Janet Mawiyoo

My passion for the helping profession led me to pursue a degree in Social Work at the University of Nairobi. I started my career in the civil service, working at the Ministry of Culture and Social Services, as a Youth Officer. However, I found the work culture and bureaucracy limiting, leading me to explore new opportunities.

My transition to the nonprofit sector began as a Programme Officer for a Scandinavian bilateral organization, and later moved on to Action Aid Kenya, where I played several roles including monitoring and evaluation, community development programming, organization strengthening, among others. I rose to become the Manager for the NGO Support Programme, a division that was piloting growing capacities of local NGOs. This latter role really deepened my expertise in Organization Development (OD), as we were focused primarily in organization strengthening activities.

I then undertook an MA (Econ) in the University of Manchester, to strengthen my theoretical understanding of development work, and thereafter took up the Country Director role for Action Aid Tanzania. For six years, this role allowed me to hone my skills further in team management, fundraising, policy advocacy, and network building. However, my belief in community-driven development, led me back to Kenya, where I became the Executive Director of the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF).

At KCDF, I spent 17 years building a national grant-making institution that championed local philanthropy and sustainable community development programming. I also spearheaded innovative resource diversification strategies, such as endowment building and real estate investments among others, which positioned KCDF, as unique for creating alternative income streams for its work. 

In mid-2021, I transitioned from full-time leadership to focus on OD consulting and executive leadership coaching through my firm, Galvanizing Africa Consult. I support nonprofit leaders navigating the complex challenges of leadership and institution building. I also work to support funders who want to reflect and improve their development funding approaches. I have done such work for Comic Relief and been part of a group of global evaluators who undertook an evaluation of the Ford Foundation BUILD’s programme. I am also a member of RINGO, a project which reimagines the role of international NGOs. 

Beyond my work, I find joy in gardening and golfing, both of which keep me connected to nature. My journey continues, fueled by a deep commitment to creating last change.

Additional Reading: Aligning Purpose with Impact: A Foundation’s Blueprint for Success