Yvonne is a dedicated feminist advocate committed to fostering sustainable change for women and girls, grounded in feminist principles and a profound understanding of their needs and realities. With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, she has excelled in program technical support, resource mobilization, partnership development, and grant management. Throughout her career, Yvonne has successfully secured multi-million-dollar grants for impactful interventions that have significantly improved the lives of women and girls. Her expertise encompasses a wide range of thematic areas, including gender justice, women’s empowerment, climate change impacts on gender, women’s rights, democracy, protection and gender-based violence. Yvonne also boasts a strong background in capacity building for local partners, ensuring organizations are well-equipped to deliver high-impact programs tailored to the needs of women and girls. Her comprehensive experience and passion for gender equity make her an invaluable asset in the pursuit of meaningful change. Yvonne holds an MSS in Gender and Policy Studies from Great Zimbabwe University, and an MSc in Disaster Management from the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe. She also holds a BA Honours in African Languages and Culture from Midlands State University.

Sanele Shongwe is a Fellow Chartered Accountant accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), with over a decade of professional experience spanning the audit, services, telecommunications, and international non-governmental sectors.

He has an extensive background in multinational environments, with demonstrated proficiency in strategic planning, budgeting, financial forecasting, risk management, process optimization, consolidated financial reporting, internal and external auditing as well as cash flow optimisation.

Sanele is recognized for his disciplined approach to financial governance and his ability to enhance operational efficiency through data-driven decision-making. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg and an Honours Degree in Accounting Sciences from the University of South Africa. His expertise consistently contributes to robust financial stewardship and organizational performance.

Inonge Sakala is an expert with over 7 years of experience in climate justice and social justice issues. She has developed and successfully implemented several climate change and sustainable development initiatives, including the development of climate justice advocacy strategies for civil society organisations and youth movements.

She has provided technical support to civil society organizations, youth social movements, and government agencies, and worked in senior roles in international and regional organizations. She has held roles including Policy Specialist, Youth Coordinator, and Advocacy and Communications Specialist. She is a member of the Zambia Network for Environmental Educators and Practitioners and the
Zambia Climate Change Network, and publishes a blog, The Female Environmentalist.

Inonge earned a Master’s Degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, a Degree in Environmental Studies from Mulungushi University and a Certificate in Diplomacy, Protocol, and International Relations from the Zambian Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies.

Aliness P. Mumba is an accomplished development practitioner with over 15 years of experience in project management and business development across Zambia and the African continent. Her career reflects a deep commitment to social impact, policy innovation, and sustainable development.

A key focus of her work lies at the intersection of gender inclusion and climate-smart agriculture (CSA), where she champions the equitable participation of women and marginalized groups in agricultural transformation. She brings a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic foresight, and inclusive leadership to complex assignments, earning her a reputation as a trusted advisor to development partners and local institutions.

Aliness has led the implementation of high-impact initiatives in thematic areas such as agriculture, climate change adaptation, trade facilitation, and governance. She has successfully delivered projects funded by leading development agencies and donors, including the European Union (EU), DANIDA, SECO, CGIAR, UNICEF, and Save the Children Sweden.

Her core strengths include institutional capacity strengthening, gender-responsive policy development, programme implementation, knowledge management, and results-based management. Aliness is widely recognized for her ability to foster collaboration, navigate multi-stakeholder environments, and drive measurable outcomes through innovation and adaptive leadership.

She holds a Master’s degree in Gender Studies and degrees in Sociology from the University of Pretoria and the University of Zambia.

Rachel Gondo is a process facilitator and researcher with over 14 years of experience in governance and social accountability across Southern and Eastern Africa. She specializes in participatory research, learning methodologies, process mapping, and facilitation. Rachel has supported regional learning initiatives by managing multi-stakeholder accountability networks and fostering knowledge sharing.

She works with organizations, networks, and initiatives to translate aspirations into practice—designing strategic conversations, mapping processes, and developing Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems. Her focus spans governance, civic engagement, human rights, public health, and fiscal and gender justice in public finance. Rachel partners with constituency-identified organizations, national and regional membership bodies, alliances, and networks across Southern Africa.

Rachel champions adaptive learning and collaboration, fostering partnerships and empowering diverse actors to advance effective coproduction between states and non-state actors in pursuit of regional and continental aspirations

Nicola is a campaigning, communications, and advocacy professional with over eight years of experience designing impactful campaigns, driving strategic communication, and building capacity in global spaces. She specializes in advancing health, human rights, and climate justice using feminist, decolonial, and anti-racist approaches. Her expertise spans digital advocacy, capacity building, communications, and campaign strategy, training diverse teams, and amplifying the voices of women and marginalised communities – with a commitment to addressing systemic inequities and driving meaningful change in human rights.

Nicola is skilled in integrating qualitative and quantitative insights into campaign planning, advocacy, monitoring, and evaluation. She excels in managing multicultural, remote teams and fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments.

As a former Digital Organiser for ActionAid international, Nicola has led global campaigns on climate justice, providing strategic solutions and supporting grassroots movements. Nicola’s career includes roles such as Digital Health Promotion Analyst at Doctors Without Borders; Public Health Content Manager at Kingfisher Medical in South Africa; and strategic advocacy and communication lead at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Johannesburg.

A graduate of Monash University with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Public Health, Nicola is also a certified digital marketer. She’s also certified in leadership through community interaction.

Chengetai is a development practitioner with over 15 years of experience in civil society in Zimbabwe and the southern Africa region. She has a deep passion for advancing rights-based programmes that influence development policies at both national and regional levels. Her expertise spans public policy advocacy, gender equality, and social inclusion, having worked extensively in Zimbabwe and across the SADC region. Chengetai is experienced in managing multi-country programmes, fostering partnerships, and contributing to strategic policy decisions that promote accountability in public finance management and social justice. She is particularly passionate about advancing gender equality and inclusion, ensuring that marginalized groups are prioritized in national and regional policy. She holds a Bachelor of Science Honors Degree in Economics and a Master of Science Degree in Economics. 

Tafara is a development professional, keen to explore pathways in contributing towards social justice and development in the region. She has experience supporting institutional processes in a range of organizations, including public, private and NGOs. She has served as a media and research analyst, Executive assistant, and as a research and project management intern. Tafara earned tertiary level qualifications including a certificate in Programme Management: Monitoring and Evaluation Approach from the University of Cape Town; a Bachelor of Social Science Honours Degree Development Studies (with distinction) from the University of Pretoria a Bachelor of Arts Social Dynamics (majoring in Political Science and Social Anthropology from the University of Stellenbosch.