The ABN Secretariat

Gathuru Mburu - Coordinator

Mburu holds a Masters degree in Environmental Planning and Management from Nairobi University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources Management from Egerton University. He has been working in the environmental movement for the last fourteen years, in different organizations, and has valuable experience in working with local communities, especially revitalizing indigenous knowledge and its application in solving current ecological problems. His work has exposed him to regional and international environmental governance and livelihoods development issues that enable him to guide ABN’s multi-pronged responses to developmental issues in Africa. He has skills in resource mobilization, reporting, organizational development and management, programme development and grants management. He has worked for many years with Prof Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement.

Anne Maina - Advocacy Coordinator

Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Nairobi in Sociology and Economics. Has over six years experience working with various NGOs and regional networks on campaign, advocacy and lobbying and other work. She has acquired skills in negotiation techniques, capacity building, policy analysis and research, fundraising, planning and budgeting. She has participated in several assignments with national and international organizations including the Tokyo International Conference for Development (TICAD IV), FIAN fact finding mission on the Human Right to Food, World Congress for Rural Women in Durban among others. She has been very instrumental in the growth and development of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers’ Forum (FORUM) and other networks in Africa.

Simon Mitambo - Network Administrator

Simon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Nairobi in Sociology and Linguistics. He has more than ten years of experience working in challenging leadership positions with various leading organizations/networks at national, regional and international level. Simon has diverse wealth of skills in project cycle management, organizational leadership and development, teambuilding, networking and relationship building, guidance and counseling, conflict resolution, marketing, resource mobilization and reporting, administration and logistical support, training and facilitation and possesses excellent communication skills among others. He has been very instrumental in the growth of the ABN Secretariat and the regional network in general since he joined in February 2007 to date.

Jane Kinya - Finance Manager

Jane holds Bachelor of Science degree from Kenyatta University in Mathematics. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). She has over 9 years progressive work experience in various roles, providing both mainstream finance and administration and consultancy services. She has ability to carry out detailed organizational assessment/diagnosis; develop and oversee implementation of comprehensive capacity development plans; capacity to develop training and facilitation programs; has excellent appreciation of the computerized financial management systems; has working knowledge of donor reporting requirements having successfully managed multi-donor relations including quality control, accountability and impacts. She has skills in human resource and office management.

The ABN Board

Zachary Makanya, the Chairperson of ABN Board of Trustees

Zachary was born in Kenya and trained as a Water and Environmental Engineer. He has 25 years experience working in community and network development and environment protection. He is currently the Country Coordinator for PELUM-Kenya, a Country Chapter PELUM Association. PELUM Association operates in 10 countries of East, Central and Southern Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, and Botswana. Zachary has previously worked with two international NGOs: Food for the Hungry International and Practical Action (formerly ITDG), one National NGO (SACDEP) and one Community Based Organization: RIDEP. Zachary has participated in over 50 short diverse courses in many countries in Africa and Europe mainly on development and networking. He is involved in the advocacy on issues that affect small scale farmers and biodiversity. 

Million Belay, ABN Board Of Trustees

Million Belay is Director of MELCA Mahiber, an environmental NGO based in Ethiopia. Working closely with the African Biodiversity Network, the organization aims to work for the conservation of ecosystem and for the revival and enhancement of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and to protect the rights of communities in Ethiopia through research, advocacy, endogenous development and intergenerational learning. Through the organization of national cultural biodiversity festivals and working with elders on experiential learning activities for children in nature, Million has been instrumental in promoting the values of the ABN’s Cultural Biodiversity programme throughout Ethiopia. Million is currently studying for a PhD in Cultural Biodiversity in South Africa. 

Sulemana Abudulai, the Treasurer of the ABN Board of Trustees

Abudulai has been on the ABN Board of Trustees since 2009. He has a PhD in Land Economy, MSc in Rural and Regional Resources Planning and BSc in Land Economy. Sulemana has worked for nearly 21 years in development. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Transform UK and CODA International. He is also a member of a Panel of Advisors for Stars Foundation, which makes awards to deserving organisations working on issues affecting children and young people. Abudulai is a keen supporter of the Earth Jurisprudence movement and over the last few years, working closely with friends and colleagues at RAINS, Ghana, has worked hard to inspire EJ and CEG processes in his homeland of Tamale, northern Ghana.

Elfrieda Pschorn-Strauss, Vice Chairperson of ABN Board of Trustees

Elfrieda has accompanied ABN over the past decade and became a member of the Board of Trustees at its formalization in 2002. Over the past 20 years, Elfrieda has worked with several environmental NGOs in South Africa including ABN partner Biowatch, which she helped to set up. While at Biowatch she was also one of the founders of SAFeAGE, South Africa' s anti-GMO campaign network. She then worked for GRAIN from 2005 to the end of 2010 and was responsible for research and supporting GRAIN's partners in anglophone Africa. Elfrieda continues to work particularly closely with ABN partner the MUPO Foundation in South Africa.

Bakari Nyari

Bakari became a Board member of the African Biodiversity Network (ABN) in 2007. He is also National President of Gonjaland Youth Association and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ABN partner RAINS (Regional Advisory Information & Network Systems) in Ghana; and the current National Director of the Public and Vested Lands Management Division of the Lands Commission, Ghana. Bakari has been instrumental in developing RAINS' work on the environment, climate change, and natural resource management. Bakari has interest in ecosystem preservation, land rights, and community livelihoods, and as an experienced campaigner he has been at the forefront of many campaigns against land grabbing by speculative investors. Bakari has also taught at various levels in Ghana and Nigeria including the University for Development Studies, Tamale, and he has participated in several high profile conferences in Ghana and overseas. Bakari Holds a Bsc (Hons) Degree in Land Economy from the  Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and an MA in Development Studies from the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University, the Netherlands

Liz Hosken

Liz Hosken is from South Africa where she worked with trade unions and community programmes until she was exiled. She is co-founder and director of The Gaia Foundation, based in London. Gaia has been working with partners in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe, for 25 years to regenerate healthy ecosystems and enhance traditional knowledge and practices for land, seed, food and water sovereignty. Gaia is one of the founding members of ABN and Liz is a member of the Board, focusing especially on processes to revive cultural and biological diversity, based on her experience for many years in the Amazon region accompanying indigenous communities to establish their own ecologically rooted governance systems. Liz is committed to ensure that Africa's rich and diverse ecologically literate cultural heritage is not lost. Gaia collaborates with ABN in various ways, including supporting learning exchanges with its partners in other continents and promoting African voices and world views internationally.