She is a certified Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) practitioner through MS-TCDC, with core competencies
in indicator development, results frameworks, data collection tools, data quality assurance, and
participatory M&E methodologies. Her research and analysis experience includes national stakeholder
mapping, program discovery, qualitative research, and collaboration on baseline and endline evaluations
under IFPRI, CRS, and Pact initiatives.

Magdalena has led multi-sectoral programs for Catholic Relief Services, Pact, Baylor College of Medicine
Children’s Foundation, Integrated Rural Development Organization, and Feed the Children. She has
managed annual budgets of up to USD 5 million, coordinated across multiple regions, supervised technical
staff and CSO partners, and supported policy advocacy efforts in nutrition and ECD. Her strengths lie in
program integration, adaptive management, and strengthening partnerships with government, CSOs,
FBOs, and private sector actors to advance inclusive and sustainable outcomes.

At the heart of her work is a deep commitment to addressing systemic barriers facing young people and
women—driven by the belief that development is only meaningful when it reflects their voices, choices,
and leadership.

Her practical experience was significantly shaped during her tenure with Don Bosco. In Dar es Salaam, Agnes excelled as a Human Resource and Administrative Officer, where she was instrumental in managing daily HR operations and ensuring efficient administrative processes. Demonstrating a proactive approach to organizational development, she subsequently transitioned into a Project Manager role for Don Bosco’s Youth Vocation Training initiatives. In this capacity, Agnes successfully oversaw and implemented vital training projects in both Dodoma and Iringa, contributing to the empowerment and skill development of youth in these regions. Her diverse experience showcases a strong blend of HR expertise and project leadership, particularly within the non-profit sector

With a strong foundation in Human Nutrition, Judith has led large-scale, donor-funded projects across Tanzania’s southern, central, and northern zones—designing and implementing cross-sectoral strategies that bridge agriculture, nutrition, and climate resilience. Her work has focused on promoting sustainable production, processing, and household-level dietary diversity while empowering women and youth to influence decisions around food, income, and caregiving.

Judith has played a central role in designing SBC frameworks, developing community-based tools, and coordinating multi-level capacity-building initiatives. She has supported strategic program design, policy alignment, and the integration of inclusive nutrition approaches across government, civil society, and private sector platforms. Her research experience includes leading barrier analyses, baseline and endline evaluations, and translating findings into practical, equity-driven interventions.

Her strengths lie in participatory program design, strategic partnerships, and systems thinking that connects local realities with national priorities. Driven by a commitment to community transformation, Judith is a firm believer in co-creating solutions that are culturally grounded, gender-responsive, and sustainable.

Climate-Smart Agriculture, Gender, and Rural Innovation Expert

Dr. Rachel Zakayo (PhD) is a leading voice in climate-smart agriculture, gender equality, and rural innovation, with over 12 years of experience advancing equitable and resilient food systems across sub-Saharan Africa. She holds a PhD in Agricultural and Rural Innovation (with a gender focus), an MA in Rural Development, and a BA in Agriculture. She is currently conducting postdoctoral research (2025–2026) on Evidence-Based Scaling of Improved On-Farm Storage Among Smallholders in Tanzania through a collaboration between the University of Zurich and Sokoine University of Agriculture.

A seasoned researcher and development practitioner, Dr. Zakayo has designed and led a portfolio of high-impact, gender-sensitive agricultural research initiatives. These include IFPRI-funded studies on gendered decision-making in postharvest management, barriers to women’s participation in nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and the World Vegetable Center’s food choice studies examining gender dynamics in household vegetable consumption. Her work is marked by a deep understanding of how power, knowledge, and access influence outcomes across food systems.

At the intersection of research and rural action, she has delivered transformative community-level programming with organizations such as WFP and ActionAid. There, she championed climate-smart agriculture by integrating postharvest solutions into broader food security efforts—establishing 15 community-based food processing units and training over 2,800 smallholder farmers, 95% of whom were women, in improved storage and processing techniques. Her fieldwork reflects a deep commitment to practical innovation that strengthens rural livelihoods and fosters environmental sustainability.

A trailblazer in gender-responsive design, Dr. Zakayo has adapted and rolled out Gender Action Learning System (GALS) methodologies in agricultural value chains, empowering women to claim agency in decision-making spaces from the household to the policy table. She combines systems thinking with participatory tools to make gender equity a functional and measurable element of program outcomes.

Dr. Zakayo’s unique expertise lies in bridging the worlds of academic research, development policy, and local implementation. Her integrated approach ensures that agricultural interventions are not only evidence-based and climate-adaptive but also grounded in social equity and tailored to local contexts.

Driven by a vision of sustainable rural transformation, Dr. Zakayo aspires to shape regional and global agendas by amplifying the voices of rural women, strengthening climate resilience among smallholders, and advancing inclusive innovations that nourish communities, regenerate ecosystems, and leave no one behind.