Dr Ntombi Muchuchuti
- Director
Dr Ntombi Muchuchuti is a Health Social Scientist with more than 25 years’ cumulative work experience with governments, INGOs, CSOs, development corporation organisations, movements, and humanitarian organisations. A nurse and midwife by professions, she holds a Doctorate, a Masters, an Honours and BSc in Psychology. She has worked with organisations focusing on human rights approach to humanitarian aid, sustainable development, emergency response, gender justice, social justice, climate justice, and poverty eradication in a bid to create a Just Society.
She has more than 25 years cumulative experience in Health, 22 years in HIV programming, SRHR and MNCH, 17 years in NGO sector, 15 years working with vulnerable and marginalised communities and communities affected by poverty, 14 years in management, and 12 years of research work, 12 years working with CSOs, 12 years’ experience in utilising Partnership Model, 10 years of humanitarian aid, with 8 years valuable experience in Locally Led Adaptation Programming. She is an Organisational Development Specialist, a strategist, with great strategic acumen.
Junior Vutoyi
- Head of Programs Quality and Funding
Junior Vutoyi, ARASA’s Head of Programs Quality and Funding has more than 15 years’ experience working in the humanitarian/development sector at various strategic management positions. She has vast experience in program planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability with a strong understanding of humanitarian principles, emergency and security management.
She is well versed with enhancing linkages and networking with stakeholders at various levels and like-minded organizations for effective implementation of WASH, ASRHR, ending child marriages, HIV programming, resilience building, gender Justice, policy advocacy and women and children’s rights.
She has worked with national and international organizations to empower communities to make vital changes that tackle the root causes of discrimination against women and girls, exclusion and vulnerability and to prepare for and respond to crisis. Junior holds a master’s degree in development studies and in management in Business Leadership.
Jonah Muvuta
- Regional Finance Manager
With over 16 years of experience, Jonah Mabvuta, the ARASA Finance Manager is a seasoned professional in financial management, grants and contracts management, budgeting, logistics, procurement, and office administration. He has expertly handled a wide range of funding sources, including USG funding from USAID, CDC, USDA, and BHA, in addition to securing non-USG funding from prestigious organizations like DFID, SIDA, EU, ECHO, and multiple UN Agencies such as UNICEF, WFP, and UNHCR. Jonah’s diverse skill set and wealth of experience make him a valuable asset in effectively managing complex financial operations and ensuring the success of grant and contract activities.
Gideon Mukwishu
- Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Gideon Mukwishu joined ARASA in February 2024 as the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager. Gideon is a development specialist with more than 13 years of experience in programme design, management, grants compliance, monitoring and evaluation. He joined the ARASA team from Plan International where he served in different leadership positions. Gideon is passionate about supporting organisations to develop sustainable partnerships and programmes with lasting impact.
Maggie Amweelo
- Regional Grants Manager
Maggie Amweelo is the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at ARASA, a role she resumed in May 2011. She joined ARASA in 2008 as an Executive Assistant to the Director and also served as ARASA’s Office Coordinator from 2009 before moving into her current position. Maggie has 13 years of work experience with local NGOs (Catholic AIDS Action and the Legal Assistance Centre) in Namibia as well as the education sector (Polytechnic of Namibia).
Maggie holds a B-Tech Degree in Business Administration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Diploma in Business Administration from the Polytechnic of Namibia (2004). Maggie also has a Pitman Diploma in Secretarial and Administration from the Valombola Vocational Training centre (2000).
Christon Zimbizi
- Programme Manager Love Alliance Programme
Christon Zimbizi joined ARASA in March 2023 as the Programme Manager for the Love Alliance Grantmaking Programme. He is a public health and human development professional with years of experience in development and humanitarian work. Christon is passionate about health and human rights issues in Africa and beyond.
He has worked with communities on Youth Development, Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS. Christon has key competencies in Project and Programme Management. He has worked from community level to national level, to regional level and at the international level with various agencies including the Public Health Institute, ICCO Netherlands, VSO International and UNFPA. Christon has a Master of Public Health degree along with various other professional certifications.
Daria Gabone
- Finance Manager Love Alliance Programme
Daria is a goal-focused professional Accountant with a record of accurate reporting and budget management. She has extensive experience in handling all areas of finances for both private and non-governmental organisations, including Iinternal controls, budgets, financial reports, and audits.
She possesses extensive experience in accounting and finance management from the NGO space including UN and vast corporate finance systems management. She holds a master’s in Business Administration (Finance Major) as well as a Bachelor of Accounting (Hons).
Bruce Tushabe
- Regional Training and Capacity Strengthening Lead
Bruce Tushabe is the Regional Training and Capacity Strengthening Officer at ARASA. He joined the ARASA team in April 2016 from Malawi Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV (MANERELA+) where he served as the Executive Director. Bruce has a 15 years of work experience with local and international organisations. He has worked in Asia as well as Southern and East African region serving in various positions.
Hertha Nekwaya
- Regional Finance And Administration Officer
Hertha Nekwaya joined ARASA in April 2017 as the Finance and Administration Officer. She holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from the Polytechnic of Namibia. Hertha worked as a Financial Assistant at Namibia Wildlife Resorts, Senior Bookkeeper at Kayec Trust, and as an Accounts Supervisor at O & L Leisure. She is currently studying towards her Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Thuthukile Mbatha
- Regional Advocacy Lead
Thuthukile is a sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) activist with a particular interest in HIV prevention. She has a demonstrated history of working in a public interest law firm, SECTION27, as a researcher for over 7 years. She is a friend and an organizer for a global political movement called She Decides, which advocates for her right to decide what she wants to do with her body, her life and her future without question.
Thuthukile holds a Bachelor of Social science Degree on Anthropology and Psychology from the University of KwaZulu Natal. She is currently finishing her Masters in Population Studies.
Takaitei Bote
- Regional Communications and Documentation Officer
Takaitei Bote is the Regional Communications and Documentation Officer for ARASA, and she joined the organisation in April 2023. She is a passionate human rights and humanitarian communications, media expert and gender activist with over 20 years practice in the non-governmental sector and 6 years in the mainstream print media with exposure in Africa and Europe.
A strategist in development communications, organisation profile and capacity builder, Takaitei holds a Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies, Diploma in Mass Communications/print Journalism, Group Diploma in Marketing (London Chamber of Commerce) and a Marketing Diploma under IMM Graduate School of Marketing.
Phathisani Sibanda
- Regional Key Populations Officer
Phathisani Sibanda, ARASA Regional Key Populations Officer is a SRHR research ,programming and advocacy enthusiast with a keen interest in working with sexual and gender minorities. With over five years of experience in Key Populations -oriented organizations, Phathisani has held various roles, including research assistant, peer educator, programs officer, and Demand generation officer among others.
In addition Phathisani has also undertaken some work with global organizations serving key populations like Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) and has also severed in the Youth Advisory Panel for the regional SRHR fund in East and Southern Africa. Academically, Phathisani holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights, Peace and Development from Africa University and one in Sexual Reproductive Health Policy and Programming from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine(LSHTM).
Magadalena David
- Regional Finance, Administration and Logistics Officer
Magdalena David joined ARASA in June 2017 as the Finance and Administration Assistant, and now holds the position of Finance, Admin and Logistics Officer. She completed her Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration and a Postgraduate diploma in Management from the Namibian University of Science and Technology.
Prior to joining ARASA she worked as the Assistant to the Programme Development Coordinator and later a National Youth development coordinator at the SOS Children’s Villages Namibia. She has also served as project officer for the SOS Children’s Villages Namibia and The Foschini Group project.
Dr Brighton Chizhande
- Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation And Learning (PMEL) Love Alliance Programme
Dr. Brighton Chizhande (MBChB, MPH) is the Planning Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) for Love Alliance under ARASA. A medical doctor with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery Degree from University of Zimbabwe and an MSc Public Health and Health Promotion Degree from Swansea University, Brighton is passionate about public health.
He is currently a Master’s Degree for Sustainable Humanitarian Action scholar. He has 14 years experience in public and private health sectors including right to health programmes at Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights. He did humanitarian and development work at International Medical Corps as a Health Manager and Advisor.
Matias Langa
- Country Coordinator Mozambique – Love Alliance Programme.
Matias Langa joined ARASA in October 2023 as the Love Alliance Project Mozambique Country Coordinator based in Maputo. He is a Teacher by profession and an Organisational Sociologist. He has 18 years’ experience in Public Health and HIV and AIDS programs in Mozambique, having worked in different organisational and areas including Executive Coordination, English-Portugues-English Translation, Projects Programming, Advocacy for health and Communications .
He’s passionate about organisational development and strengthening of national civil society organisations in Mozambique. He played a crucial role in supporting the coordinating mechanism of the National Civil Society Platform for Health in Mozambique, PLASOC-M, as an Advisor. He is knowledgeable of the Mozambican landscape on health, HIV & Human Rights and civil society dynamics.
Pumla Mabizela
- Country Coordinator South Africa – Love Alliance Programme
Pumla Mabizela is a social development practitioner with over 30 years of experience working in the Southern African region at both strategic and programme implementing levels. Much of this work was directed with a range of organisational partners in an accompaniment approach, developing capacity and providing strategic support that spanned the wide range of social development issues in South Africa specifically and the region broadly, including but not limited to HIV and AIDS, gender, food security, agroecology, climate change and public health. During her working life, she successfully managed and supported diverse teams throughout many projects and environments.
Ricardo Bako
- Country Program Representative- Zimbabwe
Ricardo is public health and social development specialist with more than 10 years working experience focusing on human rights, HIV/AIDS gender, health and social development programs targeting key and vulnerable populations. He has extensive experience in civil society leadership and institution-strengthening, collaborative learning, adaptive programming and partnerships.
Ricardo previously worked with the National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe as the Community Technical Coordinator focusing on promoting access to person centred HIV/SRH service through strengthening the implementation and coordination of a comprehensive, clinically competent, and culturally appropriate national HIV response for key populations in the country.
Ricardo has a Master of Public Health from the University of Lusaka and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Zimbabwe. He is passionate about social justice and loves chess, art, music and nature.
Abed Kamati
- Regional Human Resources and Administration Officer
Abed Kamati Joined ARASA on the 1st of November 2023 as Regional HR and Admin Officer. He is in possession of Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Science Technology and also holds a Bachelor degree in Human Resources Management from the same institution.
Abed have over ten years working experience in the field of Human Resources Management of which he has spend over two years in a senior management position as an HR and Operations Manager in the NGO sector. Abed have over seven years working experiences as an HR generalist where he spend five years as a Human Resources Practitioner.
Abed also served for two years as an Executive member for a trade union in charge of Training and Development. Additionally, He also have over seven years working experience in the banking industry where he left the sector as a Commercial Manager’s Assistant.
Deseree Gareses
- Office Assistant
Desere Magdalene Gereses is a multifaceted professional with a passion for both administrative support and the arts. As the dedicated office assistant for the esteemed ARASA finance team since January 2024, Desere brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. Beyond her corporate responsibilities. Desere is a talented Singer leading her creative talents to entertain at ARASA functions
Eva Gareses
- Office Hand
Eva has more 10 years of working with ARASA as the office hand. She is a well articulate and possess excellent service skills, management of her work and time, and organizational skills. She has created friendliness atmosphere, with outstanding problem-solving prowess, punctuality, teamwork ability and a strong work ethic. She has provided ARASA will a clean, safe and habitable working space.