Team
AYAN is led by a volunteer leadership team from the EAC Youth Fellowship, 3rd Cohort, working with partners across East Africa. Roles are being confirmed, and profiles appear here as each person accepts.
Leadership team
Nine leadership roles carry the programme. No names are published until each person has accepted, so every card below shows what the role does rather than who holds it.
Programme Lead and Co-Lead
Overall direction, sign-off and funder relationships.
Kakihoza Akampurira holds an LL.B from Makerere University and a postgraduate diploma in law. She is the founder of Galaxy Innovation Initiative, managing director of Kanaba Engineers Co. Ltd, and a past president of the Rotaract Club of Kampala Munyonyo.
LinkedIn profile
Head of Digital, Communications & Outreach
Leads AYAN's public voice and digital presence. Runs official communications and social channels, leads outreach to members, partners and institutions, and looks after the AYAN website, platform and domain.
Salva Aleu is a South Sudanese youth leader, social entrepreneur and technology enthusiast. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Young Innovative Farmers Organization (YIFO), championing youth empowerment, digital innovation, agriculture, and climate action. He is also the founder of SawaPay, a fintech advancing accessible digital financial solutions.
LinkedIn profile
Head of Partnerships & Resource Mobilisation
MOUs, funder proposals, and relationships with the EAC and National Youth Councils.
Thierry TUYIZERE is a Rwandan health professional, communications practitioner and youth development advocate committed to meaningful youth participation and East African integration. He has served as Deputy EAC Youth Ambassador to Rwanda and Director of Communications for the EAC Youth Ambassadors Platform, contributing to youth engagement, regional connections and collaboration across the East African Community.
LinkedIn profileHost country logistics, schedules and the six cross-border exchanges.
Head of Community Action & Innovation
Community project co-design, mentors and documentation.
Job Kiragu Muriithi is a Kenyan political scientist, governance practitioner and youth democracy advocate passionate about strengthening democratic institutions and citizen participation. He has experience in civic engagement, political affairs, youth leadership and programme coordination. Through his work, he champions innovative, community-led solutions, inclusive governance and meaningful youth participation in democratic processes.
LinkedIn profileCountry chapters, the alumni network and Swahili activation.
Head of Monitoring, Evaluation & Accountability
Surveys, data and public reporting.
Bernard Onyango is a Nairobi-based aspiring data scientist and climate-tech entrepreneur with a background in software development. He is the founder of iLoop KE & Logistics, a climate-tech venture developing solar-powered cold storage solutions to reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access for small-scale farmers and informal traders. His interests lie at the intersection of data, technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainable food systems.
LinkedIn profile
Head of Safety, Safeguarding & Data Protection
Risk, emergency response and how personal details are handled.
Zephyrin Ngarukiyintwari is a Burundian social entrepreneur and environmental advocate. He champions green innovation, economic freedom, sustainable development, and youth empowerment.
LinkedIn profileBudget tracking, approvals and records.
Staffing plan
These delivery roles depend on funding that has not been secured yet. They are listed for transparency about how AYAN plans to operate — nothing here is open for applications today.
Keeps in touch with past participants and supports country chapters and the alumni network.
Handles the day-to-day logistics of each exchange leg, from schedules to travel arrangements.
Runs the surveys and data collection behind our impact targets and public reporting.
Supports safeguarding, risk assessments and emergency response during exchanges.
Helps run AYAN's channels and supports storytellers publishing to the Stories hub.
Works with youth teams to document community projects and track them against the SDGs.
Integrity of selection
Applications will be assessed by a panel of 8 independent members — one per EAC country — recruited before applications open. The panel keeps participant selection separate from the leadership team. Members will be announced once appointed.
Panel composition is a plan, not a done deal — no members have been appointed yet.
The first cohort has not opened yet. Register your interest and we will contact you when applications do.
Register your interest