Hunger, where he managed multimillion-dollar budgets and led diverse teams in addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene needs in conflict-affected regions. Sunday has continuously expanded his skills through various trainings, and he is an active member of professional engineering organizations in Nigeria. Passionate about humanitarian programming and water-related issues, Sunday is committed to leveraging his skills and experiences contributing to sustainable solutions in the WASH sector and address the complex challenges faced by communities affected by conflict.

Ahmed Abdullah, a 30-year-old humanitarian professional from Anbar Governorate, Iraq, holds a Master’s degree in Geophysics from Baghdad University, where he excelled as a top performer. With eight years of experience in conflict-affected settings, Ahmed specializes in strategic design and relationship management. Currently serving as a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator at NRC, Ahmed oversees MEL plans for multiple projects, designs data collection tools, and conducts capacity-building workshops. Prior roles include Monitoring & Evaluation Officer and Protection Monitoring and Capacity Building Officer, where he demonstrated his expertise in ensuring data accuracy and supporting vulnerable  populations. Ahmed is fluent in Arabic, proficient in English, and possesses excellent coordination, communication, and leadership skills. Committed to professional development, he has undergone training in Safe Inclusive Programming and Hostile Environment Awareness. Known for his ability to work under stress and maintain confidentiality, Ahmed is dedicated to making impactful contributions to humanitarian efforts.

Isaac Gonzales has four years of experience in the field of providing re-entry services to a population that is at high risk and underserved. During this time, he obtained an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology, an Associate of Arts degree in Behavioral Sciences, and an Associate of Arts degree in Humanities. Currently, he is actively pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at California State University of Los Angeles. In his capacity as a Case Manager and Community Health Worker at Homeboy Industries, he has been responsible for providing re-entry services to individuals who are marginalized and disadvantaged. Isaac is a highly experienced system management expert who has worked with Homeboy Industries, the Justice Care of Opportunities Department of Los Angeles County, and IBM to create a platform that connects persons to social services. Through this platform, a wide range of people whose lives are negatively impacted by social injustices will gain access to a variety of services. Isaac’s primary goal is to achieve the empowerment and inspiration of individuals, ultimately challenging and overturning preconceived ideas and beliefs.

Afroza Mahzabeen Anannya has seven years of experience in the field of climate and environment in the humanitarian and development sector and earned her MSc degree in International Environmental Studies from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. As a technical professional at the Norwegian Refugee Council, she focused on capacity building of national and regional centers working with Climate and weather information and bringing scientific and indigenous community knowledge together to build climate resilience. Afroza is passionate about tackling climate change issues and is highly motivated to drive solution-oriented work to tackle the climate crisis the world is facing at present. As Thematic Manager for Climate Services, Afroza has collaborated with various organizations in different continents, undertaken several field missions, and led several climate change-related projects. Throughout her experience in past years, she has developed program and project management skills as well as operational skills to bring research and operational aspects together.

Samuel Asare-Danquah is a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) specialist with a diverse background in Monitoring and Evaluation, Accounting and Finance, Marketing, and Energy Economics. He has a varied career history in monitoring and evaluation, research, market research account management, and consulting. With two Master’s degrees in Energy Economics and Accounting and Finance from prestigious institutions in Ghana, Samuel has continually sought to enhance his knowledge and expertise in the field. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM – UK) with a Chartered Marketer status and a member of CIM-UK. With over fifteen years of experience working with multinational institutions, Samuel is a passionate MERL professional and strategist. His career journey has seen him grow from an M&E officer at CAMFED Ghana to his current role as Head of MERL, where he provides strategic guidance, ensures the functional integration of MERL activities into program design, and oversees the implementation of cross-team projects. Prior to his role at CAMFED, Samuel also worked as a market research executive at Kantar Ghana, where he managed key accounts such as BAT, Diageo, MTN, and Coca Cola. A natural leader, Samuel has successfully led diverse teams of professionals on various projects, showcasing his ability to drive performance and deliver results.

Victor Ayara is a lawyer with diverse experiences spanning from private, public and the humanitarian sector. With more than six years experience in humanitarian and development world, he has worked in several contexts assisting conflict and displacement affected population access and enjoy their rights with the view to achieving durable solutions. Considering the centrality of land in conflicts and displacement in both emergency and development context, Victor has proficiently utilized his lawyering skills to assist conflict and displacement affected people claim and exercise their housing, land and property rights, as well as their legal and civil identity rights by providing appropriate information, counseling and facilitating legal assistance to them. He has been a field staff with firsthand experience providing humanitarian relief under diverse portfolio of donor funding from German, UK, Swiss, and Norwegian government projects. With vigor passion and competence, Victor has now advanced into the mid-management position as the Information Counseling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) Coordinator, positioning him as the head and the leader of his team and department. He is presently charged with the task of coordinating the affairs of his team towards achieving his overall organizational objective of rights respected and people protected. Victor enjoys adventure, reading and has fulfillment in exhibition of true leadership and seeing smiles on people’s faces.

Khalida Khalo Lazgeen brings over eight years of experience in the non-governmental sector, focusing on humanitarian initiatives. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Duhok in Iraq. Khalida’s career path led her to serve as a program officer within the social and economic empowerment program at Women for Women International in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In this role, she dedicated herself to supporting marginalized women across various districts and villages, fostering their social and economic independence by helping them establish their businesses and amplify their voices. Back in 2018 she worked in a position as a protection project manager at a local organization, collaborating with NPA organization, Khalida furthered her mission by assisting survivors of war and conflict, particularly those affected by ISIS and gender-based violence in Nineveh. Throughout her journey, Khalida honed her project management and coordination skills, along with team collaboration and communication abilities. With a deep-rooted passion for gender equality, Khalida sees herself as an advocate for women’s rights, aspiring to witness all women empowered to live peaceful and fulfilling lives, enjoying their rightful place in society.

Timsur Christopher Iliya is a seasoned social worker and conflict management specialist with over a decade of dedicated service in championing the welfare and empowerment of vulnerable populations, particularly orphans and children facing crises. With extensive experience in process and program development, child protection, and transformative peacebuilding, he serves as the Case Management Officer at SOS Children’s Village Programme Ogun, where he plays a pivotal role in implementing gate-keeping procedures, ensuring the fulfillment of basic needs, and providing comprehensive support to caregivers. His leadership and management skills have proven instrumental in optimizing resources and achieving organizational objectives effectively. His commitment to social justice is evident in his prior role as a Class Teacher, where he fostered a conducive learning environment while actively combating child abuse and exploitation. Passionate about child protection, case management, psychosocial support, and community development, Timsur actively engages in initiatives promoting family strengthening, holistic development, and gender equality. Grounded in academic excellence, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and International Studies from the esteemed University of Jos, Nigeria, complemented by a Master’s Degree in Conflict Management and Peace Studies, enhancing his expertise in fostering positive change and spearheading sustainable peacebuilding endeavors within communities. Timsur’s unwavering commitment to uplifting the marginalized through strategic interventions and tireless advocacy for social change reflects his vision of building resilient and inclusive societies, where every individual can thrive and flourish.

Dr. Siddharth Narendran is a distinguished medical professional and researcher currently serving as a Medical Officer at Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, and a Faculty member at Aravind Medical Research Foundation. His educational journey began with earning an MBBS and MS in Ophthalmology from Dr. MGR University and Aravind Eye Hospital. Driven by a passion for advanced research, Dr. Siddharth pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in Ocular Immunology and Genetics under the guidance of Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati at the University of Virginia. Dr. Siddharth’s exceptional work has been acknowledged through numerous awards, including the AIOS-HOYA Young Researcher Award, the JM Pahwa award from VRSI, the Col Rangachari Award from AIOS, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Best Paper Award in 2023. Notably, he was the first Indian recipient of the Resident and Fellow Research Award by the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology. In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Siddharth holds patents related to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and CRISPR-based diagnostics, showcasing his innovative approach to tackling complex medical challenges. Dr. Siddharth’s primary aim is to develop and strengthen the research capacity and capabilities in India, enabling the country to effectively study and address its own unique problems in the field of ophthalmology. By fostering a robust research ecosystem, he hopes to empower Indian scientists and medical professionals to find solutions tailored to the needs of the Indian population, ultimately improving eye care and overall health outcomes in the country.

Isaya Gwindevya is a civil engineer registered by the Tanzania Engineers Registration Board (ERB) as a professional engineer, holding a Master of Science in project planning and management from the Institute of Accountancy Arusha in 2023 and a Bachelor of Science in civil and structural engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam in 2015. Isaya has worked with the Norwegian Refugee Council as shelter and infrastructure team leader for about three years, where he manages the shelter and infrastructure projects through project supervision, budget monitoring and expenditure, project design and needs assessments, structural design, bill of quantities preparations, proposal preparations, supervision of contractors’ contracts, and coordination with project stakeholders. Isaya has also worked with OXFAM to ensure the community has access to WASH services, particularly for the unprivileged, refugees, and the marginalized, requiring special attention. In addition, he worked with NCI Engineering Consultancy, where he managed consultancy services on structural designs, materials quality assurance in relation to materials tests, and site construction performance monitoring to conform to the designs. He is passionate about learning and acquiring knowledge, particularly about evolving technologies, which provides alternatives for solving WASH community problems and civil engineering at large.