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Fahamu staff

Fahamu comprises a small core of highly skilled and experienced staff based in Oxford (UK), in Cape Town (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya) and in Dakar (Senegal). We also have a network of associates located in Africa, UK and elsewhere. Fahamu also works with a wide range of international partners. Our work is also made possible through the commitment of volunteers and interns.

Hakima Abbas: deputy director, Fahamu and co-editor, AU Monitor

Hakima is an activist with a background in human rights in Africa and the Middle East. She has a postgraduate degree in international affairs and has worked for several NGOs and UN agencies.

Judith Charlton: design and production

Judith is a graphic designer for both print and electronic media. She has a degree in electronic publishing, and is responsible for much of Fahamu's design and production in printed and electronic formats.

Alex Free: publications assistant

Alex joined Fahamu in September 2008 after completing an African Studies MSc in Oxford over the 2007/08 academic year. He has spent a year working in northern Cameroon as a sports teacher trainer at the Malima Primary School, a position organised through the British NGO Voluntary Service Overseas.

Alyxandra Gomes: editor, Pambazuka News, Portuguese language edition

Alyxandra is an Afro-Brazilian teacher and a Ph.D fellow at the Center of Afro-Oriental Studies (CEAO) in Bahia, Brazil. She has campaigned for African studies all over Brazil and believes that Portuguese is the cement which connects all the lusophone countries in Africa and the diaspora.

Barbara Harrell-Bond: director, refugee programme

Barbara is a legal anthropologist. From 1982-96, she founded/directed the Centre for Refugee Studies, University of Oxford. Since that time she has begun the Refugee Law Project, Uganda, Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA), a legal aid NGO, and the Centre for Migration and Refugee Studies, at the American University, both in Cairo. She is director of Fahamu's refugee programme.

Hilary Isaac: office management

Hilary has previously worked in administration for the UK bookseller WH Smith and Helicon Publishing, a small, independent publishing company.

Martin Jones: director, research and training, refugee programme

Martin is a lawyer and legal academic. He practiced refugee law in Canada and has taught at the Centre for Refugee Studies (Canada), the University of East London (UK), the University of Michigan (USA), the American University in Cairo (Egypt) and the University of Melbourne (Australia). He has provided training to legal aid NGOs in Egypt, Hong Kong, Jordan, Malaysia and Turkey. He currently coordinates the Legal Aid and Advocacy Working Group of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network. He is Director, Research and Training for Fahamu's refugee programme.

Shereen Karmali: editor

Shereen is an editor with many years experience in the non-profit sector in the UK and Kenya. She is a director of Fahamu Ltd.

Winnie Kariuki: programme assistant

Winnie began working for Fahamu as a volunteer, assisting in the preparations for the World Social Forum in Nairobi. She has trained in management and PR and has worked mainly in the hotel industry.

Tidiane Kassé: editor, Pambazuka News French edition

Tidiane is a Senegalese journalist. Chief editor at the Senegalese Press Group Wal Fadjri, he is also a media consultant specialising in HIV and Aids. Since 1996, he has worked as a trainer and workshop facilitator in journalism and communication related to development issues.

Firoze Manji: executive director and editor in chief, Pambazuka News

Firoze, a Kenyan, is founder and executive director of Fahamu and editor of Pambazuka News. He has formerly worked as programme director for the International Secretariat of Amnesty International, CEO for Aga Khan Foundation UK, and regional representative for health for IDRC's office for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Stephen Marks: co-ordinator, China in Africa project

Stephen is co-ordinator of the Fahamu China in Africa project.  A researcher and writer specialising in economic development and environmental issues as they impact on civil society, he has worked as a consultant for a number of international projects. He has been a visiting fellow at Goldsmith's College and the University of East London.

Helen Mukholi: technology assistant

Helen has a background in education and development. She is interested social issues that relate to youth empowerment and HIV/AIDS.

Sanusha Naidu: research director, China in Africa project

Sanusha is a South African researcher and writer. She specialises in the implications of China and India's engagements in Africa and the prospects for governance and sustainable development. Sanusha joined Fahamu in August 2008.

Alice Nderitu: director, Education for Social Justice

Alice is an experienced educator, specialising in peace, conflict and human rights. She has been a teacher and has also worked for government, the media and civil society.

Yves Niyiragira: fellow and co-editor, AU Monitor

Yves is from Burundi and started working with Fahamu as a volunteer in the Nairobi office in 2006. He now works on the AU Monitor initiative.

Joshua Ogada: editor, links and resources, Pambazuka News

Joshua, from Kenya, is doctoral candidate in Mass Communication and Public Affairs at the Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University (ABD), currently based in Cape Town. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and has basic knowledge of Arabic.

Zanna Rodrigues: editorial assistant, Pambazuka News

Zanna is a communications specialist with six years experience in research, writing and editorial on social and environmental issues for business and the not-for-profit sector in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. Previously she worked in corporate responsibility consulting as a researcher and as news and production editor  of CSR journal Corporate Citizenship Briefing. She has a degree in Anthropology and and a postgraduate certificate in Sustainable Development.

Mark Rogerson: technology manager

Mark is a technologist and programmer with over 12 years experience in multimedia and web production. He is a lecturer in electronic media at Oxford Brookes University.

Marina Sharpe: project coordinator, refugee programme

Marina is legal officer and deputy coordinator of the refugee programme. Prior to this, she was the International Refugee Rights Initiative’s legal officer in Kampala. Marina has also worked with the Refugee Law Project in Kampala, AMERA-Egypt in Cairo and Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York and London. Marina is a founder and serves on the board of Asylum Access, a refugee legal aid and policy advocacy organisation. She earned degrees in civil and common law from McGill University, a Masters of Science in development management from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in economics and international development from McGill. 

Mohammed Umar: Fahamu Books, sales and rights manager

Mohammed is a Nigerian who has worked in the book industry for over a decade.

Rebecca Williams: programme manager

Rebecca has worked for Save the Children Fund UK and with the resettlement of refugees in Coventry.