Mariann Bassey Orovwuje, Chairperson

Mariann is a Program Manager in the foremost Nigerian advocacy non governmental organization, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN). ERA is the Nigerian chapter of Friends of the Earth International – a network of 76 national grassroots groups, campaigning to protect the environment and to create sustainable societies.

Mariann is also the Coordinator of Friends of the Earth Africa’s Food Sovereignty Campaign. In addition she is on Friends of the international (FoEI) Steering Committee of the Food Sovereignty Program.

Mariann is a Lawyer, as well as an environmental, human and food rights advocate. She has demonstrated ability and drive to provide leadership while at the same time being a great team player. She started out as activist for Students’ Rights at the University and she was eventually elected the Attorney- General of the Students’ Union Government.

Faustin Vuningoma, General Secretary

Faustin is Rwandan by nationality and married with five children. He obtained his first degree in social sciences, majoring in administrative sciences from Kigali Independent University in Rwanda and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Maastricht School of Management in The Netherlands, majoring in project management. He possesses vast experience working with both the public and private sectors. He is well conversant with strategic planning, organizational development, human resources management team building and project management.

Josephine Atangana, Board Member

Josephine Atangana is based in Cameroon. She represents Central Africa Sub-Regional Platform of Farmers’ Organizations – PROPAC within AFSA. Founded in 2005 PROPAC gathers national platforms of 10 countries in the sub-region of Central Africa. PROPAC is a founding member of the Pan African Farmers Organisation (PAFO).

Jean Paul Sikeli, Board Member

A lawyer by training, Jean Paul holds a Master’s Degree in Human Rights and another in Public Law mastering international law. His research focused on the tension between human rights and modern biotechnology in the context of food security and the fight against terrorism in international law.

On a professional level Jean was a consultant at FAO and Inades-Formation International. He held the positions of Program Officer and then Executive Secretary of the Coalition for the Protection of the African Genetic Heritage (COPAGEN), a position he has held since August 2014.

COPAGEN is a grassroots citizen movement that champions the rights of communities on genetic resources against various forms of threats including GMOs and the phenomenon of land and natural resource grabbing. Jean has carried out numerous advocacy initiatives to safeguard the African genetic heritage. He is the author of several publications and articles.

Ali Aii Shatu, Treasurer

Ali Aii Shatu holds a Higher National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. In October 2000, she was recruited as Gender and Women Promotion Programme Coordinator in MBOSCUDA and has served in that position for six years and was later elected to MBOSCUDA Board as Finance Sub-Committee Chairlady in 2010, a position she still holds.

For her extensive experience and excellence Ali was elected to represent the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee (IPACC), a network of 150 indigenous peoples’ organizations in 20 African countries in AFSA. She has also been IPACC’s focal point on Food and Agriculture related issues.

In November 2016, she was elected to serve the Alliance as Treasurer. A mother of three, two sons and a daughter Mrs. Ali devoted herself to the food sovereignty movement that promises her children a better future.

Elisabeth Mpofu, Board Member

Elizabeth is an organic farmer and activist who works tirelessly for the betterment of smallholder farmers. She is the current General Coordinator of La Via Campesina, the international peasant movement comprising some 164 local and national organizations in 73 countries in the defense of small-scale sustainable agriculture as a way to promote social justice and dignity.

In the 80s and 90s, Elizabeth has been the Chairperson for the Association of Zimbabwe Traditional Environmental Conservationists (AZTREC). In 2016, she was appointed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) as its Special Ambassador for the International Year of the Pulse for Africa. She is also founding member and Chairperson of Zimbabwe Smallholder Organic Farmers Forum (ZIMSOFF) and Board member of Eastern & Southern Smallholder Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF).
Elizabeth served in AFSA’s former steering committee. She was re-elected to serve a second term as Board Member of AFSA representing La Via Campesina in Africa.

Dr Chris Macoloo, Board Member

Dr Chris Macoloo is the Regional Director for Africa at World Neighbors, an international development organization. Chris is based in Nairobi, Kenya, from where he leads World Neighbors’ development team in five African countries. Chris combines training and experience in academic work with international development work. He has a Ph.D. in Urban Geography and Planning from the University of Cambridge, UK and over 20 years of university teaching where he rose to the position of Associate Professor of the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He has over 15 years of international development work with international non-governmental organizations. In his current portfolio, Chris manages development programs that focus on sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, natural resources management and community and reproductive health. He provides strategic leadership to the Africa team with the aim of strengthening the capacities of local organizations to be in control of their development processes.