TEAM LEAD

Nassim is the Co-Founder of Samuel Hall and Migration Pillar Lead, with over a decade of experience conducting research across Africa, Asia, and Europe. She specialises in return migration and has published widely while also teaching at Sciences Po Lille. Nassim holds a PhD from Sciences Po Paris and was nominated for the Nansen Refugee Award for her work with displaced populations.

TECHNICAL EXPERT

Hervé is the Co-Founder, Executive Director of Partnerships at Samuel Hall. With over 16 years of international experience managing research projects, conducting sector assessments and evaluations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, he has worked with a  wide range of donors, UN agencies, international organisations, NGOs, and businesses. His work is focused on gender, climate change and urban issues in contexts affected by displacement and migration. 

GRANT MANAGER

Eva Lisangari is a Grant Manager for the LLEARN Project and a Project Manager at Samuel Hall, where she leads coordination on migration, youth, and gender-focused programmes across Africa and Asia. She has over 13 years of experience in development, policy advocacy, and consortium management. A public health graduate and published researcher, Eva is passionate about inclusive, locally led solutions in fragile contexts.

RESEARCH MANAGER

Lisa is a research programme coordinator at Samuel Hall where she takes a longer view of the company, its strategy and vision, going beyond carrying out specific activities, and works on and coordinates multi-year consortium-type projects. She has been working on research projects on youth integration, urban migration governance, social protection, labour relations, financial inclusion in East and West Africa and the SWANA region.

EVENTS LEAD

At Samuel Hall, Kelly leads on events and supports the Partnerships Unit, where her focus is on fostering strategic partnerships that generate opportunities for meaningful collaborations, increased impact and visibility for the organization, its partners and the communities we serve. Kelly is passionate about mapping out sustainable solutions tailored towards development initiatives in the Global South through evidence-based, data-driven strategic development.

QUANTITATIVE FOCAL POINT

Jonathan is a Research Manager at Samuel Hall. Before joining Samuel Hall he was based In South Sudan for two years where he lead the Joint Market Monitoring Initiative, a country-wide price monitoring survey on behalf of REACH, WFP and the South Sudan Cash Working Group. In South Sudan, Jonathan also worked as an analyst at the January 2020 IPC Food Security Classification Conference. He also participated as a market assessment specialist in February 2021 for the Western Pibor Rapid Assessment on behalf of the FSL Cluster, WFP and REACH.

FINANCE LEAD

Faith is a professional accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting and  a  Master of  Business Administration  in  Accounting. She has  honed her expertise in financial management, analysis and reporting, auditing, and compliance . She is  dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical standards and ensuring accuracy and transparency in financial reporting.

Jared Owuor is the Research Operations Manager at Samuel Hall, leading research operations across Africa with a focus on locally led, community-driven approaches. He specializes in designing rigorous research methodologies and tools that empower local actors, leveraging emerging technologies to support refugee return and reintegration systems. Committed to participatory co-production, he ensures research delivers actionable insights and centres marginalised voices. Jared holds a Master’s in Public Policy & Administration and a BA in Political Science from Kenyatta University, with training in Survey Methods and Data Analysis from NDI. He has worked with USAID, HIVOs, NDI, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and Kenyan organisations on human rights and governance.

RESEARCH LEAD

Daniel is a Research Lead at Samuel Hall, where he conducts research at the intersection of urbanisation, climate change, displacement, and mobility, with a focus on the East and West Africa, SWANA Region and Afghanistan. He completed a Master's in International Affairs at the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID).

COMMUNICATIONS LEAD

Devyani is a communications specialist with a background in journalism, research, and media projects focused on development, gender, and social justice. She leads the communications and storytelling efforts at Samuel Hall. Devyani holds a Master’s in Critical Media and Cultural Studies from SOAS and has written for outlets like Al Jazeera and Newlines. Her work combines storytelling, research, and advocacy to support social change.

DESIGN LEAD

Titus is a communications designer with a versatile background in architecture and human-centered design.

With past experince in HCD, he brings a human-centered approach to visual storytelling allowing him to create visually compelling designs that resonate and communicate purposefully, contributing to initiatives that prioritize human experiences as well as enhance stakeholder understanding and engagement

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOCAL POINT

Mwara leads community engagement efforts at Samuel Hall, working to ensure that research is participatory and inclusive. She has been part of research and communications teams at Samuel Hall focusing on climate mobility, displacement, and refugee inclusion, and also supports podcast production. She holds a bachelors degree in Social Sciences from the African Leadership University (Mauritius).

PROJECT MANAGER

Koyi Robert is the Project manager for LLEARN Project as well as at ACRA. He monitors project progress and outcomes and engages in communication ensuring regulatory compliance. He is a graduate in Environmental Science Technology and Management with 5 years experience in program management. He is dedicated to create programmes aimed at empowering communities and build resilience in vulnerable environment.

FINANCE OFFICER

Gloria is a finance Officer for LLEARN and a Finance Assistant at ACRA. She ensures financial reporting, grant management, compliance, auditing, fiscal forecasting and funding allocation is achieved efficiently. Gloria is a graduate in Finance and Accounting with over 6 years’ experience in finance. She is passionate about efficiency and accountability in every project setting.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Aisha Said Ibrahim is a Community Engagement Officer for LLEARN and Protection and Safeguarding Officer at ACRA. She leads community level advocacy, local stakeholder engagement, community assessments and trainings. Aisha is a graduate in Gender and Development Studies and she is passionate about gender sensitive projects which strengthens local leadership and create sustainable solutions.

TEAM LEADER

Francis Gicheru is the Team Leader for the LLEARN Project and Deputy Head of Programs at ACRA. He executes and oversees research projects, resource allocation and timeline management. He is a Business Administration graduate with 10 years experience in the humanitarian sector.

He is passionate about creating locally led solutions that empower displaced communities and build lasting resilience in fragile contexts.

PROJECT OFFICER

Peter Kai Wal is a Project Officer at LLEARN and Operational Manager at ACRA. His role includes field research technical writing, budget management, report preparation and quality assurance. He is a graduate in procurement and logistics management and passionate about supporting every initiative that support and uplift resilience, inclusivity, and meaningful progressDescription goes here

TEAM LEAD, UGANDA

Peter Kasaija works as a researcher at the Urban Action Lab where he contributes to research on green and renewable energy, heterogeneous infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, informality, governance, displacement and climate change adaptation.

Peter serves as the Team Lead for the Local Leadership East African Return and Reintegration Network (LLEARN) project in Uganda. In this role, he spearheads the secondary research efforts, conducting a thorough review of relevant literature to establish a solid foundation for understanding return and reintegration processes in Uganda and the region. Further, he leads the qualitative data analysis, synthesizing findings to guide the development of knowledge products.

PROJECT MANAGER

Hakimu Sseviiri is a PhD candidate in Geographical Sciences at Makerere University, where he focuses on Climate Change, Health Inequalities, and Neighborhood Wellbeing. He is a researcher at the Urban Action Lab and the Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovations (MUCCRI).

Hakimu’s interdisciplinary research spans climate change, urban resilience, health, migration, informality, tenure security, land governance, and various aspects of urban infrastructure, including Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) among others.

In the LLEARN project, Hakimu serves as the Project Manager, where he is responsible for developing a comprehensive methodology and workplan for primary research. He oversees the data collection process, including managing the processes of surveys and qualitative assessments. In addition, he facilitates co-creation workshops and mapping of institutional frameworks

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Faridah Nalwanga is an Assistant Lecturer in the Departments of Environmental Management and Geography, at Makerere University. Currently pursuing her PhD, Faridah’s research focuses on Gender and Climate Change Adaptation among Pastoral Communities in the Cattle Corridor.

In her role as the Community Engagement Officer for the LLEARN project in Uganda, Faridah does oversight on qualitative data collection to gather perspectives from influential stakeholders. She also leads co-creation workshops involving refugees, host communities, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Faridah’s expertise in community engagement and gender issues are crucial in fostering inclusive dialogue and collaboration throughout the project.

FINANCE OFFICER

Judith Mbabazi is a PhD candidate, Graduate Fellow and facilitator at the Urban Action Lab (UAL), where she collaborates on research projects with various partners, including community organisations, civil society groups, and government agencies.

With a strong passion for informality and inequality, Judith focuses her research on issues that impact liveability, climate change, health, economic growth, and equity, emphasizing the interplay between policy, planning, and urban environments.

In her role as the Finance Officer for the LLEARN project in Uganda, Judith is responsible for managing the logistical requirements and reporting on project expenditures.

Besides, she oversees the management and quality control of qualitative data, ensuring that project activities are well-documented and aligned with the project’s objectives.

TEAM LEAD, YVC

Chocho Isaac Fashingabo is the Executive Director of Youth Voices Community (YVC), a refugee-led organization based in Nairobi that empowers refugees through advocacy, education, economic inclusion, and social integration.

With over a decade of experience in the humanitarian sector, he currently serves as the YVC Team Lead for the Locally-Led East African Return and Reintegration Network (LLEARN) project. Throughout his career, he has worked with various organizations to support refugee communities through mobilization, assessment, teaching, and protection services.

His lifelong commitment is to advancing social justice, human dignity, and sustainable community development.

PROJECT MANAGER

George Dralagar is the Director of Programs at Youth Voices Community (YVC), bringing over a decade of experience in humanitarian development, community programming, and project implementation. He specialises in evidence-based research advocacy and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with a focus on Political Science and Sociology. His areas of expertise include reporting, strategic planning, and communication.

Currently, he serves as the Project Manager for the Locally Led East African Return and Re-integration Network (LLEARN) at YVC. In this role, he oversees project progress and outcomes, facilitates communication with team members and stakeholders, and ensures regulatory and ethical compliance throughout the implementation process.

PROGRAMMES OFFICER

Phyllis Njeri is a passionate development practitioner and the Program Officer for the LLEARN Project (Locally-Led East African Return and Reintegration Network). She brings over three years of experience working with refugee communities, focusing on sustainable development solutions that promote self-reliance, economic inclusion, and social integration. Her expertise spans field research, technical writing, budget management, team collaboration, and quality assurance. With a strong track record in report preparation, time management, and effective presentation, Phyllis plays a key role in coordinating project activities and ensuring the delivery of high-quality outcomes that support the reintegration and inclusion of displaced populations across East Africa.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Shanizze Kamina is the Communications Lead at YVC with a background in Corporate Communications and Public Relations, passionate about crafting compelling narratives and building strong, authentic brands. With over 3 years of experience in both corporate and community- driven settings, I lead strategic communications, manage PR campaigns, and collaborate across teams to amplify our organization’s voice. I believe in the power of storytelling to shape perception, build trust, and drive meaningful change.

FINANCE OFFICER

Christine Umutoni is an experienced finance professional with over 3 years of expertise in financial management within the humanitarian and non-profit sectors. Skilled in Budgeting and Forecasting, Grant Management, Donor Compliance, Financial Reporting, Audit Preparation, Internal Controls, Cash Flow Monitoring, and Strategic Financial Planning. Currently serving as Finance Officer for the LLEARN Project(Locally-Led East African Return and Reintegration Network), where I ensure transparent, accountable, and efficient financial operations aligned with donor requirements and organizational goals. Proven track record in supporting multi-partner programs and enhancing financial systems to strengthen programme delivery.