alumninews · alumna lúcia antónio’s training has reached beyond the direct participants, 26...

Developing the world’s first public-private partnership disclosure web portalWriters: Janine Smit and Gugulethu Makhubo Photography: Supplied by Fotolia.com

The public-private partnerships sector is emerging in Nigeria. Alumna Priscilla Jiwunde believes that the knowledge she gained through Australia Awards has been instrumental in directly reducing Nigeria’s infrastructure gap.

The past decade has seen an increased interest in the procurement of the services of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Nigeria. The Acting Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Engr. Chidi Kingsley Izuwah, stated that a capital amount of USD120 trillion can potentially be accessed for infrastructure development, thereby growing the nation’s economy and improving its gross domestic product (GDP). Nigeria’s National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan states that such significant infrastructure investment can be achieved through PPPs.

According to the World Bank’s Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) database, 56 Nigerian PPPs, with a total investment commitment of USD39 billion, reached financial closure between 1990 and 2015. In addition, another 60 projects are at various stages of development and procurement, and 51 (85 per cent) of these are in the implementation stage. These projects cover key sectors such as transport, energy, education, housing and health.

Priscilla Jiwunde is an Australia Awards Alumna who plays an important role in developing policies and best practices for Nigerian PPPs. She is Assistant Chief Infrastructure Officer at the ICRC and completed the Public-Private Infrastructure Partnerships (PPIP) Short Course at the University of Queensland in 2016. Priscilla is one of the few women in management positions at the ICRC.

During her time in Australia, she interacted with colleagues from other African organisations with experience in PPPs. When she returned home, the ICRC asked her to develop guidelines for unsolicited PPP proposals. What she learnt on the PPIP Short Course enabled her to draw from the best practices of the jurisdictions that

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Africa Newsletter

Alumni News Volume 25

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Alumna Priscilla Jiwunde from Nigeria.

she had studied, as well as collaborate with colleagues, before presenting a report to the ICRC. Following the report’s submission, Priscilla’s guidelines were accepted. These guidelines will be implemented, pending the outcome of the review of the ICRC Act, which is currently in progress.

Following the success of the guidelines, the World Bank requested the ICRC to publicly disclose all information about PPP contracts so that the public could be informed of contractors’ responsibilities and various project scopes. This created an important opportunity for Priscilla, as disclosing information is an important step to gaining more valuable end-user feedback. Responding to this need enabled her to play an integral part in the development of the world’s first PPP public disclosure portal. The project gave rise to the ICRC’s PPP Contracts Disclosure Web Portal.

Previously, when the ICRC conducted quarterly reviews of projects it was unable to review how new infrastructure affected the end user. As per her Reintegration Action Plan (RAP), Priscilla identified the need for a feedback platform that would gather this information, address problems that were identified and ultimately ensure that end-users receive value. She conducted

a stakeholder analysis and identified the World Bank as a potential funder for the platform. She presented her RAP to the World Bank and was allocated a role in the project because of the experience and the exposure she had gained through her PPIP Short Course. The World Bank funded the entire project, from the diagnostics on PPP disclosure in Nigeria to the development of the web portal. Priscilla was tasked with project delivery and the stakeholder interface. Through developing the portal, Priscilla has successfully completed a large part of her RAP and implemented a solution that improves the quality of end-user feedback.

The web portal (http://ppp.icrc.gov.ng/) was delivered in September 2017. It includes each PPP project’s title, key performance areas, time frames, project plans and stakeholders. The portal has played a significant role in Nigeria’s ascent in the ranks of the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business Report” for 2018, which placed the country in 145th position, 24 positions higher than in 2017. ‘The World Bank also developed the Nigerian PPP Knowledge Lab as an outflow of the portal. It serves the needs of governments and practitioners alike, filling the gap on reliable and trustworthy information about PPPs’, says Priscilla. In addition, the World Bank showcased the PPP Contracts Disclosure Web Portal on its blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org/ppps/nigeria-blazes-trail-ppp-disclosures-new-web-portal.

One of the key skills that Priscilla learnt during the PPIP Short Course was strategic collaboration. She also learnt valuable lessons from the Gautrain team in South Africa on how the Gautrain Management Agency handled its feedback to the concessionaire. The Gautrain is South Africa’s first commuter rail system and is a good-practice example of a PPP.

Priscila coordinated a Certified PPP Specialist (CP3P) program that was attended by 64 candidates from various federal government sectors. A total of 18 women attended the program, which was sponsored by the World Bank. The candidates were drawn from the ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government. Most PPP concessions at federal level do not comply with global best practices of gender and social inclusion. Priscilla established guidelines to improve this situation. She has moreover advocated for inclusion of women at ICRC forums and, as a result, more women have been promoted to managerial positions. The ICRC will furthermore review Pricilla’s views on matters related to gender and social inclusion in order to comply with the requirements of the multilateral development banks with which it deals.

To help fill the gap in the PPP sector, Priscilla founded the Women in PPPs (W3P) community of practice in July 2017. The group includes both Australia Awards Alumni and other like-minded women, who share a common interest in the sector and want to contribute their diverse skills to enhancing, improving and promoting women’s participation in infrastructure PPPs in Nigeria.

The PPP sector is an emerging sector in Nigeria and Priscilla believes that the knowledge and experience she gained during the PPIP Short Course are instrumental in directly reducing Nigeria’s infrastructure gap. She draws on this knowledge to ensure that Nigeria’s PPP policies conform to global best practices. To this end she has streamlined some of the ICRC’s complex processes, such as feasibility studies, financial models and analyses, into a user-centric solution.

The portal has played a significant role in Nigeria’s ascent in the ranks of the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business Report” for 2018, which placed the country in 145th position, 24 positions higher than in 2017.

Restoring Mozambican cashews in the global marketWriters: Janine Smit and Gugulethu MakhuboPhotography: Supplied by Lúcia António

Alumna Lúcia António from Mozambique.

At independence in 1975, Mozambique was the world’s leading cashew producer and processed cashew kernels were the country’s most important export. However, by the end of the war in 1992, production had tumbled and the national cashew orchard had a high proportion of old or diseased trees. State-owned processing plants were also in dire need of new investment.

The cashew industry plays a critical role in the Mozambican economy, particularly in the rural areas of the north. More than 40 per cent of Mozambican farmers – over one million households ‒ grow and sell cashews, while the processing sector provides formal employment to more than 8,000 individuals. Cashew farming represents 70 per cent of these farmers’ revenue.

Cashews are suitable for reforestation, as they prevent soil erosion and improve fertility in degraded farmland. At a macro level, the importance of cashews has been enshrined in the Mozambican government’s vision to increase planting of cashew seedlings by 8 per cent, market output by 29 per cent and domestic processing by 50 per cent before 2020. Alumna Lúcia António, an agronomist with the Mozambique National Cashew Institute (INCAJU), is at the forefront of driving national objectives. INCAJU, established in 1997 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is responsible for policy setting and coordinating cashew activities along the value chain.

The cashew tree is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple (the fleshy part of the fruit that is attached to the cashew nut). Cashew apples provide numerous health benefits; they help to prevent heart disease, reduce the risk of diabetes and boost bone and oral health. The current cashew value chain focuses mainly on the nut and excludes other products. Although smallholder farmers also produce homemade juice and alcohol to sell locally, or dried cashew apple



Alumna Lúcia António’s training has reached beyond the direct participants, 26 women who attended the capacity-building session have trained a further group of 20 families

in their communities.

to pay seasonal labourers, large amounts of the fruit go to waste as a result of the limited value chain.

The women and youth who are involved in informal farming and small-scale processing of cashew products face challenges such as rudimentary techniques and unsanitary conditions. Despite the key role played by these farmers, they do not receive sufficient financial, training, marketing and sales support. Responding to the health and economic benefits, through the value addition of cashew, can assure an increased income for smallholders. It can also encourage entrepreneurship, the expansion of cashew orchards and access to markets and processing plants, thus boosting the local economy.

INCAJU employs 369 labourers, of which 79 are women. In this male-dominated environment, women tend to be marginalised despite their abilities. Lúcia has gradually introduced a positive change in her workplace environment and in the lives of the women. In October 2017, she trained 26 women and 19 men at a capacity-building session on processing jam and juice out of the cashew apple.

She taught participants marketing strategies and packaging and food safety requirements, thus improving their understanding and helping them to increase their income stream opportunities. The impact of the training has reached beyond the direct participants, as the 26 women who attended the capacity-building session have trained a further group of 20 families in their communities.

Reflecting on the session, Lúcia had the following to say: ‘The training program in October 2017 enabled me to promote inclusive growth in Mozambique, as women make up the majority of cashew nut processors in this country. After attending this program, participants had an excellent understanding of cashew apple processing and could train others in the sector. Emphasising the importance of gender equity during the training allowed me to engage participants on a deeper level.’

INCAJU supports Lúcia’s ideas on improving the performance of the cashew value chain in Mozambique and has helped to integrate her Reintegration Action Plan (RAP) activities into its daily operations. Her RAP is aligned with the INCAJU II Master Plan envisioned for the period 2011-2020, which addresses the promotion of the

cashew value chain. Activities relating to the cashew value chain have included the Health Ministry, stakeholders within the tourism sector, local authorities as well as private sector processors and service providers.

In addition to identifying the opportunities for the cashew industry, Lúcia’s Masters in Global Food and Agricultural Business degree has strengthened her project management and proposal development skills. She has developed relevant programs, projects and capacity-building activities to upgrade the knowledge base of smalholders and encourage job creation by adding value along the cashew product chain.

Lúcia was exposed to principles of gender equality, which enabled her to empower women in her community. By asking men to bring their wives to training programs that focus on processing cashew by-products, Lúcia has succeeded in

increasing the participation of women in training opportunities. This has had a positive effect, judging from the women’s enthusiasm, curiosity and motivation to learn and share their experiences, as well as their overall empowerment.

She asserts the impact of value addition by stating if 10 per cent of 700,000 metric tonnes of cashew apples are used to produce juice at an extraction rate of 70 per cent, about 49,000 metric tonnes (approximately 49 million litres) of juice will be available. Selling the juice at a farm gate price of USD0.5 per litre will generate an income of about USD24.5 million, which will improve the welfare of rural families. ‘It is important to emphasise an approach towards inclusive innovation, where smallholder farmers, including women, actively engage in the development and application of solutions by drawing from their experience,’ says Lúcia.

Seychelles has a global obligation to prepare a national biodiversity strategy.

Leveraging partnerships to conserve the natural biodiversity of Seychelles

Writer: Janine SmitPhotography: Supplied by Fotolia.com and Australia Awards

The Republic of Seychelles is in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, and comprises a group of more than 100 islands. Its natural biodiversity is the pillar of its economy.

According to the Seychelles Blue Economy Roadmap, the country has a gross national income per capita of USD14,760 (AUD19,141) and a growth rate of over 3 per cent, with unemployment at less than 4 per cent. In 2014, the Seychelles Bureau of Statistics estimated the contribution of tourism to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to be 21.8 per cent whilst fisheries and seafood processing contribute 8 per cent. Seychelles’ historical development is characterised by a steady income growth over time and an economy that is dominated by a long-standing service sector.

In accordance with the imperative of conserving its natural environment, the Government of Seychelles is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). One of the principal

instruments for implementing the CBD at national level is each member country’s individual National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The NBSAP contributes to ensuring that biodiversity conservation forms an essential part of all other development sectors in the country, particularly the tourism and fisheries sectors.

Marie-May Jeremie-Muzungaile, an Australia Awards Alumna, completed her Master of Environment degree at the University of Melbourne in 2015. As the Director-General of the Biodiversity Conservation and Management Division in the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, she is responsible for all matters pertaining to the conservation of species, including policies related to biodiversity conservation and the management of forests. She also has oversight of various managers of protected areas, including environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and parastatal agencies.

She is the chairperson of the NBSAP

Partnership Forum (a multi-sectoral coordination body) and has been appointed as the National Focal Point for the CBD. In this capacity, she represents her country at international forums and showcases Seychelles’ efforts regarding biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Many of her day-to-day activities are directly related to the country’s NBSAP at grassroots level and include forestry management, the management of protected areas and monitoring programs.

Marie-May’s work mostly involves collaboration on a national level with organisations that are affected by the NBSAP process. These are national environmental NGOs, ministries such as Finance, Fisheries, Land Use and Tourism and Culture, as well as planning authorities, the Blue Economy Department and the Seychelles Fishing Authority. In 2014, she coordinated the drafting of the NBSAP, which was set up through a participatory process.

Her team has consulted the public



Alumna Marie-May Jeremie-Muzungaile.

on several projects and has delivered excellent outcomes with the collaboration of international stakeholders. These outcomes include a review by the International NBSAP Forum and a peer review and guidance from the African Leadership Group, a consultancy firm specialising in organisational, leadership and strategy development. Other important outcomes include financial assistance and guidance from the International Institute for Environment and Development in the UK and from the United Nations Environment Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, based in Cambridge. The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change is currently looking at forming partnerships with the assistance of the Australian-based Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The aim is to implement the Seychelles Marine Spatial Planning Initiative and to improve coordination in the management of the regional oceans. Various national and international environmental NGOs, such as the Seychelles Islands Foundation, the Island Conservation Society and The Nature Conservancy, as well as local fishers, are also involved as partners. This initiative will affect the country’s entire exclusive economic zone, comprising 1.3 million km2. It will also allow Seychelles

to protect 30 per cent of its waters and identify several sustainable-use zones for development activities.

Marie-May gained a range of skills from her Australian qualification, which has been instrumental in the success of her interventions. Project management skills have enabled her to coordinate many national projects, which are resulting in the implementation of Seychelles’ NBSAP. She was also able to strengthen her technical drafting skills, which she used to contribute to the drafting of the Nature Reserves and Conservancy Bill, 2017 as a member of the drafting team. The Bill will be used to designate, classify and manage protected areas in Seychelles.

In addition, she has effectively used her acquired stakeholder management skills to help establish community-based groups for the grassroots-level management of important biodiversity areas. ‘We are helping youth groups by providing them with relevant capacity-building and support. We also assist them with their conservation activities as much as possible’, she explains. Marie-May believes that her postgraduate studies have increased her confidence in her professional abilities and developed her networking skills. She has had to hold workshops, chair national steering committee meetings and lead technical

groups with confidence – something that she was unable to do prior to her award.

‘I often find myself working on several different things at the same time. During my Master studies, I learnt to work independently and under a lot of stress to deliver good-quality work. My studies enabled me to adapt and be more flexible, as life in Australia was at a much faster pace. As a result, I am now much more efficient.’

As a result of the program, she feels that she is contributing to high-level decision making for the long-term conservation of the natural environment and biodiversity of her country. She is helping the country to put long-term policies, legislation and programs in place that will not only preserve biodiversity but also allow for sustainable development. Through Seychelles’ programs, her team is building the capacity of local people and creating an enabling environment that will help them to achieve the objectives of the CBD. ‘So far, the work we are doing has really put Seychelles on the map as a leader in environmental conservation and as a leader in ocean governance and the blue economy. I am proud to be part of this greater success of my country,’ she concludes.

In 2014, the Seychelles Bureau of Statistics estimated the contribution of tourism to the country’s GDP to be 21.8 per cent whilst fisheries and seafood processing

contribute 8 per cent.

Inclusive Australian experience brings families closerWriters: Janine Smit and Gugulethu MakhuboPhotography: Supplied by Simon Ndung’u and Dr Peter Kaloki

Australia Awards - Africa has proven to be an important and powerful driver for growth, inclusiveness and gender equality, thus advancing Australia’s national interests and values. In the past, the focus of gender equality and disability inclusion has been on the direct recipients of master’s and short course awards. Recently, evidence has spotlighted the indirect program beneficiaries, namely the spouses and children of the program recipients, who have reaped the transformative benefits of the inclusive system in Australia.

Kenyan Simon Ndung’u, who holds a Master of Global Food and Agricultural Business degree from the University of

Adelaide (2016), mobilised to Australia with his wife Jacqueline and his son Caleb. Caleb lives with autism, which is not well understood in Kenya. He struggles to express himself and interact with others. He needs constant companionship to help him manage his environment and perform his daily activities. Before the move, Simon saw living in Australia as an opportunity for his family to develop in a new environment and for Caleb to have the support of both parents and access to specialised education.

Although getting an Australian Award was the opportunity of a lifetime, mobilising to Australia posed a few challenges for Simon.

Applying for the family’s travel documents was challenging, especially for Caleb, who had to undergo the standard medical assessments and had trouble sitting still and posing for his travel documents. Finding appropriate family accommodation to allow Caleb space to experiment and play, with access to an affordable kindergarten facility, was also not easy.

Despite all this, Simon recalls the positive societal and educational support that Caleb received in Australia. Caleb could attend Autism South Australia’s kindergarten free of charge once a week. Autism South Australia provides individualised services and support through its specialised

Alumnus Simon Ndung’u from Kenya with his wife Jacqueline and children.



teachers who use the latest information and equipment. Caleb would also occasionally attend the Special Early Learning Centre at South Australia’s Department of Education, which assists children and students living with a disability to access the same opportunities for education as other children and students. The department provided Caleb with learning material and specialised services as well as transport to access its centre. These opportunities improved Caleb’s socialisation and self-awareness and he was also able to utter a few English words and construct simple sentences, which was an achievement.

The support Simon and Jacqueline received in Australia enhanced their cohesiveness and their care for Caleb. They could take him to play at various parks in the neighbourhood. They also received other community support, such as professional assessment and medical care from government departments, through the family health cover that Simon paid for.

Simon says his experience in Australia deepened his appreciation for people with disabilities. He explained that Kenya still lags regarding accommodating people living with disabilities. ‘Although there are a few schools for children with special needs in Kenya, they are poorly equipped and lack adequately qualified staff,’ he says. ‘Society does not prioritise the provision of accessible physical and public space. Often, special schools have more students than they can accommodate, and inadequate infrastructures such as accessible playgrounds and requisite amenities.’

Living in Australia presented an opportunity for Simon and his family to develop an understanding of how best to support their son’s development and independent living skills. During their stay in Australia, Simon bought Caleb learning material, which included an iPad and the Proloquo2Go application, an app that encourages language development and communication skills by using symbol-supported communication. Back in Kenya, Simon and Jacqueline continue to use these resources to encourage Caleb’s growth and development. They have also implemented some sensory and therapeutic measures for his use in their home. The networks and specialised care that Simon and Jacqueline were exposed to have made them better parents.

Kenyan Dr Peter Kaloki, who obtained a PhD in Plant Breeding at the University of Sydney in 2017, is the Technology Innovations Lead at Syngenta East Africa. Peter mobilised to Australia with his wife, Elizabeth Kiilu, and their eight-month-old daughter, Sydney Kasiva. While in Australia, they had two more daughters, April Mukene and Summer Ndunge. Settling into their new life in Australia was an adjustment for the family. Peter was used to spending time with his family in the evenings and over weekends while in Kenya. While on Award, he had to study in the evenings and on weekends, which meant that he couldn’t spend as much time with his family. The family had to adjust and accept that Peter’s commitment to his Australia Awards scholarship would require him to study long hours and travel to the field for weeks at a time. It required a significant adjustment for the family.

Peter used to have the sole responsibility to transport the family to school, shopping and other excursions. While in Australia, this became increasingly difficult as the University of Sydney’s Camden Campus, where Peter studied, is situated in a rural area with limited public transport.

In Kenya, Peter and his family subscribed to traditional societal norms, where the

man is the sole breadwinner. However, in Australia, they were exposed to the community’s openness and inclusiveness such as the wide acceptance of women as breadwinners. Peter and Elizabeth were able to embrace these values, which transformed their relationship. Previously, Elizabeth would rely on Peter to make all family decisions, but over time, due to their changed circumstances and societal roles in Australia, she gained confidence in making more decisions by herself. ‘This brought about another side of her that I did not know,’ says Peter. Peter pointed out that Elizabeth emerged as a better strategist and decision-maker than he was. ‘I consult her extensively when I want to make strategic decisions about our family,’ Peter says.

Peter reflects further on the transformation that he and Elizabeth underwent. ‘We became more hardworking as a family. We became better planners and learnt to cope with pressure while balancing work and family.’ Upon their return from Australia, Elizabeth has remained independent and continues to take charge in family matters. ‘We became stronger through the experiences we shared in Australia,’ Peter says.

Elizabeth ascribes her enhanced confidence to Australia’s open and inclusive

Alumnus Peter Kaloki’s children Sydney, Summer and April.

Alumnus Peter Kaloki and wife Elizabeth.

Access to water and sanitation as a basic human rightWriter: Janine SmitPhotography: Supplied by Fotolia.com


society. Peter agrees: ‘I highly appreciate the exposure I got from the Award and from Australia. It was a life changer for my family.’ Although Kenya’s constitution and policies espouse support for women’s empowerment and gender equality, Peter feels that women in Kenya’s rural communities have yet to be empowered and that significant awareness should be raised to support this initiative.

Simon and Peter’s families were empowered and transformed because of their on-award experience, aided by Australia’s commitment to and implementation of its gender equality and social inclusion policies, which serve to advance the development and social interests of communities and economies. Australia Awards hold both direct and indirect benefits for the lives of the program recipients and their families that go beyond the stated program goals.

Access to water and sanitation services forms part of the basic human right to a standard that is adequate for the health and wellbeing of each global citizen. It is included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), as well as in the Bill of Rights of many African countries. Kenya is no exception. According to the Constitution of Kenya (2010), every Kenyan has a right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities, as well as reasonable standards of sanitation.

Although a reasonable standard of sanitation is the subject of diverse constitutional interpretations, it generally means an improved standard of sanitation, including sewerage connections.

To support the constitutional mandate for clean and safe water, the Directorate of Water, Sanitation and Energy was established in the Nairobi City County. Kainga Kaingongi, an Australia Awards Alumnus, was first appointed as the acting Assistant Director for the directorate in

2014. In 2016 he was appointed to the position full time, and in August 2017 he was promoted to Director.

The Masters in Water Resources Management degree that Kainga completed at the University of South Australia in 2014 equipped him for overseeing the performance of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company. His role also extended to implementing the devolved function of water and sanitation, where previous national government responsibilities were transferred to the county government.

His involvement in the county’s environment, water and sanitation sector is in both a policy advisory and an implementation capacity. Kainga collaborates and consults with national bodies such as the Kenyan Water Resources Authority and the National Environment Management Authority, as well as international environmental and aid agencies.

Kenya experiences a shortage of technical

and financial resources, a low uptake of modern technology on waste water treatment and reuse, climate change, high levels of water or non-revenue water that are unaccounted for and pollution from illegal sewer discharge as well as solid waste dumping. While on Award, Kainga was exposed to good practices that enabled him to benchmark water-use efficiency in a water-scarce country such as Kenya, as well as mechanisms that could mitigate the impacts of climate change. He also learnt how water and sanitation services could be anchored in policy, laws and strategy.

His time in Australia taught him valuable skills such as managing stakeholder participation and mobilising public participation. As a result, he has been able to successfully facilitate and coordinate the contribution of several national and international stakeholders in projects that have benefited Kenya’s environment, water and sanitation sector. These include the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Oxfam and the



Other individuals who contributed to the success of this initiative included Ian Moorhouse, Grantley Butterfield and officials from South East Water, Yarra Valley Water, Western Treatment Plant, Melbourne Water and the Water Service Association of Australia. Officers from Victoria State and the Cooperative Research Centre at Monash University also made a valuable contribution.

The tour aimed to empower the County Assembly Committee on Water and Sanitation, as well as top technical officers at the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, including the Technical Director, by exposing them to best-practice examples of water and sanitation services. In the process, the study tour succeeded in developing ongoing links with Australia.

Kainga believes that access to water and sanitation services is a human right. ‘Water should be accessible to all and a lot needs to be done to address cost, quality and reliability through innovative financing, legal reform and innovative technology,’ he says.

The Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company has already piloted automated water dispensers in several informal settlements within Nairobi City County, including Mathare, Kahawa and Kayole-Soweto.

The first project, in Kayole-Soweto, entailed the laying of water extensions to serve approximately 500 people, for which Kainga could leverage financial support to the value of 3 million Kenyan shillings (approximately USD29,655). He also received financial support to the value of approximately 50 million Kenyan shillings (almost USD5 million) to provide 554 ward-based water tanks to improve water security in informal settlements across the city. Of these water tanks, 224 were distributed to women and youth groups, benefitting over 600 people.

In 2015, a clean-up project, including a river restoration program, was launched in Nairobi’s rivers. This eight-month project, valued at over 2 million Kenyan shillings (approximately USD19,770) was conducted across Nairobi and provided

Poor enforcement of water and sanitation standards results in low water and sanitation coverage and the misuse of sewerage infrastructure.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

As the chairman of the Sector Working Group, Kainga has devised several plans to address the challenges faced, such as strengthening implementation through intergovernmental collaboration and budget allocation. He is also in the process of establishing the Nairobi City County Sewer Revolving Fund policy and legislation in partnership with USAID. This will enable the extension of sewer lines in Nairobi to increase access to reasonable standards of sanitation.

One of the key reasons why the people of Nairobi were facing inadequate quantities of clean water and poor standards of sanitation was due to the absence of a Water and Sanitation Policy and Bill for Nairobi. This culminated in uncoordinated and poor enforcement, resulting in the continued misuse of sewerage infrastructure, as well as low sewerage, water and sanitation coverage in informal settlements. Kainga forms part of the team that formulated Kenya’s draft Water and Sanitation Policy and Bill, which has been submitted for enactment by the County Assembly. ‘We have also incorporated the right to water in our draft Water and Sanitation Policy and Bill, which is all-inclusive, particularly for slum-dwellers and people with disabilities,’ he says. He is furthermore involved in compiling the draft Nairobi City County Clean Energy Bill.

The significance of the Water and Sanitation Policy and Bill for Nairobi County lies in the fact that it is the first of its kind and takes cognisance of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals and Kenya’s Vision 2030. It is also aligned with the water and sanitation provision in Kenya’s Constitution 2010 and lays the foundation for a legislative framework. It is a participatory process that makes provision for areas of consultation and cooperation. Furthermore, it sets institutional arrangements and good governance practices within a stipulated services provision agreement between national government and the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company.

Kainga believes that the knowledge and skills he acquired in Australia laid a strong base for the success of his interventions. To transfer this knowledge, he organised a study tour to Melbourne in 2016, with the assistance of Australia Awards and the High Commission in Kenya.


Australia Awards Alumni uphold the rights of all AfricansWriters: Kitso Mhlophe and Gugulethu MakhuboPhotography: Supplied by Fotolia.com, Amina Garuba Ahmed, Faith Alubbe and Tinkhani Khonje

temporary jobs for over 800 youths and women. In addition to making a positive impact on marginalised groups, Kainga’s work is particularly important for Kenya’s development. According to the Regulator

Report, progress made by the county on access to water has grown from 78 per cent in 2014 to 81 per cent in 2018 and progress on sanitation services has grown from 36 per cent in 2014 to 42 per cent in

2018. Kainga’s interventions have ensured that the county is in a better position to meet people’s basic human rights and contribute to their improved health and well-being.

In October 2017, Australia was elected to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) uncontested, marking the first time the country was to serve on the body. With its well established record as a human rights champion, Australia committed itself to making progress on protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls and the rights of indigenous peoples, advancing good governance and stronger democratic

institutions, as well as supporting national human rights institutions and capacity building.

The Australian government has dedicated itself to advancing these causes in a positive and systemic manner, using both its domestic and international mechanisms to achieve its goals. Internationally, the government will continue to use its bilateral,

regional and multilateral dimensions to deliver on its HRC pledges by leveraging its development and humanitarian activities.

Despite established institutions that support the protection and promotion of human rights in Africa, some countries face challenges in upholding human rights principles. These challenges stem from their historical and international context,

From Left: Amina Garuba Ahmed, Faith Alubbe and Tinkhani Khonje.



cultural and customary practices, as well as political and economic backgrounds. In the face of these challenges, several Australia Awards Alumni are leveraging their award-gained knowledge and skills to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights in their countries.

Working to achieve equality and non-discriminationNigerian Alumna Amina Garuba Ahmed, Senior Magistrate and Principal District Court Judge for the Bauchi State Judiciary

Prior to completing her Masters in Dispute Resolution at the University of New South Wales (in 2012), Amina had to overcome gender stereotypes from her community. People judged her for taking the opportunity to travel to Australia, on the Awards program, and leaving her family behind.

‘I have had to overcome issues of gender stereotyping and undertake adventures that women are discouraged from undertaking. For example, going to Australia, as a married woman, without my family. I prepared for this period by researching and having

dialogue with my family, especially my husband. In the end, I made an informed decision, knowing that it would positively contribute to my development, family and community.’ When Amina returned from her studies she faced continued criticism. ‘I was discouraged from undertaking the job of Magistrate and District Court Judge due to my gender and religious practices,’ says Amina.

The challenges that she faced encouraged her to dedicate her work to helping women and young people who faced similar discriminatory practices, which inhibit them from achieving their dreams. Amina founded the NGO Ikra Foundation for Women and Youth Development (IFWYD). She uses IFWYD to involve women and youths in entrepreneurial skills training, career guidance, mentoring, counselling and leadership training. In addition, the NGO enables advocacy for gender equality, equity and the rights of children.

Religious tolerance is of great importance to Amina, especially in the current climate of rising extremism and intolerance. ‘I campaign to counter violent extremism in northeast Nigeria. I work as an adjudicator

of disputes to help keep the peace in my community, thereby creating a conducive environment for economic development, which in turn contributes to the development of my country.’ Amina attributes her proudest professional achievement to being awarded the Australian Leadership Award. The opportunity improved her ability to fill the leadership roles that were entrusted to her in her community and workplace. She is motivated by a vision of a Nigeria and world where the rights of women and the less privileged are respected and all individuals are given the support that they need to attain their full potential.

Advocating for women’s land and property rightsKenyan Alumna Faith Alubbe, Program Advisor - Transitional Justice for Kenya Human Rights Commission

Most communities suffered the loss of their ancestral land and faced forceful eviction during colonial occupation. After independence, some communities were further devastated by the new government officials’ land grab of prime

land, at the expense of the original owners. Land remains a politically sensitive and culturally complex matter in Kenya and has culminated in a breakdown in land administration, ownership disparities, conflict and tenure insecurity.

In an attempt to redress issues emerging from the historical injustices, the Investigation and Adjudication of Historical Land Injustices Bill was drafted in 2015. This legislation created a space for the victims of historical land injustices to reclaim land through a proposed special tribunal. In addition, the concept of transitional justice was identified to support communities to realise their right to either receive their land back or be resettled by the Kenyan government. Transitional justice refers to systems and mechanisms implemented by countries emerginging from repression or conflict to address systemic and large-scale human rights violations in cases where the normal justice system is seen to be inadequate.

Alumna Faith Alubbe is the program advisor overseeing the Transitional Justice Program at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (HRC). The program consists of five projects: transitional justice, governance around land and land-based resources sectors, protection of indigenous people, protection and assistance of displaced persons and corporate governance aspects in the extractives industry. Her work entails engaging multiple stakeholders, from local levels to international spaces. Faith has been a human rights lawyer for over a decade. She has worked with different communities on transitional justice issues such as marginalised populations and networks of victims and survivors of historical land injustices, including those subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during the Emergency Period and The Mau Mau insurgency (October 1952-December 1963).

She completed an Australia Awards short course on Gender Transitional Justice at the University of Sydney. The knowledge and skills that she gained in resource rights have empowered her to work with various Kenyan communities such as Mwingi, Kaiiado, Kwale, Taita Taveta and the Embobut Forest in Marakwet. She has been able to support these communities in their claims for a fair share of the profits derived from the extractives found in their localities. Faith’s work is continuous; she is currently in the process of ensuring


that women living in resource-rich areas understand their rights to the land and spaces that they live on, especially those living on collectively held land and those that are involved in artisanal mining.

She is an advocate for women’s land and property rights and has used various platforms to empower Kenyans. ‘I have consistently advocated for women’s rights by supporting groups of rural women to define, claim and defend their rights to land and property. I also host a weekly radio show on Radio Jambo to educate the community at large on transitional justice and other topical land and property rights issues,’ she says. Radio Jambo is the second biggest radio station in Kenya and it has enabled her to reach both rural and urban communities and extend the impact of the HRC.

Through her work, communities have been empowered to hold social debates on various land and property rights issues. Also, the capacity-building actions that she has implemented have resulted in the ability of women to ask relevant questions and improve their negotiation skills when it comes to these issues. Furthermore, her beneficiaries have used their empowerment to lobby and negotiate for leadership positions in community land management committees, which were previously the preserve of men only.

Enabling the right to democracy and public participationMalawian Alumna, Tinkhani Khonje, Governance and Human Rights Advisor for Trócaire

The ability of citizens to play an active role in the political process is a critical element of democracy. Citizens hold various rights and responsibilities, including the right to participate in decisions that affect their welfare. Moreover, public participation is both a driver of democratic and socio-economic change and an opportunity to empower citizens.

Tinkhani Khonje recognises the positive influence of public participation and uses various strategies and tactics to increase the participation of citizens in her country. She is currently working on several projects, under the Governance and Human Rights Program at Trócaire, an international non-profit organisation advocating for democratic and transparent government processes that protect and

fulfil the rights of people living in poverty. Tinkhani collaborates with various stakeholders to create public institutions that are transparent and accountable to the citizens of Malawi.

Through leveraging the reach and influence of local NGOs, the organisation gives technical advice and assistance on human rights and governance issues. ‘My work aims to get communities involved in addressing the needs of Malawian people, especially marginalised groups, and monitoring the fair distribution of public financial resources,’ says Tinkhani. In 2017, the Governance and Human Rights Unit was instrumental in empowering 5,000 women and 6,500 men.

She completed a Master of Governance and Public Policy degree from the University of Queensland, which taught her stakeholder engagement methods that have equipped her to train various NGO representatives and community members on the government’s processes. In turn, the NGO representatives and communities have provided their constituencies with the information, thus enabling them to engage in decision-making processes.

On the importance of building capacity within communities, Tinkhani says: ‘We have empowered our communities. They now understand the importance of being involved in social service issues such as the right to education, healthcare and infrastructure and other debates that involve them, so that they can play their part.’

Australia Awards Alumni continue to use the skills and knowledge received from their training to contribute to the sustainable development of their countries and communities. In addition, Alumni working on promoting and protecting human and people’s rights echo the principles of Australia’s HRC commitment and form part of an international network of human rights ambassadors.

In October 2017, Australia was elected to the UN Human Rights Council

(HRC) uncontested, marking the first time the

country was to serve on the body.


Closing the mental health treatment gap to reduce human rights violations in AfricaWriter: Janine SmitIllustration: Supplied by Stock Images

Poor mental health is both a cause and effect of poverty, gender inequality, violence and ill-health. The UN Division for Social Policy and Development Disability states that the economic cost of mental health problems is vast. This is because mental health problems impede the ability of affected people to work productively, to realise their potential and to contribute to their community.

Many African countries face a myriad of challenges such as war, famine, political instability and outbreaks of communicable diseases. As a result, mental health treatment and related policies have fallen behind. Often, treatment is only available at limited psychiatric facilities for a small number of patients.

Mental health is both a public health and human rights issue, as the rights of people living with mental health problems are often violated and the availability of treatment is limited. They may also be marginalised and stigmatised due to society’s ignorance, prejudice and misconceptions. The UN states that the right of access to treatment and to humane treatment in a standard facility, without discrimination, is an inherent right of human beings, irrespective of their state of mind.

Two Australia Awards Alumni, Ghananian Frederick Nsatimba and Liberian Angie Tarr Nyakoon, have been at the forefront of promoting equal human rights for this marginalised group in their respective countries. The World Health Organisation

(WHO) estimates that 650,000 of the 21.6 million people in Ghana suffer from a severe mental disorder and a further 2.16 million suffer from a moderate to mild mental disorder. Due to the 1972 Mental Health Decree (NRCD30), most of Ghana’s mental healthcare is provided through specialised psychiatric hospitals, which most people cannot afford. In addition, there are structural barriers, such as insufficient funding for general hospital and primary healthcare services and a shortage of qualified mental healthcare workers.

Ghana’s Mental Health Act, Act No 846 of 2012, emphasises the need for community care, which is a departure from institutional care. However, these structures are yet to be implemented. The

lack of implementation and inadequate funding to support community care make access to mental healthcare in Ghana expensive. Most people go to a hospital as there is a lack of psychotropic medication and specialists in their communities. The benefits of providing local psychotropic medication and care include maintaining the mental stability of recovered patients and preventing relapse.

Frederick, who completed an Advanced Master of Public Health degree at Southern Cross University in Australia in 2012, works as a principal health tutor at the Pantang Nurses Training College. He teaches psychiatric nursing to nursing students. The skills he acquired while on Award allows him to identify developmental gaps in Ghana and to develop strategies to close these gaps. He realised that most of the student nurses were unaware of the number of Ghanaians who lived with mental health problems and the available remedies to support patients.

Frederick’s teaching and curriculum development activities play a significant role in the development of Ghana’s mental health sector. In 2015, he helped the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana develop a mental health curriculum for nurses. ‘It is a significant document that equips students with the right tools to provide appropriate health education and care and is being implemented in all nursing training schools in Ghana,’ he says. He has also successfully developed a handbook for students of the College entitled Nurses’ Training College Pantang Handbook for Registered Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing. The nursing students who pass through his classroom now understand psychiatric nursing and can pass on information and empower their communities on mental health issues and treatment options. Frederick has taught students in healthcare facilities throughout the country.

‘I believe that mental health is a human rights issue that deserves attention,’ Frederick explains. To help promote these human rights, he uses his membership in Mental Health Advocacy Ghana to raise awareness on mental health. For World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2017, Frederick helped develop a video that features individuals who survived suicide attempts and have built resilience. The video is available on Mental Health Advocacy GH’s YouTube channel.

Frederick’s on-award experience enabled

him to establish and maintain links with other Australia Awards Alumni. He is currently the President of the Ghana-Australia Alumni Association (G3A). Under his leadership, the association has established representations in the Central, Western, Eastern, Northern, Ashanti and Upper Eastern regions of Ghana.

According to WHO, one in five Liberians suffer a mild to moderate mental disorder. Despite the prevalence of mental disorders, Liberia has only one registered psychiatrist. In addition, the country’s challenges are compounded due to health workers’ limited understanding of mental illness and the limited opportunities for the specialised training of health workers to meet the public demand for mental healthcare. There are also structural challenges, such as insufficient funding and a limited supply of psychotropic medications to address the demand created by the decentralisation of mental healthcare.

Liberian Alumna Angie Tarr Nyakoon is the Director of the Mental Health Unit at the Ministry of Health. She completed a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Queensland in 2013. Angie’s primary role entails coordinating the development of Liberia’s Mental Health Policy and Strategic Plan: 2016-2021. This policy mandates the integration of mental healthcare into the primary health system. The integration policy is one of the Ministry of Health’s primary goals and has resulted in the integration of 24 health programs. The integration also aims at minimising the cost of service provision and optimising efficiency of human resources so that health workers can readily identify, monitor and manage mental health disorders. It will also help to gain recognition for the human rights of persons with mental health challenges, as treatment will be more accessible.

This work forms part of her Reintegration Action Plan (RAP). She engaged the WHO office in Liberia to provide financial and technical support for this initiative. Other international partners, the Carter Centre and the Mental Health Leadership Advocacy Program (mhLAP), are also involved in Angie’s activities.

With the assistance of international and local partners, Angie adapted the Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) Intervention Guide to the Liberian context, in 2015. This WHO tool is used in low- to

middle-income countries to train primary healthcare (PHC) workers. In addition to adapting the tool, Angie also coordinated the mhGAP trainers-of-trainers program, where participants learnt to present the program’s curriculum to PHC professionals. ‘This training is ongoing. We have trained over 500 PHC workers in 13 of the 15 counties that are involved in the program. It has improved human resource capacity during mental health services delivery, which helps to bridge the treatment gap,’ she explains. Angie and her team made 500 copies of the Intervention Guide available to the public. As many as 345 of these have been supplied to health facilities that have PHC workers, who are then trained to use the tool.

Angie has become a leading advocate for mental health law in Liberia. While the Mental Health Act was drafted prior to her directorship at the Mental Health Unit, she lobbied for the draft Mental Health Act to be passed into law and communicated with the Carter Centre and the mhLAP in Liberia to engage the House of Legislatures. As a result of her lobbying, the Act was passed in June 2017.

Both Frederick and Angie are making great strides in addressing mental health treatment issues in Ghana and Liberia. Through the skills that they acquired, while on-award, they have been able to empower PHC workers to provide accessible and specialised mental healthcare that responds to the unique conditions of their respective countries. Their work continues to highlight the importance of access to humane treatment for all people, irrespective of their state of mind, thus closing the mental health treatment gap in Ghana and Liberia.

"I believe that mental health is a human rights

issue that deserves attention" -

Alumnus Frederick Nsatimba



On-Award News Briefs

Contributing value towards multi-jurisdictional studyAwardee Victoria Sande, a senior physiotherapist from Kenya, is currently enrolled as a Masters of Public Health student at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia. Victoria attended the 2017 HIV & AIDS Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) Conference in Canberra, together with Dr Roanna Lobo and Corrie Gray, both from the Community of Practice for Action on HIV and Mobility (CoPAHM) at Curtin University.

In 2017, Victoria volunteered for a research project at Curtin University’s Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN), on the ‘Barriers to HIV testing among people born in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia’. On the basis of her contributions to the project, she was invited to deliver a presentation at the ASHM Conference. The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Town of Victoria Park financed her participation. Australia Awards – Africa through the On-Award Enrichment Fund also contributed to Victoria’s expenses. The Fund supports Awardees who have been accepted to deliver papers at national conferences in Australia while they are on-award. ‘I gained knowledge on best practices in HIV/AIDS and networked with various people who will be of importance for future references,’ says Victoria.

Awardee Victoria Sande (in red top) with Corrie Gray.

Leading in academic excellence and student representation In addition to her commitment to academic excellence, Tholokuhle (Tholi) Sithole is taking a leading role in student welfare and representation. She is currently on study leave from the South African Department of Labour where she works as a Senior Practitioner, tasked with Monitoring and Evaluation, at the Provincial Office in Durban. Tholi is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public Policy at one of the leading graduate public policy schools in the world, Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (ANU).

Victoria affirmed the value she received from the project’s exposure. She looks forward to contributing similar value towards the Kenyan health sector, upon her return home. ‘The exposure from the study and conference has equipped me with skills and knowledge to research Kenya’s population. I will be able to generate new knowledge in the health profession that will

form a base for appropriate management of diseases and contribute to a healthier Kenya,’ she says.

An overview of the Siren project can be accessed online: https://siren.org.au/project-overview-barriers-to-hiv-testing/

Since arriving at ANU, many student leadership and networking opportunities have come her way. In July 2017, she was nominated as a Social Officer, a student leadership role with the ANU Postgraduate and Research Students’ Association (PARSA). One of Tholi’s achievements, in this position, included executing a successful orientation week for postgraduate students.

Earlier in 2017, Tholi was elected for the role of Postgraduate International Students Representative by postgraduate students,

within her hall of residence (Ursula Hall- Laurus Wing). Her primary responsibilities included leading issues affecting international postgraduate students within her residential hall. She completed her term in February 2018. Tholi said that she was fortunate to have been awarded an Accommodation Scholarship by the Australian National University for 2018.

Tholi has created important linkages and developed new networks through the ANU academic team, fellow students, the PARSA leadership team, her residential

hall leadership team, members of different student associations and members of the C3 Church Watson in Canberra. ‘Networking with professional women in my sector is important to me. Through my relationship with Professor Sharon Bessell,


the Director of Gender Equity and Diversity at the Crawford School, I was introduced to Dr Lorraine Corner, the former Director of the UNIFEM Regional Program in Bangkok and to Margaret O'Callaghan, who is the former UNFPA representative to Papua

New Guinea and Zambia.’ Tholi uses these networks and linkages to explore career paths and mentoring opportunities in her sector. Her experience will enable her to make a valuable contribution upon her return home.

High-impact exposure at TropAg2017 Conference

The International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TropAg2017) is a leading tropical agriculture event that brings together research and innovation, across plant, animal and food sciences. TropAg2017 highlighted science and technology solutions across the agriculture and food supply chain, including investment. It therefore presented an opportunity to enrich the professional networks of Awardees.

Ten Awardees from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and Malawi attended the event in Brisbane. One of the Awardees, Blessing Ogunleye from Nigeria, who is currently studying for a Master of Science in Agriculture degree at the University of New England, commented as follows: ‘The conference exposed me to top-notch technologies, opportunities and evidence-based solutions that can be adopted and applied to solving agricultural

problems in Africa. It further equipped me with the requisite skills to support investors, farmers, youth, women and vulnerable groups to intensify sustainable agriculture in Nigeria.’

Malawian Kennedy Ngwira, enrolled in a Master of Agricultural Sciences degree at the University of Melbourne, reflected as follows on his involvement: ‘I work with smallholder farmers to identify and utilise sustainable farming practices that can lead to higher productivity, despite their low access to farm inputs and intensive farming. The TropAg2017 conference gave me an opportunity to interface with practitioners who apply sustainable intensification practices in African contexts such as Zimbabwe and Kenya.’

Zambian Justina Chivanga, currently a Masters of Agricultural Science student at the University of Queensland, reflected

Some of the Awardees who attended the International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TropAg2017).

on the potential impact of attending the conference. ‘My primary goal, on return to Zambia, is to be able to conduct meaningful scientific research in plant protection that helps address the prevalence of plant pests and diseases. I believe the suitable linkages, motivation, knowledge and skills received from the conference will take me a step [closer] towards achieving this goal,’ she says.

All Awardees affirmed the conference as a premier event, which highlighted the critical role of science, technology and innovation in the many challenges facing tropical and sub-tropical agriculture and food production globally. The conference exposed Awardees to leading industrial and academic researchers, investors, agribusiness professionals, policymakers, agricultural technicians, producers and other students.


Alumni Association News Briefs

Ethiopia Australia Alumni inspire future young leaders The Ethiopia-Australia Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Centre for Creative Leadership, hosted a one-day leadership event in December 2017. The event, supported by the Australian Embassy, offered training on mentoring and facilitation skills. Participants, who included leadership and debate club members and students from Addis Ababa University, shared their success stories to motivate and inspire the future young leaders.

The Yellow Movement, an Addis Ababa University initiative advocating for women’s and girls’ rights, shared the work they do for gender equality and women’s empowerment in Ethiopia.

The event provided the Alumni Association with a platform to

engage with young leaders. The association places great emphasis on youth empowerment and is planning a follow-up with the students to enhance their leadership ability further.

The Australian Ambassador to Ethiopia, His Excellency Mark Sawers, commended Alumni for their contribution to Australia’s engagement in Africa. ‘Australia Award Alumni are a key part of Australia’s bilateral relationship with Ethiopia. Alumni play a key role in building people-to-people links at the individual, institutional and country level. Australian Alumni have a lot to offer. I am pleased that the Australian Embassy was able to help create a venue to share the experience and inspirational stories of young Ethiopian leaders in the making.’

Zambia Australia Alumni Association Donation to the UniversityGiving back to the community and promoting gender equity and social inclusion is at the heart of Zambia Australia Alumni Association (ZAAA). On October 14, ZAAA with the support of World Vision, donated eight wheelchairs to the largest referral hospital, University Teaching Hospital (UTH), which caters for patients in all 10 provinces of Zambia.

Ms Chanda, Matron on duty, expressed her gratitude for the timely donation and highlighted that most patients that would benefit from the wheelchairs included accident victims, stroke patients, cardiovascular and patients with disabilities. She was thankful because the hospital had few wheelchairs and these would go a long way in assisting the patients.

ZAAA was accompanied by their visiting counterparts from Malawi Australia Alumni Association (MAAA) who were on an exchange visit to share and learn ideas from the Zambian Chapter.

ZAAA and MAAA members during the wheelchair donation at UTH.

Small Grants Awardees continue professional development The Australia-South Africa Alumni Association (ASAAA) held a Leadership and Strategic Training Workshop in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg in September 2017.

The training, funded under the Australia Awards – Africa Small Grants Scheme, used the Mastermind Groups Method in the workshop. This method facilitates the ability of participants to increase their standards of leadership by challenging each other to create and implement goals, brainstorm ideas and support each other in an honest, respectable and compassionate way.

Delivery included one-on-one coaching sessions, followed by group training sessions, which enabled individual members of ASAAA to reflect on their leadership.

Alumnus Dr Baldwin Nengovhela from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries remarked: ‘The homework after each session allowed me to introspect and reflect on my leadership, which was very useful.’ Alumna Jacqueline Nkate, employed at the National School of Government, said: ‘It was awesome! Just what I need at this stage of my life.’

Malawi Australia Alumni Association plants trees at Lilongwe schoolThe Malawi Australia Alumni Association (MAAA) adopted Magwero schools (secondary and primary schools) in Lilongwe as part of its developmental outreach. In February 2017, MAAA planted 100 fruit and non-fruit trees at Magwero Primary School, complementing the Malawian government’s emphasis on the importance of planting trees for the environment. At the beginning of the previous year’s tree planting season, President Mutharika had advocated for a 100 per cent tree survival rate.

Standard 5 pupils, teachers, representatives from the school committee, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a member from the Board of Trustees of MAAA, Dr Rodney Kalanda, and five members of MAAA participated in the activities. The pupils made a commitment to take care of the trees, as a group, for the next four years. The pupils, teachers and community members alike will benefit from the fruits, shelter and the beautiful leafy environment.

The head teacher, representatives from the school committee and the PTA acknowledged and thanked the Association for planting the trees at the school. In the previous year, the association donated sports equipment to promote sports activities at the school.

Dr Rodney Kaland, Trustee of MAAA.

Australia Alumni Association of Lesotho The Australia Alumni Association of Lesotho (AAAL) was launched at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Maseru on the 26 January 2018. The event, attended by 30 Alumni, was broadcast on Lesotho’s national television. The Minister of Development Planning, Honourable Tlohang Sekhamane, delivered the keynote address. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of education as an instrument that drives change in workplaces and the nation at large.

‘Our greatest impact should be improving productivity and the economy of Lesotho,’ he said.

The Association seeks to support agricultural and educational projects, such as the income generating activity at Ngoatonyane Primary School in the Mazenod community, situated in the Maseru District. AAAL will provide seeds and tools for a vegetable garden so that the school can sell produce to the community. The Association will also expand its support

to rural schools.

Malehloenya Nkhasi, the Alumni Association Chairperson, emphasised how studying in Australia had been an enriching opportunity. She urged Alumni to use the skills and knowledge that they had attained to impact the lives of the people they serve in a positive way.

Ghana Alumni Association donates to school

Ghana Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Australian and Canadian High Commissions, donated GHS13,000 (AUD3500) worth of equipment to the school.

The Akropong School for the Blind, situated in the Akuapim North District of the Eastern Region of Ghana, educates close to 400 pupils with visual impairment. To help alleviate some of the challenges that are faced by the school, the Ghana Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Australian and Canadian High

Commissions, donated GHS13,000 (AUD3500) worth of equipment to the school. The school received 200 frames and stylus pens for the visually impaired.

The Ghana Alumni Association members, the Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Glen Askew, the Canadian High

Commissioner, Her Excellency Heather Cameron and other representatives from both High Commissions attended the handover of equipment. The donation forms part of the Association’s social responsibility initiative to support vulnerable schools and promote inclusive education.

Australia Alumni Association of Nigeria: Agribusiness Seminar Continuing professional development for Association members is essential for the Australia Alumni Association of Nigeria (AAAN). The Association, through its Agricultural Sector Community of Practice, hosted an Agribusiness seminar at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Abuja Nigeria. The seminar, held on 22 February, followed a

Capacity Building Workshop on Sheep and Goat Production funded under the Australia Awards Small Grants Scheme. In addition to small ruminant production, the agribusiness seminar explored a range of investment options such as poultry, snail and fish production. The outcome of the seminar was to enhance participants’ knowledge on investing in such ventures.

Guests included the Director of Animal Husbandry Services, Mr John Toyin Taiwo and the Director of Fisheries, Mr Muazu Mohammed. Other participants included rural women, civil servants and beneficiaries of sheep and goat production facilities from Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

alumninews · alumna lúcia antónio’s training has reached beyond the direct participants, 26...

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