Fellowships

Fellows 2023-2024

 African Women in Leadership and Peacebuilding Fellowship

  • Gorata Chepete


    Botswana
    2023–2024 Fellow

    Gorata is a Criminologist with five years of experience in counter-terrorism, intelligence, peacebuilding, community development, and public policy. She worked at a strategic advisory firm managing projects for corporations and multinational organizations across Africa. As an advocate for the African Union's "Silencing the Guns" initiative, she collaborated with the AU's Peace and Security Department.

    Recently, Gorata completed the Peace, Security, and Development Fellowship at the African Leadership Centre, researching leader-follower dynamics in Boko Haram and ISWAP. She also contributed to initiatives at NEEM Foundation, focused on crisis response and community well-being. Her interests include organized crime, terrorism, policy reform, and gender issues.

  • Merceline Odhiambo


    Kenya
    2023–2024 Fellow

    Merceline is the Founder of Grassroot Women and Politics, a community-based organization empowering young widows, individuals with HIV/AIDS, and those with invisible disabilities in Ndhiwa, Kenya, focusing on political awareness, financial literacy, sexual health, and conflict resolution.

    A committed advocate for gender equality and women’s leadership, Merceline has led impactful programs for women’s rights and inclusion. She holds a BA in Political Science, Sociology, and Peace Studies from the University of Nairobi and is pursuing an MSc in Global Leadership at King’s College London.

    She also serves on the board of Digital Opportunity Trust – Kenya, is Homa Bay’s Global Peace Ambassador, and Homa Bay Youth Senator.

Women Fellows

  • Asma Haroun


    Sudan
    2023–2024 Fellow

    Asma Haroun is an activist and development practitioner with over a decade of experience, holding a bachelor’s in Water and Environmental Engineering from Sudan University of Science and Technology. She has served as a program specialist in critical areas like WASH, peacebuilding, and human rights, empowering Sudanese youth, women, and marginalized groups.

    Asma has led projects in high-conflict zones, including Darfur and Kordofan, and advocates for gender equality, reproductive health, and economic rights. She is also on the management board of Sudan's first women’s football team, supporting women’s empowerment. Currently, she is a fellow in the African Leadership Centre’s Peace, Security, and Development program.

  • Kaltumi Abdulazeez


    Nigeria
    2023–2024 Fellow

    Kaltumi Abdulazeez, a humanitarian activist and advocate for women and marginalized communities, holds a Master’s in Conflict, Security, and Development from the Nigerian Defense Academy. As founder of Ladies Empowerment Goals and Support Initiative (LEGASI), she champions gender equality and peacebuilding in Nigeria.

    Her contributions have earned her awards, including Jigawa State’s state honors in 2016 and Community Activist of the Year in 2018. Kaltumi, a fellow with the African Leadership Centre, USIP, and KAICIID, aligns her work with UNSCR 1325 principles, emphasizing women’s roles in peace and security. Committed to grassroots change, she advocates for better access to essential services. Learn more at www.legasi.org.

Associate Fellows

  • Ivan Muvunyi


    Rwanda
    2023–2024 Fellow

    Ivan completed his secondary education at Lycée De Kigali before earning a degree in Business Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from Oxford Brookes University in 2023. At Oxford Brookes, he served as Head of Marketing for the African and Caribbean Society (ACS), playing a key role in revitalizing the organization post-COVID by creating events and partnerships to support African and Caribbean students.

    Currently pursuing an MSc in Leadership and Development at King’s College London, Ivan is also an Associate Fellow with the African Leadership Centre and part of the 2023/24 King’s 100 cohort. In his free time, he works as a designer, filmmaker, music producer, and sometimes performs as a DJ.

  • Shreya Dharmalingam


    South Africa
    2023–2024 Fellow

    Shreya Dharmalingam, from Johannesburg, recently graduated from the University of Cape Town (UCT) with a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences, majoring in Economics, Politics, and Business French. In 2022, she earned an Honours in International Relations, driven by her interest in history’s influence on current global dynamics. Her thesis on China’s Digital Silk Road and African development sparked her passion for sustainable growth in Africa.

    Beyond academics, Shreya actively engaged in social initiatives, serving with the UN Association at UCT, as Secretary General of the UCT Wine Society, and in the Golden Key Mentorship Programme. Now pursuing an MSc in Global Leadership at King’s College London and as an Associate Fellow with the African Leadership Centre, Shreya aims to continue her impactful leadership journey.

  • Olinda Mabunda


    Mozambique
    2023–2024 Fellow

    Olinda Mabunda, from Mozambique, studied at Christian Academy before earning a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies with a minor in Education and TESOL from Messiah University, Pennsylvania. Fluent in English, Changana, and Portuguese, she also served as a Teacher's Assistant and was the Human Rights Awareness Director, building partnerships for human rights advocacy.

    In 2022, Olinda worked as a Neighborhood Revitalization Coordinator in the U.S., developing a community revitalization plan with local government and nonprofits. She later joined Mozambique's Instituto do Patrocínio e Assistência Jurídica (IPAJ) as a Legal Assistant, mediating conflict cases and promoting human rights. She is now an MSc candidate in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College and an Associate Fellow with the African Leadership Centre.