The CIVICUS staff team consists of colleagues drawn from all over the world, fulltime and part-time, including interns, volunteers and secondees. Listed below are colleagues who contribute to CIVICUS' work through a variety of roles.

Programmes / Departments

Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA)

David E. Kode: Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) Support Officer
David is a Cameroonian national who joined CIVICUS as a policy analyst in the Secretary General's Office in October 2007. Since then he has been appointed as a Programme Support Officer and Secretariat for the Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA). Prior to joining CIVICUS, he worked with UNICEF South Africa in the Office of the Deputy Representative. David holds a Bachelor's degree in History and Political Science from the University of Buea, Cameroon and a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

He is currently a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Africa's International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand. His thesis is focused on the political economy of post-conflict transitions in West Africa with Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone as case studies. His other research interests include civil society and conflict resolution, Africa's international relations, strategic studies, diplomacy and negotiations.

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Civil Society Index (CSI)

Ikechukwu Nwokedi: Civil Society Index (CSI) Research Intern
Ikechukwu is a Nigerian citizen with an undergraduate background in Geography. He is currently studying for a master’s degree in environmental sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He is involved in other academic duties including; teaching assistant duties at the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He is also contributing his environmental and administrative skills at a wildlife rehabilitation centre (Freeme Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre) in Paulshof, Sandton, Johannesburg. He has a strong interest in waste recycling, GIS and report writing particularly for stakeholders (i.e. sustainability report) .

Jacob Mati: Civil Society Index (CSI) Research Officer
Jacob is a Kenyan citizen who initially came to CIVICUS through a VSO-CIVICUS partnership as a Research Associate for the CIVICUS CSI project in 2006 and since 2007 has served as the Civil Society Index Research Officer. Jacob has published academic and operational papers on a range of issues on civil society and development. Prior to joining CIVICUS, Jacob worked for/offered consultancies to various civil society organisations and an academic institution (IDS-University of Nairobi) in Kenya and India on Research, Development planning and Management, Policy Advocacy, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Organisational Development.

He has studied in various universities and institutes including Moi University-Kenya, Kenya Institute of Administration (KIA)-Kenya, African Fund for endangered wildlife (AFEW), Organisation of Social Science Research for Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) Research methodology Institute at the University of Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, University of the Witwatersrand-South Africa, and the Global Labour University at Kassel University-Germany. Jacob holds a Master of Arts degree in Development Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand-South Africa and a BA (Hons) degree in Political Science and Economics from Moi University-Kenya, besides certificates in Disaster Management, Community Conservation Education, and Social Science Research Methods. He is currently studying towards a PhD in Sociology at the University of the Witwatersrand. His dissertation focuses on the power and limits of social movements in promoting political and constitutional changes with the Ufungamano Initiative in Kenya as a Case study.

Jennifer Williams: Civil Society Index (CSI) Intern

Jennifer Williams is a U.S. citizen who recently joined the CIVICUS CSI Programme as an intern in the Monitoring and Evaluation team in June 2010. Jennifer is currently a 2011 Master of Public Policy candidate at University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. During her 1st year as a Masters student, Jennifer published an article concerning the public housing system in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia in the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning's 2010 issue of the Agora Planning Journal at University of Michigan. Prior to beginning her Masters, Jennifer completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Boston University. As a 2008 Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellow at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University, Jennifer developed her interests in social policy, international development, and human rights.

Lerato Pagiwa: Civil Society Index (CSI) Communication and Outreach Intern
Lerato joined the CIVICUS CSI Programme as an intern in the Communications and Outreach team in July 2010. Prior to joining CIVICUS, she worked as a programme officer on various projects with NEPAD and African Monitor. Lerato holds a BA in International Relations and Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and is currently a BA Honours student in Development Studies at UNISA, with particular interest in governance and sustainable development policy.

Mariano De Donatis: Civil Society Index (CSI) Officer
Mariano is an Argentinean citizen who joined CIVICUS in April 2010 as a programme officer, after having lived and worked in Argentina, Ireland and United Kingdom. Mariano holds a master in Social Policy and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science and B.A in Economics at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. Mariano has over six years experience working with NGOs in developed and developing countries where he obtained a very strong background in the dynamics and working conditions of civil society organizations in different contexts. Mariano had a previous professional career in multinational financial corporations. He maintains a particular interest in how to leverage CSO impact and make bottom-up development a reality.

Mark Nowottny: Civil Society Index (CSI) Officer

Mark is a UK citizen who joined CIVICUS in October 2009 to work on the Civil Society Index Programme. With an academic background in politics, he holds a BA in Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Latin American Politics from the Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London. Prior to joining CIVICUS, Mark worked as Project Officer for the Commonwealth Foundation’s Culture Programme, where he facilitated research and advocacy on the connections between culture and development. He has also worked for the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights, and maintains a particular interest in Caribbean civil society.

Megan MacGarry: Civil Society Index (CSI) Officer

MMegan is a South African citizen who previously worked at the Centre for Development and Enterprise, a policy think tank in Johannesburg, as a researcher. Prior to this, she worked on numerous research and development projects through the University of KwaZulu Natal, covering a range of topics from industrial development policies to informal sector worker protection strategies, as well as in the role of Development Economist at Urban Econ in Durban, South Africa. Megan holds a Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSci) degree in Political Science and English and an MA in Development Studies, both from the University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban.

Tracy Anderson: Civil Society Index (CSI) Research Officer
Tracy Anderson is a Canadian citizen who joined CIVICUS in November 2008 as the CSI Research Fellow from Aga Khan Canada. She completed her Master of Arts in Criminology at University in British Colombia, Canada specializing in psychological trauma and the death penalty. Her areas of interest include human rights, international criminology, and conflict and peace studies. Previous to joining CIVICUS, she volunteered and interned for such organizations as Amnesty International (USA and Canada), the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, and Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in Ireland.

 

Sinqobile Dube: CSI Support Officer

Yosi Echeverry Burckhardt: Civil Society Index Officer
Yosi Echeverry Burckhardt, a true cosmopolitan, recently re-joined CIVICUS as Civil Society Index Programme Officer. Yosi previously worked as Civil Society Networks Associate and acting-Coordinator in 2008, and has since then completed a MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Yosi also holds a BA in Middle East and Arabic studies, and has lived several years in the Middle East.

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Civil Society Watch (CSW)

Adam Nord: Civil Society Watch (CSW) Officer
Adam has several years of experience in human rights and civil society issues, previously working with both international organizations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as local civil society organizations. Before joining CIVICUS in September 2009, Adam was instrumental in convening a coalition of civil society in Sri Lanka that engaged with the Presidential Commission of Inquiry investigating serious human rights violations. He coordinated all aspects of the engagement strategy encompassing critical legal analysis, constructive procedural recommendations, and efforts to apply corrective pressure though public advocacy. Adam holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Centre, where he specialized in international and human rights law.

Netsanet Demissie Belay: CSW Programme Manager
Netsanet joined CIVICUS in September 2009. He was the founder of the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia (OSJE), a public interest organization established with a mission to promote human rights and foster social justice, democracy and good governance in Ethiopia. He served as the Executive Director of OSJE during November 2002 to November 2005. In 2005 he led the creation of a network of Ethiopian CSOs that observed the controversial election in the country. He was also the national coordinator of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia. Netsanet had to face persecution for his activism as he was prisoner of conscience for two and half years. He co-authored the National "Civic and Ethical Education" text book for junior and high school students. He also served as an assistant Judge at the Federal First Instance court in Ethiopia for two years. Netsanet holds LLM degree in Law and Development from Queen Mary, University of London and LLB Degree from Addis Ababa University.

Mandeep Tiwana: Civil Society Watch (CSW) Officer
Mandeep Tiwana works in the Civil Society Watch (CSW) Programme where he is particularly involved in tracking and analysing legal developments that affect the work of civil society. Prior to joining CIVICUS in May 2008, Mandeep worked as a Consultant with the New Delhi Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross advising the organisation in respect of its protection activities including visits to persons detained in Jammu and Kashmir. Mandeep has a keen interest in human rights and comparative law and worked in the Access to Justice Programme of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, an international NGO based in New Delhi for over three years. He has published a compilation of landmark Indian Supreme Court decisions and National Human Rights Commission guidelines on human rights and policing and has co-authored modules on human rights for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and a citizen's handbook explaining the mandate and practical functioning of human rights commissions in India. Mandeep has also drafted two annual reports for the Punjab State Human Rights Commission. He holds an LL.M in Law in Development from Warwick University, U.K and completed his LL.B and B.A degrees from Panjab University, India.

Sonia Zilberman: Civil Society Watch (CSW) Programme Officer
Sonia is a Russian-born US national, and joined the Civil Society Watch Programme at CIVICUS in February 2009. Her professional portfolio focuses on civil society participation and rights-based approaches to international development. Prior to joining CIVICUS, she worked at The Bank Information Center, a Washington DC- based NGO, promoting Indigenous peoples' rights within the extractive industries in Russia. Also, she has held consultancies with the Nature Conservancy, to identify local community perceptions regarding international marine conservation efforts in Indonesia and the Caribbean. Before this, she was a Research Fellow at IUCN-The World Conservation Union, where she conducted analyses of social and environmental policies of Multilateral Development Banks and other institutions. Sonia holds an MA in International Development Studies, and BAs in International Affairs and Russian Language and Literature from the George Washington University in Washington DC.

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CIVICUS at the UN

Jeffery Huffines: CIVICUS Representative at United Nations
Jeffery Huffines is an American citizen who joined CIVICUS in April 2009 to serve as CIVICUS Additional Representative at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Based in New York since 1996, Jeff serves as Chair of the NGO/DPI Executive Committee that represents over 1400 Non-Governmental Organizations associated with the UN Department of Public Information that helps organize the annual UN DPI/NGO Conference. Jeff has been a leading advocate for a number of coalitions, including serving as Chair of the UN Association/USA’s New York Council of Organizations; President of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations; co-founder of the Tripartite Forum on International Cooperation for Peace; council member of the US Conference of Religions for Peace, and senior advisor to the American NGO Coalition for the International Criminal Court (AMICC). He was invited in 2002 to serve as Co-Chair of the Faith and Ethics Network for the International Criminal Court (FENICC) and helped create an international interfaith coalition to promote awareness of, and cooperation with the ICC among faith-based communities, particularly in countries in Africa. He had previously served as Main UN Representative for the U.S. Baha'i Community and has taught as an adjunct professor at the Center for Global Affairs, New York University.

Renate Bloem: CIVICUS UN Representative (Geneva)
Renate Bloem, a Swiss national born in Germany, completed her studies in Medicine, Languages and Literature at the Universities of Bonn, Munich and New York (Columbia University) and started her academic career by teaching at international schools and cultural institutions worldwide. Since 1985 she dynamically engaged in NGO work. As a strong advocate for human rights, in particular for the human rights of women and children, she was actively involved in the Drafting of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, (Art. 37d) and, after its adoption, in the promotion of children's rights. Elected CONGO President at the General Assembly in November 2000 and re-elected in December 2003 -2007, she has been involved in numerous UN meetings, led CONGO delegations to the World Conference against Racism, to the World Summit on Sustainable Development and organised through the CONGO Working Group on Asia the Asian Civil Society Forum 2002 and 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand and, together with Latin American NGO networks, the NGO Seminar in Santiago, Chile. Together with her CONGO Team she has been at the forefront of guiding, supporting and coordinating Civil Society in the process of the World Summit of the Information Society (Geneva and Tunis). Under her strong leadership, CONGO had gained prominence in the international civil society landscape and became the main counterpart of NGOs in relationship with the United Nations.

Vicente Garcia-Delgado: CIVICUS UN Representative (New York)
Vicente received an American Field Service (AFS) scholarship for a year of study and experience in the US (1967-68) on completion of his secondary education. He graduated from Barcelona University School of Law in 1973, and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship for his Masters in Comparative Law programme at New York University, where he graduated in 1974. He practiced law in Barcelona from 1974 to 1977 and became a member of the New York Bar in 1977. From 1978 to 1991 he practiced law at an international law firm in New York, where he was named a law partner in 1985. In December 1991 Vicente retired from law practice due to health reasons, having been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given less than one year to live. In 2001 Vicente became a CIVICUS individual associate and has been acting on a volunteer basis as CIVICUS Main Representative at the United Nations (UN) since 2002, a position in which he continues to serve. At the UN in New York, Vicente works toward increased civil society participation, particularly from the Global South, and the further democratisation of the United Nations System. He lives in New York City with Carlos Gonzales, his long-term partner.

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CIVICUS World Assembly

Margaret Fish: World Assembly Manager
Margaret joined CIVICUS in February 2005 as Executive Assistant to the Secretary General and CEO. In 2006 she joined the World Assembly department as the Coordinator and became Manager of the World Assembly in November 2007. She is a UK citizen who came to Johannesburg at a young age and has spent most of her life here. She studied English Literature and Social Anthropology at the University of the Witwatersrand and has over 10 years' experience in the local NGO sector. Her previous position was as Marketing and Publications Manager with a local housing NGO, where she was part of a pioneering effort to set up housing co-operatives which has contributed to the renewal process in the inner city of Johannesburg.

Tselane Moleba: World Assembly Volunteer
Tselane  is a South African national and holds a National Diploma in Media Studies specializing in Marketing Communications. She has a history in Events Management, Public relations, Communications and Marketing. Having previously worked for various CIVICUS departments, she returned to CIVICUS in April 2010 as a volunteer leading up to the 2010 World Assembly.

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Communications Department

Devendra Tak: Communications & Media Manager
Devendra Tak is an Indian citizen who joined CIVICUS in November 2008. In a career spanning 20 years, he worked with leading Indian print and online media organisations including The Times of India, the Indian Express and Business India. He also published a travel and lifestyle monthly magazine, called Signature, for Citibank Diners Club. For over four years, he worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in their communication departments. As Regional Communications Manager with the International Federation he oversaw communications across eight countries in South Asia. His most challenging assignment was when the biggest disaster of 2007, Cyclone SIDR, struck Bangladesh. Another important assignment was in Kashmir, where he coordinated the launch of a novel educational programme for schoolchildren called 'Exploring Humanitarian Law'. He has studied Advertising and Marketing following his B.A. and has also undertaken studies in International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and Refugee Law.

Jessica Hume: Communications Officer
Jessica originally came to CIVICUS in July 2005 as a Communication Asssociate. Ten months later she returned home to Canada where she worked as Marketing Coordinator for Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC. However, unable to resist the temptations of South Africa, she returned to the country and CIVICUS in 2008. She now works as a Communications Officer. She has a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada and is currently completing her Masters in Communication Management from the University of Pretoria.

Oluwakorede Asuni: Web and New Media Editor
Oluwakorede Asuni joined CIVICUS in January 2010 and holds a bachelors degree in Physics from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. His interest in the internet as a vehicle for human interactions without borders has led to his more than four years involvement in the design, creation, moderation and management of information sharing tools and online visibility for individuals, small enterprises and not-for-profit organisations in Nigeria, Ghana and the US. His interest spans human capacity enhancement, professional project management, enterprise resource planning and writing. He is the author of: Students' Survival Kit ( A guide for undergraduates studying in Nigeria) - published in 2006.

Rowena McNaughton: Communications Officer
Rowena is an Australian citizen who joined CIVICUS’s communications department in June 2010 on a two year assignment with Australian Volunteers International. She has a background of journalism and marketing and has lived and worked in Cambodia, United States and Peru. She is committed to communicating the voice of marginalized people. Rowena holds a Bachelor of Business (major marketing) and a degree in Journalism, both from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne.

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Finance Department

Candace J. Mickens: Finance Consultant
Candace is the owner and principal consultant of Ubuntu Management Consulting Inc. which specialises in Accounting/Management services for international and U.S. based Non Profit Organisations. Candace has more than 17 years of business management and accounting experience. System implementations and policy and procedures are her specialty and she enjoys providing practical solutions and recommendations to enhance the overall functionality of Accounting & Finance Departments. In addition she is also the founder and director of Ubuntu Village Inc. which is a 501 (c) 3 tax- exempt community based organisation established to foster the understanding and appreciation of various cultures in the U.S. and abroad. As the founder of Ubuntu Village, Candace has travelled extensively across the U.S. and Africa promoting the need for positive images of Africa as well as improved communication, connection and understanding within the African Diaspora.

Dawn Mnisi: Bookkeeper
Dawn is a South African citizen who joined CIVICUS in May 2008 as the Finance Assistance. She holds a Diploma in Bookkeeping from Boston City Campus. Prior to joining CIVICUS she worked for a NGO which deals with HIV/AIDS Education and Outreach, Health Promotion and Community Development. She is currently studying through UNISA for a B.Com in Financial Management. She has a major personal interest in taxation and economics.

Joyce Tshabalala: Finance Manager
Joyce joined CIVICUS in October 2006 as an interim Finance and Admin Manager. Her vast financial experience emanates from both the Private sector and the NGO sector. She worked as a Financial Administrator for the Fundani Bursary Trust and as a Financial Manager for the Sedibeng Centre. She holds a BCom degree in Economics from University of South Africa (UNISA).

Lindiwe Makhosazana Moyo: Bookkeeper
Lindiwe is a Zimbabwean professional who joined CIVICUS in October 2006 on a contract which ended in March 2007 and re-joined CIVICUS in October 2007. She holds a Higher National Diploma in accounting (B.Comm equivalent) and has a CIS. She worked as an Accountant in the Motor Industry for six years before joining CIVICUS. She is well-versed in Financial Management and full function Bookkeeping.

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Human Resources and IT

Estelle Baker: HR Office Manager
Estelle Baker is a South African citizen who joined CIVICUS as the Office and HR Manager in September 2007. She holds a BA Hons degree in Education and a post graduate diploma in Human Resource Management. She started her professional career as a Secondary School Teacher and after 14 years she decided to make a career change. Since 2002 Estelle held various positions in NGOs (NPP, CAF Southern Africa and SAGA) as a Personal and Human Resources Assistant. She was later employed as the Operations/HR Manager with the Association for Progressive Communications. Estelle has experience in general office management and in HR and Labour Relations.

Michael Kwenaite: IT Support Officer
Michael, commonly known as Mika, studied IT specialising with support services at the Tshwane University of Technology. His first work experience was with the Norton Lambrianos Company, where he worked as a desktop support assistant and prior to that he did network and cabling for three months with CCI Company. He joined CIVICUS in his capacity as a network technician in November 2005. Michael holds a diploma in Information Technology (Support Services).

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Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LTA)

Adele Poskitt: Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LTA) Officer
Adele is a UK citizen and joined the Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability programme in March 2010. She has a background of policy, advocacy and programme work on governance and anti-corruption initiatives. She is deeply committed to work alongside others in the struggle for justice. Adele has worked at Christian Aid in London and the Christian Council of Ghana in Accra. She holds a MA from School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a BA from University of Durham, UK.

Kristina Mand: Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LTA) Navigator
Kristina is the navigator for the LTA programme. Currently, she is consulting strategy developments, governance and accountability systems and policy analyses for nonprofits in Estonia and abroad. She serves as a member of the Board of the Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations (NENO), where she worked as a CEO 2000 -2005. Kristina is not new to CIVICUS: 2006 - 2007, she worked as a Senior Advisor on national associations, networking and governance and as Senior General Manager. Prior to NENO, Kristina was involved with HIV/AIDS prevention both in US (LIFEbeat, Music Industry fights AIDS and Lilith Fair) and in the Estonian AIDS Prevention Centre. She also worked as a lecturer of strategic marketing for nonprofits in various Estonian universities. Kristina Mänd holds a degree in the English language and literature from Tartu University and a Master of Science degree in the management of public service and nonprofit organisations from the New York University. Kristina has written several books on nonprofit management and marketing and on HIV/AIDS prevention. In addition, she has published articles on civil society, environmental protection, equality and HIV/AIDS. She is an internationally recognised speaker and trainer on civil society, participatory governance and management.

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Membership Department

Carol Baloyi: Membership Support Officer
Carol is a South African citizen who joined CIVICUS in November 2006. She holds a National Certificates in PC Repair and A+ Technician from Pretoria College, a Call Center Certificate from I -Can Greenoaks Secretarian and Business College and a Certificate in Basic Bookkeeping from Foskor Development Trust. She has worked in a local Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Called Living in Hope in Germiston, South Africa for four years as a Communications Officer.

Jane Rutledge: Membership Communications Officer
Jane joins the Membership Team on a two year assignment from New Zealand, as part of the Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) programme. Jane holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (double major in Marketing and Agricultural Business) and has enjoyed over 20 years adapting and developing her business skills in the sales and marketing arena. She has a depth of knowledge across a wide selection of sectors, in particular retailing, manufacturing, finance and tourism/hospitality, and will be lending her experience of the corporate sector to the Membership department.

Sandra Pires: Membership Manager
Sandra is a South African citizen who joined CIVICUS in February 2008 as the Membership Manager after having lived and worked in Portugal, United Kingdom and Canada. Sandra holds a MBA (Master in Business Administration) from the European University, as well as a Post Graduate Degree in Development Studies and a B.A. Honours Degree in International Relations both obtained from Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom. Sandra's experience is based on a decade of working with small to medium business across a variety of industries to gain market penetration and spearheading expansion strategy, gaining stability as well as the integration and commitment of corporate social / citizenship responsibility programs that help make the world a better place. As a committed human rights activist, she has done volunteer work for Amnesty International as a Campaigns assistant in the UK and Portugal. She has French, Spanish and Portuguese language skills.

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Operations

Oliver Chanyau : Director of Operations
Oliver has 24 years experience in accounting and administration and 17 of these have been with donor funded programs/organizations. He has worked for EU, USAID, UNDP and multi -donor funded programs in Zimbabwe, Sudan and South Africa. Immediately prior to joining CIVICUS in January 2010, he was working in South Africa as Regional Finance Director for Room to Read, a San Fransisco based non-profit organization implementing educational projects in Asia and Africa. His portfolio included oversight of finance and HR issues on country programs in South Africa and Zambia. Before that he worked for over four years for USAID funded programs in Zimbabwe and Sudan as senior finance manager. Prior to that he was finance and administration officer for an EU funded program in Zimbabwe for eight years. Oliver is a Zimbabwean and his work has taken him to Kenya, Sudan, India, USA, South Africa and Zambia. While in Zimbabwe, he was a board member of an NGO called Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE). He is a qualified accountant and associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS).

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Participatory Governance (PG)

Anu Pekkonen: Participatory Governance (PG) Officer
Anu is a Finnish citizen who joined CIVICUS in January 2008. She holds a BSc in Anthropology from University College London and an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from School of Oriental and Africa Studies, London. Prior to joining CIVICUS, Anu held various positions in NGOs dealing with conflict transformation and democratic development, human rights and gender issues.

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Carmen Malena: Participatory Governance (PG) Part-time Director
Carmen works as a part-time director for the Participatory Governance (PG) Programme from her base in Quebec City, Canada. Carmen is a political sociologist with special interest in the areas of civil society, participatory governance, social accountability and gender. She holds a BA in Political Philosophy and an MPhil in International Development from Sussex University, UK. Carmen has close to two decades experience as a development practitioner, researcher, writer, trainer and facilitator. She has worked in more than 20 countries across the developing world and has published numerous academic and operational papers. She has held positions as civil society/participation specialist at the World Bank and African Development Bank and worked for a range of multilateral and bilateral donors and NGOs.

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Planning & Learning

Sebastian Njagi Runguma: Planning and Learning Manager
Sebastian is a Kenyan who joined CIVICUS in July 2009 from Save the Children in Somalia. There he served as an Impact Assessment Officer, Learning and Impact Assessment Manager and Quality Programming Manager over three and half years. A former Common Wealth Professional Fellow and VSO Professional Volunteer, Sebastian holds a Masters degree in Sociology and a Bachelors in Sociology/Economics from University of Nairobi and Moi University respectively. He has previously worked in Kenya, India, UK and Somalia in various capacities and with diverse organizations including the Institute for Development Studies (University of Nairobi), Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), TAABCO Research & Development Consultants, National Volunteer Network Trust, Volunteers for Africa Organization, Gram Vikas, Action Sunderland and Durham/Community Service Volunteers and Save the Children. Between 1999 and 2001, Sebastian worked with the Kenyan Component of the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project (CNP), a pioneer global third sector research which deepened his interest and knowledge of civil society work. He has core competencies in Social Science Research; Monitoring and Evaluation; Effective Programming and Management; Rural Development; and Volunteer Management. Sebastian supports voluntarism, environmental sustainability, active citizenship, and grassroots development initiatives in Kenya through various non-profit entities.

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Programmes

Katsuji Imata: Deputy Secretary General – Programmes
Since October 2007, Katsuji is Deputy Secretary General – Programmes who oversees programmatic department of CIVICUS, liaises between the CIVICUS Board and staff on strategic directions, monitoring framework and other key measures for programmatic innovation, and leads the inter-programme coordination and learning. Prior to assuming the current position, he was Interim Senior Manager and then Organisational Development Coordinator for GCAP (Global Call to Action against Poverty) support team hosted by CIVICUS. In Japan, Katsuji is Co-Director of CSO Network Japan that conducts research concerning roles of NGOs and CSOs that work on global issues and engaging public in such issues through publications and public campaigns. Katsuji has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. and gained nonprofit management experience. He holds MPP (Master of Public Policy) from University of California at Berkeley and MA in interdisciplinary studies in social science from the University of Tokyo.

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Resource Mobilisation

Judith Seda: Resource Mobilsation Officer
Judith holds a Masters degree from the University of Edinburgh Scotland in Theology and Social Development and a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Administration from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Since 2004 she worked as a Regional Development Advisor and Associate Consultant for the Support for Tropical Initiatives in Poverty Alleviation (STIPA). She was responsible for advising the organization on project design and development of community and organizational initiatives that support alleviation of poverty. During this period her major achievements were the facilitation of a participatory process for rehabilitation of Somali, Somali land and Puntland in a process whose objective was to shift attitudes from emergency aid to development. She also worked at the Institute of Cultural Affairs Kenya (ICAK) as the Fundraising Manager.

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Secretary General

Ingrid Srinath: Secretary General

Ingrid Srinath is the Secretary General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, which has members and partners that make up an influential global network of organisations at local, national, regional and international levels, dedicated to strengthening civil society throughout the world. Ingrid took over as Secretary General in May 2008. She also serves on the board of the IANGO Accountability Charter and on the World Economic Forum NGO Advisory Group

Prior to joining CIVICUS she served as Chief Executive of India’s leading child rights advocacy organisation - Child Rights and You. At CRY, she led a team of over 200 employees in 7 offices based in India and overseas through a process of organisational transformation from a charity orientation to a rights-based approach. Under her leadership, CRY facilitated over 20 NGO alliances including a pan-India national alliance the National Alliance for the Fundamental Right to Education with which has over 3000 NGO members. Among its many achievements was the grassroots mobilisation that led to the amendment of India’s Constitution to make education a fundamental right. While working with CRY’s network of volunteers in over 20 countries she was exposed to the legal environment and constraints that voluntary organisations face across these countries and with the skills necessary to navigate their complexities.

As Chief Executive of CRY and in her capacity as a Senior Fellow of the Synergos Institute, a US based network for non-profit leaders and global philanthropists, Ingrid has been a passionate advocate for she represented the child rights movement and social justice movements in multiple public forums ands well as in the media, in India and other countries around the world.

Her prior experience of over a decade in the private sector, chiefly in marketing and advertising, has enabled Ingrid to facilitate dialogue across sectors and to build sustainable resource mobilisation, branding and advocacy strategies for CRY and, as a consultant and trainer, for other non-profit organisations in India and overseas. While at CRY, Ingrid was tasked with among other things: to speak on fundraising, institution building, brand building, corporate social responsibility and social justice at forums like the House of Lords in the UK, the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands, South Asian Fundraising Group Workshops, industry forums like the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Advertising Standards Council of India, business schools and universities. She provided consultancy advice to NGOs and foundations in India, South Africa and the Philippines.

During her tenure at CRY, she engaged with politicians across the political spectrum, bureaucrats across ministries and key media figures to obtain legislative and policy changes for children’s rights. Most significant among these was the campaign that led to the amendment of India’s Constitution to make education a fundamental right. Other successful campaigns carried out under her leadership included the nation-wide campaign that resulted in increased budget allocations to public education and healthcare, livelihood protection for families living below the poverty line as well as campaigns that reformed the juvenile justice laws and taxation policies for the voluntary sector in India.

Ingrid successfully completed the re-structuring of the CRY’s revenue streams, its Board, systems of governance, performance measurement and management processes, development of long-term strategies, entry into overseas markets and technological transformation.

Before working for CRY, she worked extensively within the private sector as a manager and vice president for a number of corporations in India. She holds a BA from Elphinstone College, Mumbai and a PGDM from IIM, Calcutta.

Sifiso Dube: Executive Assistant to the Secretary General

Sifiso Dube is a Zimbabwean national and joined CIVICUS on the 31st of October 2007 as the executive Assistant to the Secretary General. She has worked for civil society since 2005 including Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. She is currently completing her studies in BCom at UNISA and holds certificates in Monitoring and Evaluation as well as in Project Management. Having worked with civil society organization in the SADC region, Sifiso’s interests are partnership building, gender issues and corporate social responsibility issues.

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