Caroline Kouassiaman is the Executive Director for Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Caroline has 15+ years of diverse professional experiences in philanthropy, human rights activism, social justice and education to ISDAO. Previously Caroline was Senior Program Officer at the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), managing the sexual health and rights grants portfolio in West and East Africa. While at AJWS, Caroline was involved with ISDAO throughout the first four years of its journey, where she contributed to resource mobilization, communications and outreach to other funders and activists, and developing ISDAO’s programs, initially as a member of the Brain Trust and later of the Interim Governing Body.

Prior to joining AJWS, Caroline was the Program Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Global Fund for Women, where she coordinated grantmaking to over 100 women’s rights organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa annually, from 2011-2014. She serves as an advisor to the Queer African Youth Network.Caroline is a queer Pan-African feminist of Ivorian and African-American heritage, and has lived in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Uganda. She holds a B.A. in Economics and Diplomacy & World Affairs from Occidental College, a Master of Public Administration degree and a master’s in international relations from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University (US).

Caroline works for a world where LGBTQI persons – in their full and beautiful diversity – have the opportunity, autonomy and resources to live full, healthy and violence-free lives on their own terms.

French version:

Caroline Kouassiaman est heureuse d’apporter son expérience professionnelle diverse de plus de 15 ans dans les domaines de la philanthropie, de la défense des droits humains, de la justice sociale et de l’éducation à l’ISDAO. Elle rejoint l’ISDAO depuis l’American Jewish World Service (AJWS), où elle occupait le poste de responsable de programmes chargée du portefeuille des subventions sur la santé et les droits liés à la sexualité. Lorsqu’elle était à AJWS, Caroline était impliquée au parcours de l’ISDAO pendant ses premiers 4 ans, en apportant sa contribution à la mobilisation des ressources, à la communication, à la sensibilisation des autres bailleurs de fonds et activistes, et à l’élaboration des programmes de l’ISDAO. Initialement, elle était membre du Groupe d’experts et finalement membre du Groupe de gouvernance intérimaire.

Avant de rejoindre AJWS, Caroline était chargée de programmes pour l’Afrique subsaharienne au Fonds mondial pour les femmes, entre 2011 à 2014. Elle coordonnait l’octroi de subventions à plus de 100 organisations des droits de femmes en Afrique subsaharienne par an. Elle est conseillère de Queer African Youth Network.Caroline est une femme queer, féministe et panfricaine d’origine et de nationalité ivorienne et américaine. Elle a vécu au Burkina Faso, au Cameroun, en Côte d’Ivoire, au Ghana, et en Ouganda. Elle est titulaire d’une licence en économie, en diplomatie et affaires internationales d’Occidental College. Elle est également titulaire d’une maîtrise en administration publique et une maîtrise en relations internationales de Maxwell School de l’université de Syracuse aux États Unis.

Caroline travaille pour un monde dans lequel les personnes LGBTQI, dans leur belle et pleine diversité, ont l’opportunité, l’autonomie et les ressources les permettant de mener des vies pleines, saines et à l’abri de la violence comme elles le veulent.

David is the Deputy Director of the Baring Foundation and leads its Strengthening Civil Society and International Development programmes. He is the Co-Chair of the Global Philanthropy Project.

Matthew (Matty) joined as Director of the Global Philanthropy Project in 2015, leading the efforts of an organization internationally recognized as the primary thought leader and go-to partner for philanthropic and development coordination of global LGBTI work. Founder and Principal of the Paris-based Lafayette Practice, Hart has previously served as Senior Strategist for Europe for Funders Concerned about AIDS and National Director for Public Engagement at Solutions for Progress, a US-based social enterprise.

Hart also serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Calamus Foundation (DE), and has previously served as a member of the Mediterranean Women’s Fund, The Civil Marriage Collaborative, a board member of Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Philadelphia’s Sustainable Business Network, and The Leeway Foundation; and the community funding board of Bread & Roses Fund. A Jonathan Lax Academic Fellow. Hart helped found the Susan Treadwell Memorial Fund and Fellowships at Ariadne. Hart received degrees in Urban Studies and Cultural Anthropology from Temple University.

Mukami is an African queer feminist mother of two, with a long and broad activist career of 20 years, working at the intersection of organisational development, human rights and social justice. Her career has focused in particular on the resourcing organizing for and by LGBTIQ persons and sex workers. Mukami applies her personal values of feminism, social justice, service to others, integrity and excellence, as well as professional and social skills, towards making this world a just and loving place to live in. She holds an MBA with extensive skills in financial management and sustainability, human resource management and programme execution.She is currently the Executive Director of UHAI - the East Africa Sexual Health and Rights Initiative (UHAI EASHRI). UHAI is an activist LGBTIQ and sex workers fund. Prior to joining UHAI, she worked for the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and was actively involved in the sexual and reproductive health rights program, particularly the right to safe and legal abortion and the rights of LGBTIQ people. Mukami is also an Associate at Spring Strategies, a capacity accelerator for climate and social justice leaders.Mukami serves on the Boards of the Black Feminist Fund (BFF), the Global Philanthropy Project (GPP), the East African Philanthropy Network (EAPN), the African Philanthropy Network (APN) and the Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN). She previously served at the Board of Green Peace Africa as well as the Sex Worker Donors Collaborative (SWDC). She has an MBA in strategy and a bachelor's degree in building Economics and management - both from the University of Nairobi. She has a postgraduate degree in Human Resource Management and is a certified public accountant trained by Strathmore University.

Neville Gabriel is the chief executive officer of the Other Foundation, and LGBTI community foundation for Southern Africa.