Groupe thématique de la CCC-UICN sur les politiques et la justice climatique

A seasoned advocacy, policy, and strategy professional with more than twenty years of experience advancing economic inclusion, financial access, entrepreneurship, and environmental conservation across Africa. Professional focus has centered on creating enabling policy environments, enhancing institutional responsiveness, and influencing multi sectoral systems to better serve marginalized and displaced populations. Expertise combines evidence driven advocacy, regulatory analysis, and strategy design with a demonstrated ability to translate program insights into policy action aligned with national, regional, and global development priorities.

Extensive experience in pan African policy processes has been built through leadership roles within the Centre for Youth Development Services and consulting engagements with the African Union, UNFPA, UNDP, AfDB, UNEP, and national governments. Responsibilities have included steering continent wide policy alignment with frameworks such as Agenda 2063 and the SDGs; leading multi country advocacy strategies; and facilitating high level consultations, policy dialogues, and youth validation forums. Work has also focused on embedding inclusive and equitable hiring standards, ensuring representation of underrepresented groups, and fostering institutional learning through robust monitoring, evaluation, and data driven systems.

A substantial portfolio of technical advisory work has been undertaken with UNFPA Country Offices and AU Member States, supporting policy evaluations, youth strategies, and national development planning in Botswana, Lesotho, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Liberia, Malawi, and Tanzania. Contributions have included the revision of national youth policies, development of results based action plans, drafting of cabinet papers and policy briefs, and integration of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion principles into national policy frameworks. Particular attention has been given to participatory policy development, ensuring that youth voices—including those of marginalized and rural groups—inform policy direction and implementation.

Professional experience spans leadership positions in government, faith-based institutions, and regional organizations, including previous roles with the National Social Security Fund and the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Work has emphasized organizational realignment, performance management, evidence translation, and digital innovation in monitoring and evaluation systems. Sheila has managed large multi stakeholder programs, coordinated donor reporting, overseen complex budget portfolios, and led capacity building initiatives for government officials, UN agencies, and civil society partners. She has also served as chief rapporteur and technical trainer for the African Union on monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

The professional trajectory reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening policy ecosystems in support of equitable, climate conscious, and sustainable socio economic development. With broad continental experience, strong analytical capabilities, and demonstrated leadership in strategy development, stakeholder engagement, and policy influence, Sheila brings a comprehensive understanding of how to connect institutional mandates with inclusive development outcomes. She maintains full professional fluency in English and Swahili and is based in Nairobi, Kenya.