The Voix EssentiELLES Fund

Gloria Nadine KAMBOU is a professional involved in mediation, improving care and community dispensing for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and sex workers in Burkina Faso.

Born on January 14, 1987 in Kaya, KAMBOU GLORIA NADINE spent her childhood in Bobo Dioulasso and later moved to Ouagadougou where she spent the rest of her teenage years. Mother of 2, she holds a degree in PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

She began her associative career in 2015 with the YERELON PLUS association as a peer educator, and in 2020 as a mediator-counsellor until 2022. This year sees the launch of her association called "Association pour la Protection de l'Enfance en Difficulté (APED)", which is in the process of changing its name to "SIGNONTARB", created in 2016 and officially recognized in 2017. Activist since 2016 for the cause of women, young girls without forgetting children and sex workers .

Nadine NIKIEMA, born February 5, 1981 in Ouagadougou, is a leader committed to education and women's empowerment in Burkina Faso. A certified secondary school teacher, she holds an A4 baccalaureate and a master's degree in Modern Literature.
Head of a post-primary and secondary school from 2017 to 2024, she initiated major actions to help girls succeed in school and prevent early and unwanted pregnancies. President of the Association Aucune Grossesse en Milieu Scolaire (AGMS) since 2016, she leads impact projects in favor of girls' and women's rights, the sexual and reproductive health of young people and adolescents, and the fight against gender-based violence.

A committed entrepreneur, she is the founder of three simplified cooperative companies specializing in the production and processing of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), contributing to the empowerment of women and the economic development of south-central Burkina Faso. Her leadership and commitment make her a key figure in the promotion of women's education and well-being.

SOME Ber Kouo Clarisse is an activist committed to promoting women's rights and gender equality.
For the past 7 years, she has been working with associations to promote women's emancipation and access to land. This association strengthens the skills of its members and other women's structures on certain themes, organizes advocacy and literacy campaigns and raises public awareness. Still determined to advance the cause of women, it continues to recruit young girls and organizes exchanges and experience-sharing with other local structures.

Mrs. NACRO is a disabled woman who, for her own, and her family’s fulfilment, decided to carry out income-generating activities, including crafts and catering. This was marked by several challenges, including stigmatisation. Realising that this phenomenon affects many women in the same situation as her, she committed herself to supporting and accompanying those sisters and daughters with disabilities like her, to ensure they would be valued. As President of the AFHBB, she represents the structure in front of all partners, takes part in meetings and fights for gender to be included in all government actions.

Mme WETTA née ABEM KADOUA is the coordinator of the Association des Jeunes Femmes du Nahouri (AJFN). She is forty-three (43) years old, married and the mother of two (2) children. With several training courses to her credit since 2003 in the associative field, she gleaned attestations and certificates in business management, social cohesion, human rights and capacity building. Equipped with these skills, she has succeeded in carrying out her battle in the field.

She is also a radio host at Radio Goulou de Po, where she hosts interactive programs and round-table discussions on the well-being of women and their children.
She took part in the 2023 Africa mousso competition for women fighters in Burkina Faso, coming 3rd out of 500 entrants.
Since 2021, she has had the honor of being awarded a medal by the local authorities.

Ms. SAVADOGO was first a supervisor of farmers' organizations in the Yatenga agro-ecology project (PAE) for 13 years, before the association was created. At the time of the association's creation, she was in charge of organizing herders' and farmers' groups for the Nouhao valley development project, where she worked for seven (7) years. She has always enjoyed working for the community with the community, hence the creation of AVORB. Voix EssentiELLES' support for women's leadership and the involvement of women and girls in decision-making bodies enabled her to join the Bittou commune special delegation as a member in 2022. She is currently President of the General Affairs Commission.

A sociable person with a passion for culture, she also joined the provincial office of CSOs in the Boulgou province, where she was responsible for women on the Comité de veille citoyenne du secteur numéro 2 de la commune de Bittou. She is currently the first commissioner of the Voix Essentielle network in Burkina Faso.

Sawadogo Saïbata is an English teacher by profession and a community actress by passion. I have a Bac +5.
She has been involved in the community since high school in 2000, when she was elected girl leader of the RAJS/Sanmatenga anti-AIDS club. This commitment continued at the University of Ouagadougou, and in 2011 I took part in the YALI (Young African Leaders' Initiative), a leadership program run by the former President of the United States, Barack Obama.
After becoming an English teacher, in collaboration with a group of committed women from different socio-professional backgrounds, she created AFESS, which in 2021 became AFESSD_BF. Before becoming president in 2021, she was in charge of training women/girls and young people in personal development, female leadership and entrepreneurship. In addition to AFESSD, she was Secretary General of RAJS Sanmatenga, general coordinator of DIAFASUD, training officer of RAD/ CN /( Réseau des associations de Développement), focal point ABURWA etc.....
Since 2017, given the suffering of women/girls and children due to the security situation, she has become more committed to promoting and protecting the rights of these vulnerable groups.

KAM Yéli Céline is a lawyer deeply committed to defending human rights, particularly those of women and girls. She has been involved in the fight against gender-based violence since 2019, where she is recognized as an expert, and has been an active advocate for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights since 2021. As the founder of Association KAMY, she works daily to raise awareness, provide training, empower individuals, and support communities in a process of social transformation, with a clear goal: to ensure that the rights of all women and girls are fully recognized, respected, and protected.

An activist committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence (GBV) in Burkina Faso. My career in the field of health and women's rights is remarkable and illustrates my dedication to the community.

My commitment extends beyond the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing technical assistance to several organizations involved in the Global Fund process in Burkina Faso. I have also contributed to actions to combat GBV, including training opinion leaders, training women in female entrepreneurship, raising awareness of GBV prevention, supporting the empowerment of women and girls, and community watch.

I continue to work actively to improve the health and rights of women and girls in Burkina Faso.
I have acquired essential skills through my certifications in teaching skills, GBV prevention and care, monitoring and evaluation, project management and human nutrition and dietetics.

OUEDRAOGO Sakinatou, president of the Association pour la défense des droits des aides ménagères et domestiques (ADDAD Burkina), was born on May 29, 1995 in Ouagadougou. She had a very difficult school career due to lack of financial means. At the age of 09, she decided to work as a domestic in very precarious conditions, which led to a very painful journey. The desire to share her experience with other domestic workers led to the creation of a tontine.

Following this meeting through the tontine, the desire to make their voices heard and claim their rights, which have always been scorned, led to the creation of the Association des droits des aides ménagères et domestiques in 2012, of which she has been president since 2018. Currently married with two children, this doesn't stop her from continuing to defend and advocate for a specific status for domestic helpers and domestic workers.

Madame ZAMPALIGRE Fatimata was born in LEDA, in the Boulgou province, in the Centre Est region. She spent part of her childhood in Burkina Faso, but didn't have the chance to continue her studies as she left school in the fourth grade. Her father took her to the Ivory Coast, before she returned to Burkina to live with her uncle and get married. Today, she is the mother of four children and fights to ensure that all those who, like her, were not fortunate enough to go to school can read and write in the local language, because for her, literacy is the key to enabling each individual to evolve. She became president of APFG in 2020 after several years with the association, as a literacy facilitator in the Bissa language. Thanks to the activities of Voix Essentielle, she became a member of the Garango women's association coordination. With her sixteen (16) years' experience in literacy, she leads the partnership with FONAENF and works on the Voix Essentielles project, where she coordinates all field activities.

Ms. NANA Pauline, an auxiliary midwife, felt challenged by the suffering of women during childbirth. In addition, the phenomenon of abandoned children and orphans, which she had witnessed on several occasions, gave rise to a need for her to contribute to the protection and well-being of children in Burkina Faso.

She will be working at the "Cité des Enfants de Boulsa" reception center for children in distress, as the director appointed by the NGO AMI, so that she can fully exercise her vocation to help and supervise young children. Ms. NANA was awarded the status of Woman Leader by her managers in recognition of her achievements.
In 2013, she decided to set up an association in the Saaba commune where she was born. This is the Association Soutien aux Enfants et Femmes Vulnérables (ASEFV), of which she is president. Her aim is to help care for vulnerable children and promote women's rights and empowerment.

She then had the idea of associating it with a reception center for children in distress to maximize the impact in favor of children at risk, and also in a bid to look after them properly. The association Soutien aux enfants et femmes vulnérable will receive from the hands of the president, a decoration later in 2017 as a Knight of the Burkinabe Order of Merit.
Ms. NANA Pauline is a very committed woman at the service of the community. She will be elected in 2018 as Coordinator of women's organizations in the Saaba commune, President of the Saaba Communal Electoral Commission (CECI) in 2020 and also a member of the Saaba special delegation in 2022. Strategic positions in which she intends to step up her actions for the protection, promotion and empowerment of women and vulnerable people.

TIENDREBEOGO /OUEDRAOGO Aïcha is a passionate activist born on July 20, 1985 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. She has dedicated her professional life to fighting gender-based violence (GBV), the 3 diseases (TB/HIV) and malaria in her community, and is renowned for her unwavering commitment to gender equality and women's rights.

Since 2024, her commitment has enabled her to join the National Coalition to Combat Child Marriage in Burkina Faso (CONAMEB). In this coalition, she is in charge of communication and advocacy in the coordination office.
Her projects have also focused on promoting women's economic empowerment and access to sexual and reproductive health services. Her work has improved the lives of many vulnerable women in Burkina Faso. Thanks to her unwavering commitment and dedication, Ms TIENDREBEOGO /OUEDRAOGO Aïcha has become a source of inspiration for many people in Burkina Faso. In November 2022, she was honored by her country's highest authorities, making her a Knight of the Order of Merit.

Today, Mrs TIENDREBEOGO /OUEDRAOGO Aïcha continues her fight with determination, constantly seeking new strategies to eradicate gender-based violence in Burkina Faso and the fight against the 3 pathologies. She remains a living example of what perseverance and passion can achieve in the fight for gender equality and women's rights.

Irène Zoungrana is a communications expert with more than 15 years of experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, where she has held positions as head of communications departments, director of communications consulting agencies, and coordinator of public health communications and advocacy projects. As a project coordinator, she has proven experience in supervising multi-stakeholder teams. An expert in public speaking, she has been facilitating national and international events for governments, NGOs, and private organizations for over 10 years, and has 15 years of expertise in audiovisual production and public communication on issues related to development and health education.

Bénédicte BAILOU is a committed lawyer and feminist activist, founder and Executive Director of the Mouvement Citoyen FEMIN-IN, which works to defend and promote women's rights in Burkina Faso. As a consultant on gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive rights, she conducts studies on public policy and accompanies survivors of GBV. Appointed deputy to represent women's civil society organizations in Burkina Faso's Transitional Legislative Assembly, she is also a member of the Gender, Social Action and Humanitarian Commission, where she holds the position of second secretary. With a vision focused on citizen participation, education and health, Bénédicte BAILOU is a fervent advocate of transparency and women's participation in decision-making processes, contributing to the advancement of women's rights in her country.

Farida Sonia TIEMTORE is a lawyer, blogger committed to promoting women's initiatives, digital project manager and founding President of the Réseau des Héroïnes du Faso, a community-based organization dedicated to defending the rights of girls and women. For over eight years, she has been an active campaigner for gender equality and improved public health in Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso.

Through her blog www.lesheroinesdufaso.com , she writes articles to inform and raise awareness on gender equality, health, leadership and civic participation. Through her association, she works for a world where every girl and woman, without distinction, can participate in decision-making processes, develop fully and enjoy their fundamental rights.

Her commitment enabled her to join the Youth Council of the Global Fund to Fight Malaria, HIV and Tuberculosis in 2024. Moreover, in 2023 she was honored to receive the Speak Up Africa Leadership Award, a distinction that celebrates individuals and organizations demonstrating exemplary leadership in the public health sector and having a positive impact on sustainable development in Africa.

W. Cécile Thiombiano/Yougbaré is a lawyer, population and health policy analyst, and expert in international cooperation and humanitarian action. A recognized activist and feminist, she has coordinated programs for the Global Fund and currently works at the headquarters of Médecins du Monde France as an SRH advocacy advisor for Africa. A Knight of the Order of Merit for Health, she is also a member of the Board of Directors of Médecins du Monde France.

Mrs Bibata SINARE is a community animator in reproductive health, vaccination and monitoring of the prenatal and postnatal calendar, malaria, water hygiene and sanitation. She has been working for more than ten years with the Health and Social Promotion Centre of Ziniaré and Ziniaré commune. Her commitment led her to work with women from the community to create the Yikrii Association for women’s well-being and development. Today, as the association’s president, she is responsible for the association’s political management.

Nènè Fofana, Executive Director of the AFF Foundation.

A global expert in health and development, she is a leader in West African initiatives focusing on gender, health and social impact. Currently Executive Director of Africa Forward Advisory and the Africa Forward Foundation, Ms. Fofana has led efforts to strengthen health systems and advance sexual and reproductive health rights across Africa. Her work includes building equitable partnerships between donors, countries and international and national civil society organizations. She is recognized as a discreet advisor to many international leaders and institutions.

Ms. Amon Didière, born on May 23, 1957, is a leading figure in social and community activism in Côte d’Ivoire. Her professional career includes positions as a collections agent in 1996 and then as an operations agent at the CNPS in 2003. As president of APROSAM, she has dedicated much of her life to community development, working to improve living conditions and defend the rights of vulnerable populations. Through her leadership, she has spearheaded numerous projects promoting education, health, and the empowerment of women and youth in her region.

Larissa Mabo is a psychologist by training and also holds a higher diploma in human resources management. She has over 19 years' experience in coordinating community HIV/AIDS projects financed by donors such as PEPFAR, USAID and ONUCI-SIDA. She managed Côte d'Ivoire's first community-based voluntary counseling and testing center, which won the award for best community structure.
She has also been a member of the national pool of advanced trainers since 2005. She is also president of the NGOs C.E.D.V, Milles Espoirs and Anonyme CI.

Eva Helena AMEGBOH is a humanitarian and development practitioner specializing in gender-based violence (GBV), social innovation and youth engagement. She holds a Master's degree in Leadership & Non-Profit Management, and has over 10 years' experience in NGOs and international institutions. Her involvement in international volunteering and civic engagement has enabled her to strengthen her skills in partnership management, resource mobilization and capacity building. As a GBV consultant, she has supported over 64 local and international organizations through the Collectif des Activistes de Côte d'Ivoire (CACI), which she coordinates.

A nurse by training, KOUAME Akoua Pélagie worked in private clinics in Abidjan for around ten years.

In 2009, she became involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS as a volunteer with the NGO Espace Confiance. She holds the position of Bio-Lab Technician at Bietry.
In 2012, she was recruited as an Agent Communautaire dépisteur at the NGO BLETY, where she initiated BLETY's HIV/AIDS counseling and testing as an advanced strategy in the sex worker community in the 10 communes of Abidjan and among other Vulnerable Populations at the NGO Arc-en-ciel plus, on the Heartland Alliance International IMPACT project cited among others.
In 2013, she was recruited by Espace Confiance ANYAMA. She later became a Community Advisor / Supervisor on the Global Fund's ROUND 9 project in the Agneby Tiassa and Mé regions. The sum of her experiences led her to found the NGO Conscience et Vie (COVIE) on March 30, 2014, of which she was the first President. In 2015 KOUAME Akoua Pélagie was recruited by the members of the Board of Directors as Executive Director to ensure the day-to-day management of the Association. As Executive Director of the NGO COVIE, her priority is to be closer to vulnerable populations.

Elodie Tie Lou Tranan, 31, is the president of Engage & Share and deputy coordinator of the Global Youth Platform for the Global Financing Facility (GFF), which focuses on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, infant, and adolescent health and nutrition. Passionate about youth community engagement, particularly in addressing challenges affecting women and girls, she has been working in this field for over 8 years. She holds a master’s degree in project management from the University of Bradford and an advanced degree in cultural action, and she firmly believes in the ability of young people to address, with the right support, the development challenges affecting women and girls.

Irad Gbazale is a teacher, communicator by training and former local radio host. She founded and runs the NGO Femme en action and since September 2020 has been leading the Réseau des médiatrices de paix communautaire de Côte d’Ivoire [Community Peace Mediators Network] as National Coordinator. This network was set up by UN Women Côte d'Ivoire and the Ministry of Women, Family and Children. She is a member of the Committee to include gender in the electoral process (CSGPE-CI) and a member of the Peace and Security Network for Women in the ECOWAS region (RESFECO-CI), and is responsible for communication with the Group of Women's Organisations for Gender Equality (GOFEHF) and the Collective of Activists of Côte d'Ivoire (CACI).

Dr HONORINE VEHI-TOURE is the current Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the NGO GFM3 and a founding member of the Réseau Organisations Féminines de l'Afrique Francophone (ROFAF) based in Lomé, Togo, and Treasurer of the N'KEMKIA Foundation based in Rome, VATICAN, ITALY. The knowledge she has acquired from all these international institutions, and the practical experience she has gained in the field, have made her a specialist in the fight against HIV/AIDS and GBV, particularly those linked to obstetric fistula, for which she was recognized as a pioneer at the end of the identification phase of the first 42 fistula carriers in Western Côte d'Ivoire, as part of the project financed by UNFPA, on the advice of MSF-BELGIQUE.

Kouamé Josiane has held several positions of responsibility in community organizations:

• President of the NGO GNOUWIETA -(POADCI) - Regional President of Haut-Sassandra
• NGO association of defenders and helpers of housewives and servants of Côte d'Ivoire (ADDAD) - Regional President of Haut Sassandra
• Catholic Women's Association - President of the Military Chaplaincy of Daloa
• Association of military wives of Côte d'Ivoire region of Daloa - President of the wives of retired soldiers
• RIP+ - Focal Point Haut-Sassandra - Ivorian Network for the Defense of Children's and Women's Rights - Member
• Public finance project, I participate - Member
• Regional platform (Haut-Sassandra) for GBV and OVC - Member
• Federation of Women's Associations of Daloa - Member

Marie-France KOUAKOU is a specialist in communication and resource mobilization. She is also an expert consultant in gender and development for the World Bank and the UNESCO Chair in "Water, Women and Decision-Making Power". With her team, she organizes awareness-raising caravans that mobilize thousands of people in Côte d'Ivoire.

Her dynamism earned her appointment as President of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women for the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (CSWA). In February 2025, she was named Country Chair of the G100, the network of the world's most influential women.

Dorothée Gbahonnon Osso Toualy has been RSB’s executive director since 2014. With 30 years of experience in community health, she has completed numerous training courses on STIs/HIV/AIDS, malaria, gender-based violence, organizational management, health project development, and resource mobilization. She is a certified trainer of trainers in training methodology, gender-based violence, and comprehensive sexuality education for children.

OUATTARA Gnininmankiyé epse Ineka was born in 1981. She studied Bilingual Secretarial Management. She worked for several years as an executive secretary and accountant, before devoting herself to her initiative, the NGO TCHELE WOYE and its business.
Passionate about the humanitarian world, she has completed a number of certifications on various topics related to Human Rights (International Human Law, Project Management, Administrative and Financial Management, Leadership, Conflict Prevention and Management, Community Mediation, etc.).

Born in Dimbokro, Côte-d'Ivoire, on 26 March 1970, Anne CECILE KONAN has a Master’s in Geography with a population option and a DESCOM in communication with a human resources management option. Secretary General of the Fédération des Associations pour la promotion sociale des handicapés de Cote d’Ivoire (FAHCI - Federation of Associations for the Social Promotion of the Disabled of Cote d’Ivoire) since September 2005 and a founding member of unafehci where she served as President from 2006 to 2010 and from 2018 to date.

She started out as a small plantain vendor in 1999, where she excelled to become an independent woman. In 2012, Ms. KOUADIO VICTORINE created her real estate development company; in 2016, Ms. KOUADIO Victorine was elected Woman Model of Success for the Abidjan area under the aegis of Care International; in 2020, Ms. KOUADIO Victorine created the NGO Vision to promote the economic and social empowerment of women and girls.

Mrs MEDOR wife BOGUIFO Madeleine Cécile Marie Joseph. Born August 04, 1961 in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Trained as a lawyer.
Concerned about the well-being of populations, especially the most vulnerable, she works on a voluntary basis for the NGO "Y-Voir & Sourire", whose mission is to contribute to the social reintegration of young people and women in difficulty, including in prisons.

As part of the NGO, she attended a Universal Prevention Curricula (UPC) training course with Colombo Plan, funded by the US State Department. Recognized as a trainer of trainers for Côte d'Ivoire in Evidence-based prevention in schools.

I was born in Diourbel on 2 July 1973. I went to the Franco de Mouride primary school in Diourbel. After passing the sixth grade entry diploma, I went to secondary school in the same town at the Diourbel CEM until third grade where I obtained my BFEM in 1997. I am an activist for a better involvement of women living with HIV in decision-making bodies, a founding member of the ABOYA association in 2001, I was Secretary General from 2003 to 2010, and President of the organisation from 2011 to the present day.

Member of the Steering Committee of the National Network of Associations of People Living with HIV (RNP+), this position allowed me to be a member of an international organisation of women living with HIV (ICW West Africa) West Africa branch and since 2016, I have been the Chair of the Board of Directors of the same organisation. I am also an advisor to the National AIDS Council (NAC) and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance of Communities for Health (ANCS).

In 2022, I graduated from the 2nd class of CARTOLOCS trained by Enda/Santé on mapping and estimating the size of key populations.

Nogaye SOW was born in 1960 in Thienaba in the Thiès region, she ended her studies when she left the Serigne Ibrahima Seck primary school in Thienaba. Responsible for communication for the AISM in Thienaba, President of the jaapoo fadjo health mutual in Thienaba, President of the Badiane Gokh in the Khombol district since 1999, General Secretary Thienaba GIE FASS DIOM. In 2016 she was named best Badiane Gokh in the Thiès region.

I'm an activist leader and sex worker from Senegal. I've been involved in the response to HIV since 1995. I started out as a relay, peer educator in a sex worker support organization called AWA. After my studies, I trained in organizational management, then in therapeutic education and peer support through ESTHER. I'm vice-president of RENAPOC and represent key populations on the CCM. I was a health mediator in the South health district from 2003 to 2017. I was South District supervisor for the national vulnerability mapping survey organized by CNLS in 2016. I also participated in the development of the regional strategic model of key populations on HIV. I also participated in the revision of the national strategic plan on HIV in Senegal. I have taken part in numerous national and international conferences (JSS, Forum des Médiateurs, CSW, Icasa, AfriVIh, Aids, etc.).

I currently run an organization of sex workers called And Soppeku.

The Association pour le Maintien des Filles à l'Ecole (AMFE Senegal) was created on April 10, 2010 by a group of teenage girls, students at the CEM (now lycée) les Agnam, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the Republic of Senegal. AMFE is a non-political, non-governmental and independent association.

As an association dedicated to the education, empowerment and leadership of girls and women, AMFE Senegal strives to reflect the specificities of its missions, while embodying values of inclusiveness, equality, solidarity and respect for human rights.

AMFE Senegal's vision is to contribute to making Senegal a country where all girls and women have equal and permanent access to health care, quality education and training, the resources they need to empower themselves, and assertive leadership. The mission is to promote, in a participatory and inclusive way, access to health, education, training, leadership and empowerment for girls and women in Senegal.

AMFE Senegal has 40 cells run by girls aged 12 to 19. The cells are located in schools in the river regions (Matam, Saint-Louis and part of Mauritania), as well as in Senegal's public universities and Instituts Supérieurs d'Enseignement Professionnel (ISEP).

I am a young woman who has been working in the field of public health and humanitarian aid for more than 10 years; concerned about the future of youth and especially women, I had the honour in 2011 to join the Association des jeunes pour le Développement (AJD/Pasteef) as an assistant programme officer. Right from the start, this position allowed me to pilot several programmes to combat violence against women and young people. Living in a patriarchal society where men are considered superior to women, we have seen multiple acts of violence against women for centuries. This is why I decided to participate in the raising of awareness among my sisters and brothers to change this silence.

Quote:
"To take part in the fight against female genital mutilation it is important to involve future parents, namely young people".
"Participating in the emancipation of women and girls is the duty of every citizen".

In the same vein, I am currently the Executive Secretary of the Association Sénégalaise pour l'Avenir de la Femme et de l'Enfant (ASAFE), created in 1997 and legally recognised in 2002. I hold a Higher Diploma in Social Work, with an option in Social Services Management, a Master II in Finance and Public Management, a Master 2 in Citizenship, Human Rights and Humanitarian Action and a State Diploma in Social Work, specialising in supervised education.

I am passionate about early childhood and my struggle is to see meaningful representation of young people in decision-making bodies. To this end, I was recently elected deputy mayor of the city of Guédiawaye.

Born in Thiès, Fatou Badiane is a development worker who has been working in community health since 1983 and has been acting in community dynamics since 2009. President of the Badienou Gox in the Thiès region, she was named the best Badienou Gox of the Thiès health district and the 2nd best Badienou Gox of the Thiès region.

• CSVA National Coordinator
• 1st Vice-President CCM
• Chair of the CCM Strategic Monitoring Committee
• Chair of the CCM Resource Mobilization Commission
• National Coordinator NGO Jamra
• Treasurer 3CAPSANTE
• Administrative and Financial Manager Alliance of Christian and Muslim Religious and Medical Experts (ANREMS)
• General Secretary National Federation of NGOs and CBOs fighting against drugs (FONSELUD)
• Secretary General Réseau National des Intervenants de la SC sur les drogues
  (RNSD)
• Administrative and Financial Manager, Réseau National Islam Santé Education (RNISSE)
• Member of the Comité Interministériel de lutte contre la Drogue (CILD) (Interministerial Committee for the Fight against Drugs)

President of JGEN Senegal (Women Global Entrepreneurship), Maimouna Astou YADE is a young Senegalese feminist activist, 32 years old, social entrepreneuse, she works in advocacy for gender equality and women's sexual rights.

She is a passionate young feminist dedicated to the cause of women and girls, and advocates for the empowerment and the effective inclusion of young people and women in all economic, political and social development policies, both at national and regional levels. A lawyer by training, she specialises in gender, development and human rights. Maimouna became involved at a young age in advancing the rights of women and girls in her country and has led several girls' and young women's leadership organisations since 2010.

Maimouna is also involved in the integration of young African women, particularly in French-speaking Africa, and she initiated and co-founded PLAJEFLF (the African platform of young French-speaking women leaders). This platform was created in Niamey in November 2019.

New Deal focal point since 2015, Sylvie is a young leader and fervent activist for human rights, particularly the rights of girls and children, in collaboration with the Centre Conseil Adolescent de Kolda and Paroles aux jeunes.

Her main activities focus on reproductive health and the sexuality of young people, early marriages, female circumcision, girl empowerment, civil status issues, education, nutrition and recently on alternatives to irregular migration.

Mrs Ndeye Farma NDAO is the newly elected President of the Youth Network appointed at the last ordinary general assembly held in February 2022. She is an active militant for women’s and children’s rights, a leader in the National Movement of Pioneers of Senegal, a legal advisor for companies and businesses and obtained her Master II in Private Law at the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences of the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar.

Adji Fatou Ndiaye - Born on November 28, 1991 in Dakar, I graduated in 2018 as a midwife. I have completed several internships in public and private health facilities in
CHU de FANN, Le Dantec, etc. From 2018 to 2021, I was recruited by the NGO AcDev to join their mobile RH/FP delivery team in the health districts of the Dakar medical region, now the Dakar regional directorate. For the past 1 year, I have been president of the RN-ASLUT women's section and supervisor of the OCAS project on behalf of RN-ASLUTASLUT.

Lawyer - Researcher, National Coordinator of ROAJELF SENEGAL, Specialist in Gender, Communication, Peace and Security. Project Coordinator, Grants Officer Consultant

Born in Kaolack, Khadidiatou Wane has been involved in community life as a versatile relay in the Mbour health district since 1999, helping and guiding women in matters of health.

Her community engagement led her to create the Soppe Sa Jabotte association, which works for women’s empowerment and the prevention of diseases. Her commitment and community involvement led to her being elected president of the “Badienou Gox” in Mbour department in 2010, a position she still holds today. She also chairs the FDEA savings and credit mutual.

Convinced that women must be trained to ensure their autonomy, she has a diploma in sewing and another in fruit and vegetable and cereal processing. Finally, she has opened a sewing room in her home to help girls from disadvantaged backgrounds who cannot afford training.

Ms. Birregah Ata is a committed community development worker, dedicated to the promotion of women's rights and well-being; she applies her leadership to community development and women's empowerment. She leads the association with passion and determination.

Ms Nambkoua DOGOMANGUE, 46, is a committed campaigner for the rights of people with disabilities, particularly women and girls. Mother of three and herself living with a physical disability, she has been involved since 2005 in the fight for inclusion, equality and dignity for all marginalized people. She is the founder and leader of the Association des Femmes et Filles Handicapées Vaillantes de la Région des Savanes (A2FHV-S), an organization created in 2021 to promote empowerment, health, education and protection against gender-based violence.

Mrs. TONGNI Enyonam B. is a woman leader committed to the rights of vulnerable women, in particular sex workers. A humanist and fervent campaigner for the cause of women in general, and vulnerable people in particular, she has a great capacity for mobilization and negotiation. She uses her leadership to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people: sex workers, porters, children and women in vulnerable situations.

ESSEH Afua Kafui, a sociologist by training and President of CADEFE, is one of the key players in the fight to promote the rights of women, girls and vulnerable groups at grassroots level.

Honorine Honkou-Laté, sociologist, doctor of theology and entrepreneur, is a leading figure in Togolese civil society, committed to promoting women's rights and combating gender-based violence (GBV).
With over 20 years' experience in positions of responsibility, she has been an advisor in Togo for the Global Fund for Women and a laureate of the European Union's Political Academy for Women Leaders.

Ms Délali APEGNOWOU is a sociologist specializing in community development and Executive Director of the NGO Famille Engagée pour le Développement Inclusif en Afrique (FEDIA). She holds a master's degree in sociology from the University of Lomé and has over 15 years' experience in training, project management and support for women's initiatives. Her leadership is recognized in the promotion of women's empowerment, inclusive development and environmental preservation.

TATEY Adzoavi Nyuito is a Togolese women's rights activist and Executive Director of the NGO ALAFIA, which she has headed since its creation in 1997. A sociologist by training and a specialist in adult education, she works for the elimination of harmful traditional practices such as customary widowhood, and campaigns for the empowerment of women and girls in Togo.

Under his leadership, ALAFIA has become a benchmark organization in the promotion of health, human rights and gender equality. It continues to mobilize communities and authorities for inclusive social development.

Rachel Awoussi BOYINDJO is an ardent defender of women's rights, actively involved in their promotion, protection and enhancement. She holds a Master 2 degree, and her dissertation focused on "The place of women in community mechanisms for the culture of peace and social cohesion in the prefecture of Tchaoudjo, Central Region of Togo".

She is currently working on a doctoral thesis co-supervised by the University of Lomé (Togo) and ZALF University (Germany), on the subject of "Prejudice, social dogma, genetic origins, the reasons for women's absence from certain socio-economic activities in forest landscape restoration, the case of the Tchamba Prefecture". She is a recognized national expert on gender issues.

Mme AVOSSE A. Akofa Clémentine is a woman leader committed to social development and female emancipation in Togo. She holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master's certificate in ethics and politics, and is a tenured philosophy teacher and high school censor. Currently Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the NGO Femme De Demain, she is also a local councillor in Kloto 1. A grassroots activist, she has been active with CERPAR since 2007 and coordinates the Cercle de Réflexion et d'Action Philosophique (CRAPH). Ms. AVOSSE is also President of the standing committee for women and girls, and founder of the CRAPEFE association and the UCOFECY network of women's cooperatives. She combines philosophical reflection and community involvement to build a more equitable future.

Madame KABISSA Issoyotou holds a master's degree in project management and procurement, and has more than 25 years' experience in facilitating training in gender, leadership, elections and GBV. She is recognized for her work in community development, countering violent extremism, peacebuilding, promoting social cohesion and empowering women.

Mrs. KABISSA Issoyotou is the Coordinator of the Réseau des Femmes et Développement des Savanes. Thanks to her efforts, she has helped improve women's living conditions and promote gender equality.

Dr Odry AGBESSI AGRO, Benin's first female plastic surgeon, founded the VIA-ME Association, which has directly and indirectly impacted over 80,000 people since its inception. A YALI RLC alumnus in Civic Leadership, Dakar 2016, and YALI MWF2018 in PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, UW Madison (USA), she is passionate about topics related to gender equality in childhood and universal health coverage. She has represented Benin on the GIEESC and works in partnership with Mercy Ships through the Medical Capacity Building program to improve the quality of surgical care in Benin and help launch a pain management protocol in West Africa.

Mariane Christelle AZEHOUN is a consultant in WASH, climate change and gender. She has been a National Expert for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2019, and holds a Master's degree from the UNESCO Chair in "Women and Sustainable Water Management".

She has over 10 years' experience in technical support for local authorities and gender mainstreaming in public policy. A YALI alumnus, she is an active campaigner for girls' and women's rights.

Pauline CONDE, born March 3, 1966 in Djougou, is Executive Director of FADeC-ONG, which she co-founded. She has over 25 years' experience in community development in Benin. She started out as a Mediator in the communes of Djougou and Zogbodomey, then worked as an Accountant and Program Assistant from 2007 to 2013. She has contributed to projects in education, health, the environment and women's empowerment. Ms. CONDE has also worked as an independent consultant and General Manager for several of the country's ministries.

Benedicta Aloakinnou is a committed feminist activist from Benin. A women's rights lawyer and feminist consultant, she is co-author of the FEPS policy paper "From Talking to Walking" and lobbies national and international bodies on flexible funding for feminist organizations, girls' voices and women's bodily autonomy. She combines her expertise in feminist organization management, feminist project management, digital activism and legal research to advocate, act and create lasting impact.

President of the REINE ADJIGNON Foundation, Her Majesty Reine Adjignon NATABOU holds a master's degree in Entrepreneurship and Project Management. She is also President of the Network of Women Religious and Traditional Leaders committed to the empowerment of women and girls in Benin, and a seasoned campaigner against gender inequality. She works tirelessly for the promotion of the SRHR and is deeply committed to the abandonment of retrograde and harmful cultural practices that hinder the development of women and children in Benin.

Victorine KEMONOU DJITRINOU Trade unionist, trainer and human rights activist is driven by passion and commitment to a just and equitable society where political will and transparent public funding would enable free access for everyone, especially women, to all public services. She has a wealth of experience in girls' and women's leadership and CSO capacity-building.

Anne Ella MAHOUKPO is an activist with over ten years' experience in defending women's rights. She is both a specialist in sexual and reproductive health rights and an expert in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

Her assertive leadership and constant determination make her a key figure in the fight for equality in Benin. She inspires and mobilizes for a society that is more just, inclusive and respectful of human rights.

Yvette Sessi ALAVO, from Benin, is a specialist in communications, marketing and project management. Born in 1975 in Cotonou, she has traveled and observed global inequalities. She worked for Marketia and M. Media before founding her own communications agency in 2011. Co-founder and Director of the NGO Icône 360°, she works for social justice, youth mentoring and the well-being of populations. She is active in health (with a strong commitment to malaria and breast cancer), the environment and education.

Mariette Biwègnon MONTCHO is a committed young feminist with a master's degree in risk and natural disaster management and an expert in sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), gender and social inclusion, with over ten years' experience in advocacy, project coordination, capacity building and young women's leadership in West Africa. She is the current Executive Director of the West African Network of Young Women Leaders - Benin (ROAJELF-Benin), which she has been piloting with rigor, creativity and strategic vision since 2018.

An advocate of human rights and gender equality, she applies her expertise in gender-sensitive governance and project management to the empowerment of women in Africa. Holder of a Master's degree in Governance and Public Management (Senghor University), she has been piloting innovative projects for the past nine years to strengthen the capacities and political participation of young girls and women, and the development of CSOs.

Dr. Rachel Matumona is the executive director of AHDDIC. A physician by training, she works as a clinician within the organization.

Oracle Itoko Liandja is the coordinator of ASJR, which she represents at the national and international levels. She is responsible for managing the organization, implementing its policies, overseeing provincial coordination efforts, and defending its ethical and financial interests. A medical student in her final year of clinical training, she has expertise in project management, team management, and leadership.

Djeny Ngoie, an industrial computer engineer, is the national coordinator of AEMIL, where she designs and oversees projects that improve the living conditions of children and families of military personnel. As the daughter of a military parent, she draws on her firsthand knowledge of these realities to drive concrete action on the ground. She is also a member of the IPAS board of directors, the country representative for the Synergy of Young Africans for Peace and Security, and the communications manager at Youth Sprint.

Sarah Kamangu Meta serves as Secretary General of the CJP-DRC, where she helps design action plans, monitor provincial coordination efforts, and implement community activities. She oversees institutional communications and serves as the liaison with the PNLP and partners. She holds a bachelor’s degree in community health and epidemiology from ISTM Kinshasa, as well as several certificates in gender studies, communication, and public speaking. With more than three years of volunteer experience with various local organizations, she now coordinates activities related to the management of community projects focused on women’s inclusion.

Thérèse Kabale Omari is an actress who has been actively involved in the fight against HIV for over 30 years and is one of the co-founders of Fondation Femme Plus, a pioneering organization in this field in the DRC. She began as a volunteer in 1994, later became provincial director, and is now the organization’s national director. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Development and has completed numerous training programs both in the DRC and abroad. As a manager of national and international projects, she is an expert on gender issues, sexual and gender-based violence, and the fight against HIV and tuberculosis, and is highly skilled in community health, advocacy, resource mobilization, and the management of large-scale teams.

Maria Mputu Nyafe serves as interim executive director of IYAFP-DRC, where she coordinates the organization’s activities and represents it at the national and international levels. She also coordinates the “Women and Health” platform, which brings together civil society organizations of women and girls working in the fields of entrepreneurship, leadership, and health in the DRC. As a medical intern at the university clinics in Kinshasa, she has been committed to women’s health issues for more than five years, particularly those of vulnerable young girls in rural areas, and has developed expertise in advocacy, project management, and health communication. She serves as a youth ambassador to UNESCO, UNICEF, and other United Nations agencies.

Plamedie Ibalanshim is a Congolese activist working to combat gender-based violence in the DRC. As vice president and project and planning manager at Jeunes En Action, she helps define strategic directions and contributes to the design and monitoring of community initiatives. As an intern journalist at the Congolese Press Agency, she is also a member of networks of young activists advocating for access to sexual and reproductive health services, including safe abortion (Youth Sprint). Since 2021, she has developed strong skills in advocacy, project management, community outreach, and health communication.

Exaucée Sompila Nyanda is vice president of MAJ RDC, where she helps coordinate activities strategically and strengthen initiatives that support young people and women. She has experience collaborating with several NGOs working in the field of sexual and reproductive health for adolescents and young people, and is actively involved in promoting the rights of women and girls through awareness-raising, advocacy, and capacity-building. A graduate in public communication and development from the University of Information and Communication Sciences (UNISIC, formerly IFASIC), she uses her skills in strategic communication and community mobilization to drive social change.

Sarah Musuamba Bukasa is a young healthcare professional of Congolese origin who is passionate about community well-being and the promotion of public health. She holds a bachelor’s degree in community health, with a concentration in epidemiology, from the Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Kinshasa (ISTM/KIN), and also has an associate’s degree in general nursing.

Throughout her career, Sarah has gained solid practical experience through several internships at renowned healthcare facilities, notably at the Kinshasa University Clinics and the Central Office of the Limete Health Zone. She has also worked closely with the National Multisectoral Program to Combat HIV/AIDS (PNMLS) and the VIDA Matonge STI Center/PNLS as an investigator. This has enabled her to gain a broad understanding of how the healthcare system operates in the DRC.

In addition to her technical skills, Sarah has completed several continuing education courses, including in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI), peer education, and responsible data management.

Sarah Musuamba, who has been a volunteer with the organization Les Ailes du Cœur since 2022, continues to use her expertise to serve communities through a comprehensive and integrated approach focused on prevention, awareness-raising, and the fight against endemic diseases; environmental hygiene as a determinant of health; and the promotion of community health in her role as project manager.

Dr. Tshibuabua Bayike Marie is a physician who has been committed for more than a decade to promoting public health, sexual and reproductive health, and combating gender-based violence. As coordinator of Univers Santé Plus, she leads initiatives to prevent disease and build the capacity of healthcare professionals. She also serves as a sexual and reproductive health coach for adolescent girls, helping to empower them through education, support, and awareness-raising.

Melchie Ibula is the coordinator of Youthfim. A Congolese physician and social activist, she has been committed since her teenage years to promoting health, equality, and the empowerment of girls and women in the DRC. Having worked her way up through all levels of the organization, she now leads efforts to strengthen youth leadership through community-based sustainable development initiatives, including the projects “My Health, My Responsibility!” and “Young Woman: My Body or My Mind?” She heads the capacity-building committee within the YouthSprint network and chairs the administration and finance committee of AJCAF, and is listed among the DRC’s 100 promising young leaders in the category of women’s and girls’ rights. [Note: The reference to the “WAVE project” has been removed in accordance with the directive never to use that name to refer to Voix EssentiELLES | Women’s Leadership Against Malaria.]