Memory Zonde-Kachambwa

Memory Zonde-Kachambwa, Executive Director of the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), is a prominent advocate for women’s rights with over 20 years of experience at national, regional, and global levels. As a pan-African intersectional feminist, Memory champions gender equality, social justice, and human rights. She holds an MPhil in Water Resources Management from the University of Western Cape and is pursuing a second Master’s in Peace, Human Rights, Gender, and Development.

Under her leadership, FEMNET has evolved into a pivotal pan-African feminist movement addressing climate justice, economic justice, and sexual reproductive rights. Memory has co-conceived initiatives like the Economic Justice and Rights Program and the African Feminist Macro-Economic Academy. She is recognized globally, co-leading the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights, and serving on several influential boards, including the She Decides Guiding Group and the Feminist Foreign Policy Coordinating Group.

A sought-after keynote speaker and advisor, Memory is dedicated to dismantling patriarchy and neoliberal systems that oppress women. Her work in mobilizing African feminists for COP processes and advocating for feminist policies has made her a beacon of hope for the advancement of women and girls worldwide.

Ambassador Fatuma Nyirakobwa Ndangiza

Ambassador Fatuma Ndangiza is a transformational leader and tireless advocate for women’s rights, gender equality, reconciliation, and good governance. Born in 1968 in Uganda to Rwandan refugee parents, her inspiring journey reflects her commitment to creating peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

Immediately after her bachelor’s degree in education, she joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front in 1991, contributing to the liberation struggle and advocating for unity and reconciliation in Rwanda. During the genocide against the Tutsi, she co-founded the SOS Ramira initiative, providing essential relief to vulnerable women and children.

Post-genocide, Ndangiza played a pivotal role in shaping Rwanda’s women empowerment and gender equality policies and programs. She led the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, focusing on systemic governance changes and fundamental human rights values as a foundation for lasting peace, unity and reconciliation. Her diplomatic career includes serving as Rwanda’s ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania accredited to the Seychelles and several SADC Countries, where she fostered bilateral and multilateral relations with a special emphasis on trade, tourism, peace and security.

As Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board, she promoted good governance and decentralization to enhance local empowerment and sustainable development.  She subsequently served on African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Panel of Eminent persons and was its chairperson for two years. Elected to the East African Legislative Assembly in 2017 and re-elected in 2022, providing leadership in various capacities including Secretary General of EALA Women Caucus, Ndangiza has been a champion for regional integration, gender equality, and sustainable development. Her leadership and advocacy continue to inspire and drive positive change across the region.

Emma Kaliya

Emma Kaliya is a Gender/Women rights activist, passionate governance, access to justice, legal, social justice and human rights advocate and trainer. Ms. Kaliya has been instrumental in championing governance, public service delivery, access to justice and human rights based approaches for children and women’s rights in particular through formulation of public service charters and demand for social accountability by building capacity of NGOs and state Institutions such as; the Malawi Police, Malawi Defense Force among others. She has a very solid and extensive understanding of the UN and African and SADC Human Rights Frameworks as well as the Malawi legal and policy frameworks.

Ms. Kaliya is Executive Director for the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) and Currently Commissioner for Malawi Peace and Unity Commission. She holds a Master’s in Project Management. Over the years, she has also served in different positions at National, Regional and International levels i.e. Chairperson of the African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), NGO Gender Coordination Network, SADC Gender Protocol Alliance, Chairperson of ALWN, Malawi Electoral Support Network, Commissioner for the Review of Electoral Laws in Malawi among others. Ms. Kaliya has immensely contributed to the Gender Movement in Malawi, SADC, Africa Region and beyond which has earned her awards such as the 2009 Drivers of Change Award by the Southern Africa Trust /Mail& Guardian for her contribution to the Governance theme of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

OVERALL PROFESSIONAL GOAL:

To ensure that the vulnerable groups, especially women and children achieve full realization of their human rights and are able to claim and defend them all the time.

Agnes Sadiki

The reign of Madam Agnès Sadiki at the helm of the Ministry of Transport in South Kivu, was characterized first and foremost by her commitment to serving the people. Madam Agnès demonstrated a high sense of responsibility and always has a hands-on approach to management. She was empathetic and worked closely with the most neglected and forgotten persons in the community including but not limited to the motorcyclists.  Madame Agnès Sadiki Nyabisoki served as Minister of Budget and was the first female government spokesperson in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Kivu, in charge of relations with civil society between 2017 to 2019. She advocated for the government to have a gender-responsive budget, drawing from her training received from UN Women. She made a lasting impact on the management of the participatory budget of the state by introducing the principle of eligibility in decentralized territorial entities.

Bina  Maseno

Bina Maseno is the Executive Director of Badili Africa, and a 1^st runner up for Ms. President Kenya 2022 Leadership competition for Ms. President – Nairobi County. She’s an experienced gender, governance and development advocate skilled in gender inclusivity, women’s economic empowerment and participation in political, and socio –economic processes, program management and curbing all forms of gender-based violence. Her journey as a transformative leader began at the age of 22 when she dared the patriarchal space by vying for political office as a Member of County Assembly. Birthed from the slums of Soweto and Kayole, Bina never let her challenges put her to a halt. She founded the Badili Africa Organization to empower young women and girls in Africa and beyond to challenge political leadership spaces.

Bina continues to champion for gender equality in the political space and she uses her voice to encourage and champion women’s participation in political and social-economic processes as well as actively participate in the broader discourse of governance as active citizens. Bina is a facilitator and speaker on matters leadership, economic empowerment, governance and gender equality. She’s a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and International relations from United States International University – Africa.