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Idfi Septiani serves as the Head of the Cooperation Division at the City Government of Samarinda, Indonesia. She has been working with the Samarinda City Government since 2008 after graduating from the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN). She leads various international partnership initiatives, including the Climate Resilient and Inclusive Cities (CRIC) project. With experience at the sub-district and village levels as both an Urban Village Head and Sub-District Secretary, she has a strong understanding of community empowerment and participatory governance. Her grounded approach has effectively bridged top-down policies with grassroots needs. Idfi holds an academic background in public policy and state administration and is currently conducting doctoral research in economics. She is an alumna of the YSEALI Professional Fellowship Program (United States) and The Hague Academy for Local Governance (Netherlands). Her leadership contributes to mainstreaming climate action and promoting inclusive, locally driven solutions in international forums.
Roxana Nan is a Global Partnerships Adviser at Enabel, the Belgian development agency, where she focuses on strengthening collaboration with the EU and other international and European partners. She has held this role since 2022, with a brief intermission in 2024 to coordinate the design of Belgium’s bilateral cooperation programme with Ukraine. Before joining Enabel, Roxana worked at Save the Children as Partnerships Manager in the EU Office and as a Portfolio Officer for programmes in the Middle East and Southern Africa. Earlier in her career, she contributed to the Romanian public administration, supporting the implementation of the EU Erasmus programme and working on the World Bank-funded Justice Reform Programme at the Ministry of Justice. She is also a founding member of ARCADIA, the Romanian Association for International Cooperation and Development, a platform for Romanian professionals in the sector.
Sarah Torres is the Coordinator of Reality of Aid – Asia Pacific, a network of civil society organizations providing research and does lobbying on aid and development cooperation. As Coordinator, she sits in other civil society platforms such as the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness and the DAC-CSO Reference Group, forwarding CSO positions for a more effective and efficient development cooperation toward poverty reduction.
Since 2004, Marc Noël has been actively involved in the cooperative sector. He started working in coffee and cacao cooperatives in Nicaragua, before joining the European confederation Cooperatives Europe in 2006. He currently serves as ICA’s Director of Partnerships, coordinating the #coops4dev Program with the European Commission. Recently, he founded the local renewable energy community ‘Tell Energies’. Marc holds an Inter-University Master of Advanced Studies in Economic Development, Environment and Society and a Master’s degree in Commercial Engineering.
Annalisa Vallone is International Development Coordinator of Cooperatives Europe. With a dual master’s degree in Human Rights and Development Management (SciencesPo and LSE), Annalisa is a young professional with +5 years of experience in international development across private, public and third sectors. After the European Parliament DEVE committee and the ILO Brussels’ Office, since July 2024 she has been coordinating the European Activites of a global international cooperative development project. She enjoys reading historical fiction and cooking.
Rahmatouca Sow has been Head of the Political Affairs, Institutional Relations and Public Relations department since January 2025, after serving as adviser for political affairs and international relations and coordinator of AFRICITES summits since 2019 at UCLG Africa. She was Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Dakar for ten years and Regional Secretary of the METROPOLIS network in Africa.
She holds a Master II in Development Policy and Management (Sciences-Po Paris, 2014), an International MBA and a DESS in geopolitics and geostrategy. She worked for ten years in the private sector before joining the public service, where she initiated and coordinated projects and the establishment of participatory and inclusive governance frameworks.
For almost 25 years, she has an expert in decentralization and urban governance of local authorities in Africa. Ms Sow leads and coordinates UCLG Africa’s political networks and the institutional partnership of the organization.
Andi Harun is the 10th Mayor of Samarinda, widely known as the Father of the New Civilization of Samarinda. Since taking office in 2021, he has transformed the city through climate-resilient development, digital public services, and enhanced regional competitiveness. Under his leadership, Samarinda became the only city in Indonesia with an official regulation banning coal mining—showcasing a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. His inclusive approach ensures active public participation in planning and decision-making processes. Samarinda is also a pioneer in publishing its Voluntary Local Review (VLR) on the SDGs, demonstrating transparency and accountability in local development. Actively engaged in international forums such as the World Water Forum and World Cities Summit, Mayor Harun also serves as an Executive Bureau Member of UCLG ASPAC, strengthening Samarinda’s role in global cooperation. Today, the city emerges as a progressive and collaborative leader in the era of Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara. He is accompanied by Mrs Idfi Septiani, Head of cooperation division of the city government of Samarinda.
Marlene Holzner is Head of Unit for Civil Society, Local Authorities and Foundation in the DG INTPA (EU Commission) since 2020. She is responsible for designing and implementing the CSO Programme 2021-2027 with a team of 20. Before this, she worked for 10 years for Commissioner Guenter H. Oettinger as Spokesperson and Cabinet Member.
A graduate from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Marlene has worked many years as a journalist (WirtschaftsWoche, Berlin) before joining the European Commission.
Perumal Predeep is the Senior Programme Manager at the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities. With over a decade of experience in local governance, he has worked across Municipal, Urban, and Divisional Councils, and previously served as the Secretary of the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha. He has led and facilitated capacity-building initiatives for local authorities and communities in the plantation sector, as well as in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. His work focuses on participatory governance, gender equality, financial accountability, and inclusive service delivery. He was also the Project Manager for the SCOPE project, which contributed to his role at this Global PFD Meeting. Fluent in both Sinhala and Tamil, he has extensive experience working with diverse communities and councils across Sri Lanka.
Ariadna Bardolet joined “la Caixa” Foundation in 1997 and she started working in the International Cooperation Program. In February 2009 she took up the position of Director of International Programs Department, in charge of global health, education, job creation and humanitarian action programs. These programs are implemented with strong components of social innovation and platform-based collaboration to optimize impact. A key focus is on strengthening local communities and philanthropic ecosystems, particularly across countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Read Law at the University of Barcelona and Business Management at the ESERP University, and holds a Master’s degree in Globalization, Development and Cooperation from the University of Barcelona. She also holds an Executive Development Program – EDP from IESE (University of Navarra) and a Postgraduate Course from ESADE Executive Education on “Leadership and Innovation of NGOs”
Zaya Naran is an experienced development professional with over a decade of expertise in program design, implementation, and institutional fundraising. She currently serves as Development & Partnerships Officer at Transparency International in Berlin. Her career spans international NGOs and think tanks, including the International Republican Institute and The Asia Foundation, where she has led gender, governance, and transparency programs across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Zaya has expertise in cross-sector collaboration, capacity building, and policy advocacy, and is passionate about advancing democratic values, gender equality, and social justice worldwide. She holds a Master’s degree in Governance Studies from Johns Hopkins University.
Thomas Taylor works as Policy Adviser for the Trade Union Development Cooperation Network of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents 200 million workers across 167 countries. In his role, Thomas is in charge of ensuring that trade union priorities are strongly voiced within global political fora focusing on sustainable development, including the United Nations and the EU development cooperation policies. Prior to joining the ITUC, Thomas worked as a legal officer for the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) focusing on defending and advancing labour rights through litigation and advocacy at (quasi-) judicial fora such as the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe’s collective complaints mechanism. Thomas also has experience in inter-governmental organisations, having worked in the human rights department of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Bosnia, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Tanzania. Thomas studied an LLB in Law with a minor in Politics at Sussex University, later obtaining an MA in Human Rights and Conflict Management from the University of Satn’Anna in Pisa.
Susana Eróstegui is member of the Task Team of the PFD and represents the Articulation Table of national associations of NGOs and regional platforms of Latin America and the Caribbean on the Policy Forum on Development. She is bachelor’s in Social Communication, with postgraduate degrees in Communication for Sustainable Development, Gender Equality, Human Rights and Development Projects. She has experience working for NGOs, cooperation agencies and public institutions. She represented CSO in different spaces like the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness, the Affinity Group of National Associations of CIVICUS, CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness-CPDE, FORUS, Action for Sustainable Development, and others. Her work leading a national NGO network, for the Canadian International Development Agency, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Municipalities and Ministries, among others, enhanced her commitment promoting human rights, democracy and development, and strengthening civil society organizations. Currently she is Executive Director of the Bolivian Network for International Cooperation.
Sarah Spencer Bernard is a Policy Analyst in the Crisis, Conflict and Fragility team where she coordinates the INCAF network and leads a workstream on engaging in politically constrained environments. She contributes to other areas of work including the States of Fragility Report, financing strategies in fragile settings and humanitarian-development-peace nexus approaches as well as DAC peer reviews.
Prior to joining the OECD, Sarah was based in Jordan where she managed the Iraq dimension of the EU’s Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syria Crisis, the ‘Madad Fund’, covering a range of actions across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus in the Iraqi context. She previously worked as a geopolitical analyst on the Syria Crisis and has held political affairs positions in Central Asia, Brussels, London and Vienna with the EU, the UK Government and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE). A dual British-Irish national, Sarah is a graduate of Cambridge University (MPhil) and Bristol University (BA).
Sameera Mehra brings over 15+ years of experience in the philanthropy and private sector. She is the Collective Intelligence and Advocacy Director at WINGS – the global network for philanthropy. Before WINGS, Sameera worked with CAF. Sameera worked with partners across several countries to grow giving and strengthen civil society resilience. Previous work experiences include setting up an NGO in Canada, a partnership project in India, and consultancy projects for several NGOs. She also worked in banking spanning roles in leadership, project management and change transformation.
Dr. Pallavi Rekhi is a dynamic leader in India’s civil society ecosystem, currently serving as Lead – Programmes at Voluntary Action Network India (VANI). She has been at the forefront of strengthening civic space, fostering South-South cooperation, and amplifying grassroots voices on global platforms. She has designed and led a range of national and international initiatives. She has collaborated with diverse partners across civil society, government, and international organizations, and has represented Indian civil society in several global forums. A champion of feminist leadership, her initiatives —like the podcast “She Leads the Way”—have spotlighted women change-makers in the development sector. Known for her clarity of vision, collaborative spirit, and ability to translate policy into action, Dr. Rekhi continues to shape inclusive and transformative development discourse in India and beyond.
Nicolas Stoetzel is Deputy Head of Unit of unit D3 Coordination and Oversight of Financing Instruments at the European Commission (DG INTPA). In this role, he is – inter alia – involved in the preparation of the next EU multiannual financial framework. A lawyer by training, he has been working at the European Commission since 2013, including on the rollout of the Global Gateway strategy and the Team Europe approach as well as legal affairs. Before joining the Commission, Nicolas worked for the German bilateral cooperation as legal officer and advisor for anti-corruption and integrity.
Monalisa Kashyap is the Program Coordination & Advocacy Officer at the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP), India, where she leads the ICA-EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) Phase II. She also serves as a Secretary of ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation. With a strong background in program management and advocacy, she has previously served as Programs Head at Access Livelihoods and worked with Friends of Women World Banking, focusing on strengthening Farmer Producer Collectives through Capacity Building and Strategic Policy initiatives. Her professional passion is in two areas – Equality (both Gender and Income) and Women’s Empowerment and her personal interests include travel blogging, poetry writing and photography. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accountancy Honors.
Mining Engineer with over 10 years of experience in the industrial and mining sectors, having held executive-level positions. Transitioned into the business association world, specializing in social economy and entrepreneurship. Currently engaged in occupational and continuous training, and actively involved in the Serenos Gijón project. Long-standing member of the Asturian Quality Club, promoting best practices in business management.
Julia Puno is the General Secretary of the Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN), a regional network for research NGOs in the Asia Pacific. Before leading the secretariat, she served as the Network’s Policy and Research Officer and Program Assistant in its Pro-People Economy and Trade and Climate Justice and Natural Resources Programs. She has years of experience in capacity-building as one of the trainers of APRN’s training programs on advocacy and engagement, research, and development effectiveness for CSOs and Producers’ OrganisationsA. She has facilitated the participation of organizations in various intergovernmental dialogues and engagement spaces. Her research interests include geopolitical issues, climate concerns, among others. She is also part of the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM) advisory group and served as the platform’s previous co-chair, secretariat, and Southeast Asia focal point. She is part of the PFD’s task team committee and the platform’s CSO lead for Asia Pacific.
Jacqueline Hale works for DG International Partnerships of the European Commission, in the Unit for Local Authorities, Civil Society and Foundations, where she collaborates closely with civil society partners on the EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE) programme. This flagship program aims to support civil society to monitor, detect and respond to changes in its enabling environment. Prior to joining the European Commission, Jacqui spent 20 years working in civil society across various aspects of international cooperation, ranging from human rights and democratisation work to humanitarian response and conflict prevention campaigning.
Ine Van Severen is the Civic Space Research Cluster Lead at CIVICUS, based in Johannesburg. She joined CIVICUS in 2013 and has held several research positions focused on civic space and the enabling environment for civil society, including at the CIVICUS Monitor and coordinating the Enabling Environment National Assessments (EENA). Previously, Ine worked in research and policy roles for CSOs in Belgium and did an internship at the UNDP Regional Centre for Southern and Eastern Africa. She holds master’s degrees in Political Sciences and Conflict and Development, both from the University of Ghent.
Hilde Herssens is a senior policy advisor and head of the Geographical Unit for Development Cooperation with Latin America, Asia, and Ukraine at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With 25 years of experience in international cooperation in NGO’s, universities and Ministry, she has played a pivotal role in shaping strategic partnerships with civil society organizations, local authorities, and academic institutions. Since she organised an international conference in 2019 on Claiming back Civic Space in Brussels, she is even more committed, by launching a call for projects on this topic in 2021 , the Civic Space Initiative in 2023 for Belgium and by co-chairing a workgroup in the Team Europe Initiative on Democracy on Civil and Political Participation. She holds advanced degrees in international humanitarian assistance, multilingual business communication, and political sciences. Her approach combines diplomacy, field experience, and a deep commitment to empowering communities and civil society worldwide.
Laia Aycart is the Policy and Advocacy Adviser at CONCORD, responsible for leading the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) portfolio. She leads efforts to shape and influence the EU’s next MFF and the future financial instruments for external action. Prior to this role, she worked with Oxfam’s Ukraine response in Poland, where she supported local civil society organizations in strengthening local humanitarian leadership (LHL) and women’s leadership through collaborative advocacy and policy efforts. There, she focused on people on the move at the EU’s external borders with Belarus and Ukraine. Previously, Laia worked at the global affairs think tank ODI Global in London, where she contributed to cross-cutting policy areas, including the EU’s international partnerships and cooperation agendas. She also supported the Africa-Europe Mayors’ Dialogue, a platform of African and European mayors working to deliver local initiatives that address global challenges in human mobility.
Lucia Acosta is a senior project leader with extensive global experience in institutional development and inclusive governance, with a strong focus on Latin America. She has led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives in Ecuador, Cuba, El Salvador, and Colombia, advancing peacebuilding, gender equality, civic participation, and local capacity strengthening. Lucia has worked closely with national and local governments, civil society, and international donors—including Sida and the EU—to implement sustainable, post-conflict development solutions. Fluent in Spanish, Swedish, and English, she brings strategic insight and hands-on leadership, particularly in designing participatory processes and training programs. Her academic background in political science and strategic communication enhances her ability to navigate complex environments and foster impactful partnerships.
Hayati Hassani is currently in charge of European programmes at the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF). In this capacity, it coordinates EU-funded programmes in Africa, the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia. It also monitors the activities of the AIMF Commission on Economic Transitions, co-chaired by the City of Bordeaux and the Cameroon Mayors’ Network for the Social and Solidarity Economy (REMCESS).
Prior to joining the AIMF, Hayati Hassani worked for six years at the Institute for International Social Cooperation (ICOSI), where she held various positions before joining the Bureau as Vice-President in charge of projects.
Giulia Iovino is the Afghanistan Desk Officer and Geographic Coordinator at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). Prior to this role, she managed portfolios covering Yemen, Iran, and Gulf countries within DG INTPA. Before joining the European Commission, she worked with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on human trafficking and migrant smuggling across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. Through these roles, she has developed strong expertise in different fragile contexts.
Gertrude Rose Gamwera Buyinga is the Secretary General for East African County and Local Governments Association (EACLGA), headquartered in Arusha City, in Tanzania. Ms. Gamwera, a lawyer by profession, with an Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration, has over Twenty-Five (25) year’s working experience in Local Governance and the Public Sector Management space. She serves as the Co-ordinator for the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Office for East Africa. She is actively engaged in supporting Local Governments localize the SDGs Agenda, and Regional Integration Agenda. She is also an advocate for stronger linkages between the National and Subnational Governments and serves as an Advisor to the Regional Executive Committee, ICLEI Africa.
Ms. Gamwera is also the Head of Hub for the Strong Cities Network Eastern and Southern Region Hub, hosted by EACLGA, which supports Cities and Local Governments address hate, extremism and polarization through prevention.
Erica Gerretsen holds a Master of Business Administration from Université Paris Dauphine and a Master of Urban Planning and Local Administration from Sciences Po, Paris. Since 1995, she has worked in various roles at the European Commission, focusing on external relations. She is a French and Dutch national.
Her career includes postings in the EU Delegations in Slovenia before its accession and in Benin as an Economic Advisor. In 2003, she joined the Directorate General for International Development Cooperation (DG DEVCO), where she specialized in African affairs. In 2012, she became the Deputy Head of Unit for West Africa, and in 2013, she was appointed Head of Unit for Central Africa. Her leadership roles extended to overseeing financing for development and development effectiveness.
In 2016, she became Head of Unit for “Budget Support, Public Finance Management, and Domestic Revenue Mobilization” within DG DEVCO. By 2021, she was the Acting Director for a newly established Directorate focusing on “Sustainable Finance, Jobs and Growth, and an Economy that Works for the People.” In her previous role, she served as Head of Unit in DG INTPA E1 “Macro-economic Analysis, Fiscal Policies, and Budget Support,” and as Deputy Director in DG INTPA E “Sustainable Finance, Investment, and Jobs.”
Currently, she is the Director of DG INTPA’s Directorate G, overseeing Human Development, Migration, Governance, and Peace.
Claire Frost is Head of Programmes at the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF). She is based at CLGF Headquarters in London (UK) and works extensively with CLGF’s regional teams in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Pacific. She leads on the coordination of CLGF’s portfolio of projects and has extensive experience in supporting local governments in inter-governmental relations, local economic development, climate resilience, SDGs, social inclusion and addressing inequalities. She supports the coordination of the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG) and the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network (CSCN). She is CLGF’s operational lead on the relationship with the European Union both in the coordination and implementation of the CLGF Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) and as the representative to the Policy Forum for Development (PFD) and PLATFORMA.
She has a Masters degree in urban planning and a BA in communications. Prior to joining CLGF she worked as a Programme Officer with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in Barcelona. She has 20 years of experience working with local government at the local, national and international level.
Camila de Epalza Azqueta is a sociologist and political scientist with expertise in International Relations and European Affairs, is Senior EU Policy Officer at the Basque Government Delegation to the European Union and PLATFORMA member.
Following her experience at the United Nations, she now leads on key areas such as international partnerships and decentralised cooperation, Agenda 2030, skills and specialisation, culture and creativity, and cultural diplomacy.
Her core mission is to foster opportunities between the European agenda, EU institutions, and European stakeholders, and the Basque Government and its socio-economic actors and ecosystems and vice versa, and to connect EU institutions and agendas with Basque institutions and stakeholders, fostering collaborations, partnerships and opportunity, with the regional dimension and expertise at the core.
Boris Tonhauser is the Director of PLATFORMA, the network of European local and regional governments and their associations engaged in decentralised development cooperation. PLATFORMA is hosted by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) with the seat in Brussels. He joined CEMR in 2008 and PLATFORMA in 2015.
His previous experiences include the positions of Director of International Relations and European Affairs at the Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (ZMOS), Secretary to the national delegation in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and as Director of the Foundation for Training of Local Self-Government in Slovakia.
His academic background includes political science, international relations, international and EU law, European affairs and sciences studied in Bratislava, London, and Strasbourg.
Bihter Moschini is a Senior Programs and Research Officer at the Arab NGO Network for Development working on monitoring, reporting and advocacy on economic and social rights, implementation of the Agenda 2030 and EU policies impacts in the region. She holds a masters degree on European Politics and Policies from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven(Belgium) and BSc on International Relations from the Middle East Technical University (Turkey).
Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi is the first woman to serve as Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), the largest regional section of the global UCLG network. With over two decades of experience in urban development, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and local governance, she is a respected leader in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Her career includes roles at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), CITYNET in Yokohama, and visiting professorships in Japan.
Dr. Bernadia holds a PhD in Urban Engineering from the University of Tokyo and master’s degrees in Atmospheric Physics and Public Policy. She is a member of the UN-Habitat Advisory Group on Gender Issues and the Expert Group on Climate and SDGs Synergy. Her leadership at UCLG ASPAC has led to major milestones, including ASEAN recognition of the ASEAN Mayors Forum and the formation of the Asia-Pacific Local Government Coordinating Body. She has been instrumental in supporting cities with SDG localisation and Voluntary Local Reviews.
Her work has earned multiple accolades, including a UN-Habitat citation in 2023. As Secretary General, she oversees strategy, operations, and advocacy for sustainable urban development across the Asia-Pacific.
Antonio Gambino is a EU policy expert and advocate with over two decades of experience in development cooperation, human rights, social and tax justice. Currently serving as the EU Aid Policy Advisor at Oxfam International, he focuses on the EU’s Global Gateway and Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Previously, he coordinated European advocacy at the Clean Clothes Campaign, leading work on the EU forced labour ban and supply chain abuses in the fashion industry. From 2020 to 2022, he advised the Belgian Minister of development cooperation.
Antonio spent a decade at CNCD-11.11.11, a Belgian coalition of development NGOs, working on financing for development. His career also includes advisory roles in theEuropean Parliament and the Institut Emile Vandervelde.
Holding a law degree from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, he is fluent in French, Italian, and English, with working knowledge of Dutch and basic Spanish. Antonio is also a published author on topics like tax justice, vulture funds, and climate finance, and has served on the boards of EURODAD and Réseau FINANCITE.
Koen Doens is Director-General for International Partnerships (before 16/01/2021 for International Cooperation and Development) at the European Commission since October 2019.
He joined the Commission in 2004 and was Head of Cabinet of Louis Michel, Commissioner in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid during the 1st Barroso Commission (2004-2010) and Head of the Commission Spokespersons’ Service during the 2nd Barroso Commission (2010-2014).
After a period as Director for EU-Africa Relations, he became Deputy Director-General responsible for Africa, Asia, Middle East/Gulf, Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean in the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development in March 2018.
A classical philologist by training, he was a professor of Latin and Greek before becoming a Belgian diplomat. He has been posted in Syria, Iran and Russia and several Belgian ministerial cabinets.
Maureen Olyaro is a development professional with over 15 years of experience in program management, strategic leadership, gender equity, and feminist advocacy across Africa. She currently serves as Deputy Director at the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), where she oversees transformative programs advancing women’s rights and gender justice.
Maureen has led multi-country initiatives, mobilized strategic partnerships, and secured major funding, including a landmark $38 million USAID grant while at Christian Aid. Her expertise spans gender analysis, feminist movement building, public health, and reproductive rights. She has contributed to several publications on adolescent health, access to services, and family planning accountability. Maureen holds a master’s in public health from Moi University and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Kenyatta University. She is also certified in advocacy, M&E, and sexuality education, and is a Commonwealth Professional Fellow.
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