Scholars

Atupere Phiri is a professional from Malawi with a passion for engaging and supporting underprivileged communities. With over ten years of progressive clinical and community work experience, Atupere is a clinician by profession, holding a Master’s of Science in Management Studies from the Malawi Institute of Management. Currently employed as a Program Mentor for the Palliative Care Program within the Integrated Chronic Care Clinic (IC3) system, Atupere has successfully conducted training, mentorship, and supervision for healthcare workers in nine government-owned health facilities in Neno. As a program supervisor, Atupere Phiri actively participates in quality improvement projects aimed at addressing gaps in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Neno. Atupere firmly believes that poverty is a major contributor to social injustice in developing countries, including Malawi. As a health professional, Atupere is committed to improving the health outcomes of underprivileged communities by providing comprehensive care and treatment through a biopsychosocial approach.

Indiana Siu holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and a Master’s in Arts with focus in Asia at Chengchi University in Taiwan. She currently serves as Regional Director for Operation Smile in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Her interests are to further Operation Smile’s impact in rural sites, build local capacity, and ramp up programs to promote health access and timely quality care. Indiana strongly believes that more than ever nonprofit health organizations have a duty to support their beneficiaries and become more centered around patients’ needs; how to overcome their barriers to care and avoid catastrophic health expenditure. Before being promoted to Regional Director she served as Executive Director for the Nicaragua chapter, becoming one of the strongest foundations of Operation Smile in Latin America by providing completeness of care for patients born with cleft and expanding programs to impact the public system.

Jarra Darboe has thirteen years of experience in administration and finance at Tostan Gambia. She holds an advanced diploma in Business Management Studies from the Gambia Technical Training Institute. She has developed annual project budgets, financial reporting, budget management, and managerial competences. Jarra’s work at Tostan focuses on empowering communities to develop and implement their vision for the future. Tostan’s transformative education program and the community empowerment programs have reached tens of thousands of participants in the Gambia. Her efforts alongside her team have supported a wide range of community-led impacts in education and beyond, including health, economic empowerment, environment, local governance and women empowerment.

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.

Mori Moses Sworo is a lawyer with a focus on humanitarian service, specializing in Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) rights. With over four years of experience, Mori has worked on issues such as customary land rights, land registration and titling, land administration and management, women’s HLP rights, conflict resolution, and project management. He holds a Master’s of Law and a Bachelor’s of Law degree from the University of Juba. Mori has conducted interventions to promote proper land use and natural resource management through information sharing, capacity building, and the development of training materials on HLP rights and Collaborative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. Currently, Mori serves as the Field Office Coordinator for the Norwegian Refugee Council in South Sudan, where he continues to advocate for justice and equal treatment while empowering communities with legal expertise and advocacy skills.

Moukhtar Diallo has more than fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector with roles such as Senior Administration, Finance, and Operations Manager. Moukhtar primarily works with logistics and supply chain management. Throughout his career, he has worked with various donors, including USAID, UNICEF, UNFPA, SIDA, NORAD, among others. Moukhtar has gained extensive experience working in diverse environments such as Senegal, Somalia, Somaliland, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, and the Gambia. His excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills in both French and English have enabled him to develop and maintain mutually beneficial internal and external relationships.

Olivier Gingweze is a humanitarian logistician and logistics trainer from the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently based in Goma. With seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he holds a Master’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering from the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique et Technique de Kinshasa and a Master’s degree in Humanitarian Practice from the University of Manchester. In his role as a logistics coordinator for the Norwegian Refugee Council, Olivier ensures the strategic management of logistics activities, providing guidance and technical support to implement logistics systems and procedures, and ensuring compliance with policies and donor requirements. He has acquired skills in fleet right-sizing, budgeting, and procurement planning through his recent nonprofit experience. Olivier has worked with various organizations, including BAT Congo as a spare parts storekeeper, Doctors Without Borders in multiple positions including Field Logistics Manager, International Committee of the Red Cross, and Memisa Belgium. He is also a logistics training consultant for Bioforce Institute, where he is passionate about greening the supply chain, promoting environmental sustainability, and empowering other humanitarian workers through logistics training.

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.