Memory is the Executive Director, The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET).
Memory is an intersectional feminist, a women’s rights activist with over 18 years of experience working on issues of gender and development, women’s empowerment and human rights at national, regional (Africa) and international levels.
As a dynamic pan-African feminist, thought-leader and strategist, Memory is passionate about making a difference in the lives of women and girls using diverse approaches grounded in social justice, feminism and gender equality analysis and practice. She holds a Masters of Philosophy in Management, Integrated Water Resources with a focus on women in leadership and is currently pursuing a second Masters degree in Peace, Human Rights, Gender and Development. Memory joined FEMNET in April 2016 as Head of Programmes, leading and strategically coordinating the programmatic conceptualization, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of FEMNET’s advocacy, communication and capacity building approaches. Prior to joining FEMNET, Memory worked a Gender and Economic Empowerment specialist at International Youth Foundation. She also served as the Executive Director of The Women’s Trust in Zimbabwe, following an accomplished 8 years in the UN in various capacities at UN Women, UNIFEM and UNFPA at both regional and national level. Memory values deep relations that are empowering and timeless.
Patience Nyange is the Executive Director at the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK).
She is a media, communications, and advocacy specialist in Kenya.
Patience has 18 years of experience in various communications fields, including broadcast journalism, international public relations and communications, social media management and mentorship for young journalists and PR practitioners. She is biased toward human rights and passionate about women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment. She has been at the forefront of advocating for gender-sensitive reporting in Africa.
Patience is the founder of #KenyaWomenSeries, a platform that curates incredible, inspiring profiles of Kenyan women and what they do to change the world in their own small and big ways. She helps women hoot their trumpets.
She previously served as an Assistant Director of the Chairpersons Office at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
She serves as a Board Member at the Sustainable Development Goals Forum-Kenya and a Mentor and Board Member at Emerging Leaders Foundation- Africa. It empowers, supports and equips young women and men to achieve meaningful, dignified and impactful participation in governance, economy and public affairs at all levels of society.
Patience is an alumnus of Daystar University, the University of Nairobi and Cardiff University in the United Kingdom (Chevening Scholar)
George Awalla leads VSO’s partnerships and fundraising in Horn of Africa, covering Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan, and is a Co-Chair of SDGs Kenya Forum. George has over 20 years work experience in programme development and management, fundraising, and civil society leadership. George has MBA degree specialising in strategic management, is finalising a Masters degree in Development Studies. His first degree was in Agriculture Education and Extension. George serves as Executive Liaison for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme/Young African Leadership Initiative in East and Central Africa under IREX.
George has also worked in West Africa as project coordinator for Development in Nigeria. George has wide experience in management of donor funded international development programmes in Education, Livelihoods, Governance, Gender and Social Inclusion. placements, George provides technical advise to Viwango a CSO standards mechanism in Kenya; and was involved in the development of Women Economic Empowerment Strategy for Kenya. He has also been a writer on development issues for The Governor a monthly magazine on governance and development issues
Ms.Florence Syevuo is a renowned Civil Society Coalition Builder, Coordinator and Campaigner to ending poverty and inequalities in all its forms leaving no one behind. Florence worked initially as a coordinator and youth champion for Millennium Development Goals since 2006 jointly with the then Ministry of Devolution and Planning-MDGs Unit, United Nations Millennium Campaign as a convener of civil society organizations under the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP). Following a vast coalition building experience Ms. Syevuo was appointed as the Country Coordinator of The SDGs Kenya Forum in 2016 to championing a harmonized approach to implementing the 2030 Agenda in Kenya by fostering partnership and ownership among all stakeholders.
Ms. Syevuo has been instrumental in numerous policy advocacy & change processes, generated research papers and key reports, and coordination of mass citizen mobilization for action events including Stand Up & Speak Out Campaign and Action 2015. Ms. Syevuo together with colleagues have specialized as co conveners facilitating civil Society organizations joint action and engagement with government executive, legislature, judiciary arms and technical ministries, private sector, academia and media to accelerate progress and to facilitate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development in Kenya.
Key Roles
• Kenya Interagency Technical SDGs Group/Committee Co-Chair- Chaired by National Treasury and State Planning &Co- Chair Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) http://planning.go.ke/
• Co-Chair , Global South-Transparency Accountability &Participation (TAP) 2019 http://tapnetwork2030.org/
• Kenya Interagency Committee member on Gender Statistics Making Every Woman and Girl Count- Lead by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and UN Women https://www.genderinkenya.org/ungendernews/making-every-woman-and-girl-count-kenya-to-implement-un-womens-global-programme-on-gender-statistics/
• Africa Board Member-Civic Commission for Africa on TICAD Process https://www.facebook.com/CCFAf/
• Uwezo Kenya National Advisory Committee Member, TWAWEZA East Africa www.twaweza.org
• Advisory Committee Member-Deliver for Good Kenya Campaign https://womendeliver.org/deliver-for-good-kenya-campaign/
Hellen is the Gender and Advocacy Lead at the SDGs Kenya Forum, a platform that brings together over 350 diverse civil society organizations, government entities, academia, media and the private sector who work to influence multi-stakeholder policies and actions for the achievement of the 17 SDGs in Kenya. She has over 15 years' experience in Gender and Sustainable Development -having worked with international, regional, and national governance processes and with civil society organizations such as ActionAid, FEMNET, AWAN-Afrika, and SDGs Kenya Forum.
Nicholas Odaga holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Moi University and CPA Part 1&2. He is also studying a Master of Business Administration at Quantic School of Business and Technology.
Nicholas is currently the grants assistant and provides support to the SDG Kenya forum and Development Initiatives in the implementation of the GIZ project, including monitoring of the program and the grants process and procedures from inception to completion.
Nicholas was previously a project accountant at a Compassion International aided project KE0727 in Nairobi, Kenya where he oversaw the cognitive development of over 250 beneficiaries as well as controlled the project finances and ensured the holistic development of all the beneficiaries.
Over the last 3 years he has been a part of a mission team doing outreach activities to vulnerable people in the society with the gospel of hope focusing on dumpsites in Kenya. Through this ministry, many families have been reconciled and the lives of many young people transformed and changed.
Sharon Abuga holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance and IT from Maseno University. Her passion for problem-solving, data analysis, and fund management led her to specialize in Finance. Currently, Ms. Sharon serves as the Finance and Administration Assistant at SDGs Kenya Forum. In this role, she works closely with the Grants Officer to facilitate financial management and procedures for the organization. Additionally, she provides support the Forum in administration, procurement, and front-office tasks. Over the past three years, Ms. Sharon has worked with Upendo Educational Centre, an orphanage, as a budgetary consultant and motivational coach. She is passionate about helping orphaned children in society by ensuring access to quality education, safe housing, and adequate food. Her work aligns with the sustainable development goals in Kenya, which aim to uplift the less fortunate in society.
Faith Mukonza is SDG Kenya Forum’s Communications Assistant. She completed her undergraduate studies in Information Science at Moi University. Prior to joining SDG Kenya Forum, Faith worked with Alternatives Africa, where she was able to deepen her experience in Digital Marketing,Social media management as well as corporate communications. Ms. Faith is a vibrant, creative and innovative individual, who brings her skills and passion to her work. Her skills and competence include graphic design, e-book publishing, online journalism, public and media relations, editing, and aspects of digital knowledge management. Beyond her professional life, Ms. Faith is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and wellness. She has published an e-book on the subject and actively supports initiatives that promote mental well-being. In her leisure time, Ms. Faith enjoys fitness activities, and creative expression in various forms.