Environment

Sylvia Privette has more than 15 years of experience in HR management and processes. She has a BA in International Relations and an MA in Human Resources. After living abroad and travelling around the world, she is settled in Peru where she collaborates at a French based NGO, that works alongside people with disabilities in times of peace, conflict, and natural disaster. She is passionate about helping others and is interested in studying about human behavior and leadership.

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.

Isabel Ruiz is a 36-year-old passionate professional living in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. In 2011, she obtained a degree in Environmental Systems Engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN, by its acronym in Spanish). Her commitment to making a positive impact on both environmental and social fronts led her to study a double-degree master’s in Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management and Development. For the last year and a half, she has collaborated with Heifer Mexico as manager for the social capital and women empowerment department; in her role, she has the mission to guarantee that projects include actions to impulse social cohesion, women and youths opportunities, and caring for the earth. Additionally, Isabel provides guidance and support to staff members, aiding them in implementing projects focusing on gender equality, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Sally Holmes is a Development & Communications Specialist at Landesa, where she writes content to support strategic communications goals and seeks mission-aligned grant funding. Prior to her current role, she worked for a global health non-profit and a global education social enterprise. Sally also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Zambia focused on aquaculture capacity. She holds a Master of Public Administration in International Development from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy & Governance and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Colby College. Sally’s professional interests include sustainable agriculture, marine conservation, and ethical storytelling.

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.

Hayley Bisceglia-Martin has over ten years of experience working in international development. Since 2017, she has been working with One Acre Fund to raise funds for their mission to improve the harvests and livelihoods of rural smallholder farmers in East Africa. Prior to joining One Acre Fund, Hayley was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Ukraine and Samoa, where she worked to strengthen child literacy and help build local schools’ capacity. She has also volunteered her time with Americorps, at libraries as an adult literacy educator, and with programs designed to promote gender empowerment and HIV/AIDS awareness among youth. She is particularly interested in the intersection of gender and climate change, and ways we can leverage technology to support rural farm families.

Marisa Grimes has been working in the international development space for more than a decade, focusing primarily on serving smallholder farmers in East Africa with the trainings, tools, and inputs they need to increase their yields and access a stronger financial future. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from George Washington University and a Master’s Degree in Social and Cultural Analysis from New York University. Currently, Marisa serves as the Program Director of Tubura Strategy at One Acre Fund Rwanda where she leads a team of more than 35 individuals to design the strategic direction and implementation plans for marketing, enrollment, product sales and impact training for more than 750,000 farm families across rural Rwanda. Previously, Marisa worked on expanding One Acre Fund’s geographical presence in both Rwanda and Tanzania to include hundreds of additional villages and new jobs, and led the Tanzania field-facing management team for several years. She also has volunteered as a secondary school English teacher, has started her own nonprofit, and serves on a young professional advisory board for a NGO focused on improving maternal health in Nepal. In addition to her core work functions, Marisa is passionate about the professional development of her direct reports, team members and colleagues and has dedicated time to create trainings, host pair walks, and prioritize opportunities for others to grow.

Zanke Norman Tem is a dedicated WASH practitioner with more than five years of experience in humanitarian and emergency contexts. Hailing from Cameroon, Zanke has committed himself to aiding vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, during crises. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, from the National Advanced School of Public Works in Yaounde and the University of Padova. Additionally, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Buea. Zanke’s expertise lies in project management, communication, leadership, and budgeting, enabling him to excel within the International Rescue Committee. Serving as a Senior Project Manager in Bamenda, North West Region, he effectively managed multi-sectoral projects, ensuring adherence to donor requirements and efficient budget management. Zanke’s skills in leading cross-functional teams, fostering effective stakeholder communication, and propelling continuous improvement initiatives have been pivotal in delivering projects successfully within stipulated timelines and budgets. Transitioning to the role of WASH Programme Manager in Buea, South West, Zanke showcased outstanding leadership by forging proactive partnerships with NGOs and government ministries to bolster project sustainability. He guided his team in executing water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives in demanding settings, monitored program advancements through data analysis, and adeptly handled emergency projects. Zanke’s unwavering commitment to instilling accountability, fostering high performance, and prioritizing the well-being of displaced individuals is palpable in his endeavors. His dedication to aiding communities in need, paired with his proficiency in WASH programs, positions him as a valuable asset in humanitarian and emergency response endeavors.

Ya Sera Cham completed high school in 2002 and went on to study a one-year course in Information Technology (IT). In 2010, she pursued a diploma in financial services with ICM (Institute of Commercial Management) from Jollof Tutors. In 2010, she applied for an internship position at Tostan and was offered the position in December of the same year. Due to her performance, efficiency, hard work, and dedication, she was fully employed as an accountant in 2012. However, in 2014, Tostan faced some financial challenges in funding projects, which led to the closure of some branch offices in some countries, and termination of some employee contracts to reduce cost expenditure, and Gambia was part of it. Her contract was also terminated in that event in December 2014. Nevertheless, she continued to volunteer and help in the finance unit. In 2020, when the position of logistics officer was announced, she applied for it and was offered the job after undergoing the interview procedures. Her experience working in the accounts department equipped her with knowledge in developing annual project budgets, financial reporting, budget management, proper bookkeeping, cash tracking, and the use of QuickBooks software, among others.

Jeanne Mukarukundo is a professional renowned for her expertise in climate smart agricultural development and sustainable farming practices. With a distinguished background in environment Jeanne has served in different positions at One Acre Fund where she now serves as the Tree and Outgrowers Program Manager, a leading organization dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers. Jeanne’s career is marked by commitment, armed with a Master’ Degree in soil and water management from Haryana Agriculture University in India and a wealth of practical knowledge gained through years of fieldwork, she has emerged as a driving force in the realm of rural development. Previous to the work at One Acre Fund Jeanne worked as a local expert for KCC a company from Southern Korea for the design of a multi-purpose Dam that will support smallholder’s community in the Eastern province of Rwanda. She also worked for the Ministry of Agriculture in 2010 to 2011 as Watershed officer supervising the implementation of land husbandly, Water Harvesting and Hillside Irrigation (LWH) a World Bank funded project before resuming her study in 2012. At One Acre Fund, Jeanne assumes a pivotal role in spearheading the strategic planning and execution of tree planting initiatives and Out growers’ program. At One Acre Fund her achievements include initiation of one of the biggest networks of local community trees nurseries which are led by the 2000+ local enterprises and are able to produce and distribute 20 Million trees on an annual basis. As of  2023, 96 million trees were produced and distributed to farmers.

Diouma Cisse has over seven years of professional expertise in the field of monitoring and evaluation. With a degree in agro-economic engineering and a master’s in agribusiness and value chain development from the École Nationale Supérieure D’Agriculture (ENSA) in Thiès, she has a solid academic background. In addition, she has enhanced her qualifications by obtaining a certificate in monitoring and evaluation from the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation in 2021. Diouma’s work is to help organizations adopt a data-driven approach, using evidence and technology to demonstrate the impact of their programs. She has conducted a wide range of studies, from site surveys to baseline, mid-term and final evaluations. Her skills extend to all stages of the research process, from methodological design to data collection, processing and analysis. With extensive experience of working with international organizations, Diouma has made significant contributions to a range of sectors, including food security and nutrition, gender-based violence, education and gender transformation.

Malumbo Mkandawire has four years of experience in the non-profit sector and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Sciences from EARTH University in Costa Rica. Currently, she is working with CAMFED Malawi as the District Operations Officer, where her main role is to support the delivery of educational opportunities for girls and vulnerable children through the implementation of bursaries, Safety Net Funds, economic empowerment for young women, and other programs at the district level. Among her various responsibilities, Malumbo ensures the implementation and adherence to child safeguarding in line with CAMFED’s Child Protection Policy. She administers outlined support to targeted recipients such as clients, alumnae members, schools, and communities in line with CAMFED Procurement and stock management policies. She coordinates various projects while maintaining records for CAMFED operations in the district and supervises the CAMFED Association to transform their lives and become leaders of change. Before joining CAMFED Malawi, she was a fellow under the Ohio Fellowship one year program, where she was based at Meadow Creek Dairy Farm in Virginia, USA. She gained experience in dairy farm management, developed recommendations for a balanced diet feed for the cows to reduce milk fever and increase milk production, implemented new dry cow monitoring methods to optimize labor time and maintain strong, healthy calves, and directed soil sampling analysis, recommending soil nutrient quantities that produced good pasture quality and increased palatability of the same. Malumbo is passionate about climate-smart agriculture, the environment, rural girls’ education, and young women’s economic empowerment.