West Africa
West Africa
Adhiambo Odaga serves as representative for the foundation in West Africa, leading our Lagos office, and directs the foundation's Pan-Africa programming. In addition to overseeing the implementation of the office's initiatives, her grant making supports works on HIV/AIDS and governance issues
She joined the Ford Foundation in 1995, serving in the Lagos office first as assistant program officer, then program officer, before being appointed representative.
Before coming to the foundation, Adhiambo worked at the World Bank where she focused on female education in Africa. She also served as social scientist for West Africa at the International Potato Center, based in Bamenda, Cameroon. During her tenure at the center, she studied methods for integrating the formal and informal potato seed systems and post-harvest use of sweet potato.
Over the years, she has worked passionately on several development issues including sustainable livelihoods, education for women and girls, institutional development, philanthropy, youth unemployment, microfinance and small business development.
Adhiambo has a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oxford, which she attended as the first Rhodes Scholar from Kenya. She also has a master's of city and regional planning from the University of California at Berkeley, and a B.A. from the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minn.
Issues and Initiatives
Adhiambo Odaga manages the regional strategy in West Africa integrating the following initiatives:
| Issue | Initiative |
|---|---|
| Democratic and Accountable Government | |
| Economic Fairness | |
| Freedom of Expression | |
| Sexuality and Reproductive Health and Rights |
Adhiambo Odaga is a member of the following initiative team:
| Issue | Initiative |
|---|---|
| Democratic and Accountable Government |
Team
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Adhiambo Odaga
Representative
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Joseph B. Gitari
Senior Program Officer
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Friday Okonofua
Program Officer
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