Humanitarian Relief

Wanga Katimba has over six years of experience in operations and program management working for non-
profit organizations. In 2020, she was awarded a fully funded MBA scholarship by the Scottish government and Heriot-Watt University through their Gender Equality Initiative. She successfully graduated with a Master’s degree in Business Administration in December 2023, complementing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northrise University. Currently, Wanga is involved in the Strengthening Oxygen Utilization and Respiratory Ecosystem project with PATH Zambia. This initiative aims to provide all patients, regardless of place of birth, with access to the lifesaving medical oxygen they need and seeks to reduce maternal, child, and overall mortality from hypoxemia-related causes through improved access to high quality oxygen services. Wanga actively participates in technical working groups and civil society coalitions dedicated to implementing the Zambia National Medical Oxygen Strategic Plan (2022 to 2026). In her prior position, she dedicated four years to the Care and Treatment project with ICAP at Columbia University in Zambia. This initiative provided care for HIV-related illnesses and offered mentorship to healthcare workers and community volunteers. Wanga is particularly interested in gender and women’s issues, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals, and working for NGO’s that aim to accelerate health equity so all people and communities can thrive. She is passionate about raising awareness and advocating for improved services and management of chronic diseases such as endometriosis in her country of birth, Zambia.

Kamel Alsaadi is a highly skilled project manager with a diverse background in computer science and international cooperation, specializing in humanitarian aid and development projects. With extensive experience spanning multiple roles across various organizations, Kamel has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead and deliver results in both agile and standard management approaches. From his tenure as a Business Analyst Advisor at the Norwegian Refugee Council in Oslo, Norway, where he spearheaded the development of tailored digital engagement tools for beneficiaries, to his role as a Project Support Officer at BHRRC in London, UK, where he implemented enhanced project management practices, Kamel has been instrumental in driving strategic initiatives and ensuring the successful execution of projects. His expertise in coordination, partnerships, communication, monitoring and evaluation, and information management has contributed to his track record of effectively managing portfolios of up to USD 13 million. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Diyala University, Iraq, and dual Master’s Degrees in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, as well as Data Analytics and Project Management, from institutions in Spain and the UK respectively, Kamel is well-equipped to tackle complex challenges and make meaningful contributions to the field of project management.

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.

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.

Tibebe Deribe is a Program Coordinator at the HelpAge International, Ethiopia country office having more than 10 years of experience in humanitarian response programs. He earned a Diploma in Nursing from Rehoboth Medical College, and a Bachelor of Applied Human Nutrition from Bahir Dar University in 2019. He is a candidate for a master’s degree in project planning and management at Gambela University. In his career, he has been working in different regions of Ethiopia including Amhara, Oromia, South Nation, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP) and Gambela. His first employment was as an Assistant Lecturer in a private nursing college. Later he joined a humanitarian organization, Plan International in the year 2011, in the capacity of CMAM supervisor where he worked for 3 years. After that, he joined Action Contre La Faim (ACF), MERLIN, International Medical Corps (IMC), and Save the Children International. He received a variety of training on key program/project management areas, including project management, budget management, staff management, humanitarian accountability, partnerships and report writing, which contributes to his achievement at a different level of his career. He is a well-experienced humanitarian aid working in both host communities and refugee setups, ranging from responding to immediate humanitarian emergencies like disease outbreaks, flood, conflict-affected areas, and other humanitarian programs including health, nutrition, WASH, livestock, agriculture, livelihood, and general protection programs.

Karim Vandi Coker is a 31-year-old sociology graduate from Njala University in Sierra Leone. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Humanitarian Practice at the University of Manchester UK. Karim works as a Health Promoter Supervisor for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Belgium and has over 5 years of experience in Health Promotion, Behavior Change Communication, Child Protection, and Community-based Programming as well as Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. He has worked with Doctors Without Borders (MSF OCA & OCB) and Action Aid International in various capacities, managing Community Health initiatives and educational programs with diverse teams. Karim is an experienced Community Health Advocate with a proven track record in promoting people-centred healthcare and managing integrated community case management, risk communication, and access to healthcare for sexual violence survivors. He is an asset to the MSF-OCB Kenema Hospital Project, where he facilitates community acceptance and participation in health service delivery in collaboration with Community health workers, voluntary blood donors, traditional birth attendants, traditional healers and health development committees. Karim is passionate about empowering communities and women to increase control over their health and improve their well-being. He believes in harnessing community inputs and fostering collective actions to improve the resilience of marginalized groups, pregnant women, girls, and people living with disabilities, especially in health emergencies. Karim has a critical interest in mental health promotion targeting youths to abstain from drug abuse. He believes that the socioeconomic impacts of mental health can be devastating for youth empowerment and national development.

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.

Denis Afunwi is a civil engineer and project management professional with over seven years of progressive experience in managing projects in the development and humanitarian sectors. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in civil engineering from the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC), Bamenda and a certificate in project management and evaluation from the Pan-African Institute for Development (PAID-WA). Upon completion of studies, he was integrated in a team of technicians of the Bambui Water Authority (BAWA); a user managed water supply scheme in Bambui Village where he served as a research engineer evaluating the water supply system and recommending both managerial and technical solutions to improve water supply to a growing community of over 20,000 inhabitants. Denis further served as an individual consultant with the national community driven development program where he conducted feasibility studies for the rehabilitation, construction and extension 4 gravity water supply schemes in the North West regions of Cameroon and later held multiple roles with INGOs in the North West and South West regions including WASH Officer with Plan International, Environmental Health Manager with the International Rescue Committee and WASH/Shelter Coordinator with the Norwegian Refugee Council. His most recent achievement is related to tackling the issue of sustainability in user managed water supply systems where he initiated and piloted the establishment of a water governance network in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon where through workshops, strategies are being developed to tackle the problem of unsustainable water systems.

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.

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.

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.

Emma Ingaiza is a seasoned health systems specialist, bringing over a decade of experience in implementing primary healthcare programs. Her expertise spans across various critical areas including treatment, maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. Emma holds a degree in health systems management from Kenya Methodist University, underscoring her commitment to understanding and improving healthcare delivery systems. Driven by a passion for continuous learning and growth, Emma is currently pursuing her Masters in Business Administration at Strathmore University in Kenya, aiming to blend her healthcare expertise with strategic business acumen. Throughout her career, Emma has held numerous leadership positions, each contributing to her holistic understanding of healthcare management and implementation. Presently, she serves as the Head of Health at Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), the largest grassroots organization in Kenya. In this role, Emma leads initiatives that address healthcare challenges at the grassroots level, working tirelessly to improve access to quality healthcare services for marginalized communities. Emma’s dedication to advancing health equity and her unique blend of healthcare and business acumen make her a driving force in the field of public health and social enterprise in Kenya. During her moments of vitality, Emma finds joy in engaging in activities that nurture the essence of humanity. She cherishes dedicating time to practices of meditation and mindfulness and finding solace and renewal in these mindful pursuits.