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.