RESUME

Personal info

Name:  MWANGA MASTULLAH ASHAH, PhD Fellow Human Rights (Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights)

P.O. Box 30055 Kampala, Uganda, Mobile :  +1256-772-665515, Email: [email protected],  Marital status:  Married, Nationality:   Ugandan

Personal Profile

Mwanga is a human rights activist, a writer, and lawyer who tries to talk, write, live, work and love the feminist way. Raised in a lovely small town Budaka in Eastern Uganda and now a Kampala-dweller and a borderless digital-wanderer. Her area of interest includes human rights, gender studies, sexuality, feminist legal theory, storytelling, and Travel.

Mwanga is a 2017global award winning young woman along-side twenty other young women having been selected by the Coady International Institute of the St. Fx University- Canada as a global change leader doing amazing human rights work for women in  her community. In 2018, she was selected by the Johannesburg Institute for advanced Study (JIAS) as a residence writing fellow of human rights. Just last month March 2020, she was selected as a community fellow with the Tempest Washington DC.

Mwanga holds two Bachelor’s degrees (B. A Development Studies & Bachelors of Laws- LLB). She holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Human Rights. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Human Rights from Makerere University and is set to graduate very soon. She is the founding Executive Director of the Islamic Women’s Initiative for Justice Law and Peace (IWILAP). She is a lecturer of human rights law at Makerere University. She also lectures criminal justice at Busitema University in Uganda. Her work has covered several fields including women’s rights. She has worked extensively with individuals, organizations, and networks in Uganda, East Africa, and Central Asia. Mwanga is also a global advisor and Regional Facilitator with the Young Feminist Fund (FRIDA). She is also Master Trainer of Sexual and Gender Based Violence with the Regional Training Facility of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLRR-RTF).

Mwanga is a current fellow of SHUREA- Strengthening Human Rights Research and Education in Sub-Saharan Africa at the University of Pretoria as a PhD Student.

As a key qualification, Ms. Mwanga has a 9 Years of project management and planning and Five years as a development researcher and policy analyst working on women’s rights, human rights, feminism, governance issues, democracy, environmental governance, natural resources issues and trade policy in Eastern and Southern Africa and Central Asia.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017 July Global Advisor at the Young Feminist Fund (FRIDA)

Responsibilities

·       Grant making, grantee management support and renewals

·       FRIDA security

·       Support the development of outreach and regional strategies and tools

·       Communication and community building

·       Advisor recruitment and orientation

2018 November Regional Facilitator FRIDA (I have just taken on this role) but among other responsibilities include;

●      Contribute to Cross regional communicatión and collaboratión between advisors, including thematic advisors and/or grantee groups.

●      Organises frequent catch up calls with regional advisory and ensure minutes are saved with the support of other advisors.

●      Advisor recruitment and orientación proceses

2016- to Date- Master Trainer of Sexual and Gender Based Violence at the Regional Training Facility (RTF) of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region ((ICGLRR-)

Responsibilities

·       Train National Trainers in gender & justice needs

·       Carry out research, design training curricula and to train and monitor National Trainers.

·       Work closely together with fellow Master Trainers, international and local experts and ICGLR-RTF staff whilst fulfilling my obligations

·       Support RTF to become the centre of excellence in the Great Lakes Region regarding the fight against Sexual and Reproduct9ive Health and Rights as well as Gender Based Violence (SGBV).

·       Support the development of Human Rights outreach and regional strategies and tools

·       Sexual and Gender Based Violence advisor and expert

·       Conduct Advocacy activities with RTF partners in Sub-Saharan Africa

·       Grant making, grantee management support and renewals

2013 to date

1.     Executive Director. Islamic Women’s Initiative for Justice, Law and Peace (IWILAP)

Islamic Women’s Initiative for Justice, Law and Peace (IWILAP) is a body corporate established   to fight for the restoration of human rights while prioritizing women through quality legal assistance to indigent and vulnerable people women.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Islamic Women Initiative for Justice, Law and Peace (IWILAP), my duties include:

·       Being the technical advisor of the IWILAP on the organisation’s activities and programmes;

·       Preparation and submission of monthly Management Reports to the Board;

·       Formulation and continuous review of administrative and other and manuals for the effective and efficient running of IWILAP);

·       Fundraising and resource mobilization for financial sustainability;

·       Administering the funds of IWILAP in accordance with approved Budgets;

·       Overseeing the administrative and disciplinary issues of the Human resource within IWILAP, coaching and mentoring staff to ensure sustained peak performance; and establishing and maintaining good working relationships with partners, donors and the government, all of which tasks I have successfully accomplished since 2013 when IWILAP had just been founded.

·       Conduct and evaluate Staff performance assessments per quarter and annually.

·       Strategic Planning and implementation of programme of the organization. Oversee, monitor and analyze on a continuous basis, substantive programme implementation, including preparing substantive programme and financial reports

·        Conduct advocacy activities for implementation of evidence-based programmes with other stakeholders such as Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD)

·       Conduct & coordinate Human Rights Advocacy and access to justice Advocacy activities at local, regional and International levels.

·       Regularly advocate for and represent the organization to external stakeholders, effectively build partnerships and trust, facilitate stakeholder dialogue, and liaise with public justice system partners, the Uganda human rights commission, donors, community, and civil society.

·        Author articles and papers on women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights in Uganda

·       Prepare & Submit shadow reports as part of the UPR human rights monitoring mechanism of the UN

·       Provide leadership in documenting responses on maternal health and innovative interventions and share lessons learned for improved programming, advocacy and resource mobilization

·        Presenting IWILAP women human rights position papers to parliamentary committees

2.     Policy & Advocacy Officer (Justice, law and order sector). Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG)- 2011- 2013 August

·       Administrative management of the Department;

·       Periodic review and analysis of national women access to justice related legislation and policies, coupled with preparation and presentation of policy briefs to national policy makers;

·       Advocating for the rights and welfare of indigent and undocumented female workers with policy makers both within the relevant Government Ministries and the national Parliament.

·       Conduct media advocacy like press conferences on human rights violations and demands

·       Conduct human rights and advocacy activities together with other actors

·       Presenting alternative human rights budget proposals to parliamentary committees

In addition, I prepared and presented papers at various forums and seminars organized by the  organisation, which include:

·       Trained CSO Management Teams in Project planning and management in June 2012.

·       Conflicts. Their Nature and modes of Conflict Resolution’, presented at the Executive Committee members meeting of the Uganda Local Authorities Association /Urban Authorities Association of Uganda, at Colline Hotel, Mukono, in September 20112

·       Promoting Ethics and Integrity in Local Governments’, presented at the National Consultative Forum for Local Governments held at Namboole Stadium Conference Hall in Kampala in April 2011

·       ‘Salient Features of the Constitution of Uganda and the Local Government Act’ presented during capacity building seminars for lower Local Government Speakers held in Mityana Town in May, 2012

·       Decentralization’, presented at the District and Municipality Clerks to Council Training Seminar at Sports View Hotel, Kireka, in June 2013.

March –to December 2010

3.     Gender and Development Program Coordinator. African center for trade and development (ACTADE) P.O BOX 16452 KAMPALA

Responsibilities include

·       Lead the Gender docket of the organisation and hence identify strategic opportunities for advocacy

·       Undertaking policy research and analysis of specific problems in the areas of gender

·       Preparation of research reports, policy briefs and other reports in gender and feminism

·       Identification of local, national, regional and global policy problems and developing work plans to address those problems through policy research, analysis and advocacy.

·       Identifying and writing policy research projects and raising funds to implement those projects.

·        Conducting research, advocacy, capacity building on gender and dissemination of the research findings

·        Networking and partner coordination

·       Conducting media campaigns like radio talk shows on behalf of ACTADE

ACADEMIC BACK GROUND

YEAR
SCHOOL/INSTITUTION
AWARD
September 2017 to date
Makerere University
PHD- Human Rights Candidate
2013 August-2015
Makerere University
M.A (Masters ) Human Rights  Law
AUGUST 2009-2014
Makerere University
Bachelor’s Degree of Laws
August 2005- 2008
Makerere University
Bachelor’s degree in development studies
POST GRADUATE TRAININGS UNDERTAKEN(Certificates)
YEAR
INSTITUTION
AWARD
2019
Equitas- Montreal, Canada
International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP)
2018
Canadian Bar Association, Canada
Enhancing capacity to Govern in Public interest
2015
Human resource & management Agency
Project Planning &   Management
2018
Makerere business school
Supervisory & Management skills
2010
Acclaim Africa Limited
Financial Management for Non-Finance Managers
2018
International Committee of the Red Cross.
International Humanitarian Law
2016
International Law Institute
·       Project planning & Management

·       International Commercial Arbitration

·       Legislative Drafting
2017
Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda
Certificate in Gender and the Law
GENERAL SKILLS/COMPETENCIES
With 9 year in professional work, I have obtained good organizational and administrative skills; I can competently lead, supervise and guide others focusing on organizational structures and objectives with optimal resources utilization to achieve the overall goal and or mission. In brief I am result oriented and self-motivating and a team player.
I have strong analytical and strategic planning/management skills with practical understanding of their application in organizations. I am able to carry out on sport mentorship, arbitrate and mediate, develop work plans and needs assessment, consider appropriate trainings, produce results and provide reports as well as meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Excellent negotiation, interpersonal, teamwork, networking and public relations skills.
Capacity to deal with conflicting priorities, pressure, ability to work in turbulent times with an open mind in adopting and seeking solutions, with flexibility to deliver high quality work on schedule.
Proficient leadership and working skills, ability to work with diverse, multi-cultural, multi skilled teams and environments.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Consultancies

·       Team Leader -Mid Term Review of the PLAN International /FIDA (U) Project on Promoting the Legal Rights of HIV affected people. (2013)

·       Team Member- Environmental Impact Assessment for a USAID Project for USAID- Uganda Mission (Jan-March 2012)

REFEREES

1.     Ms. Eileen Alma

Associate Director

International Centre for Women’s Leadership,

Coady International Institute, Canada

Email: [email protected]

PO Box 5000  Antigonish, NS  B2G 2W5, p. 902.867.5264 | f. 902.867.3907

2.     Livingstone Ssewanyana

Executive Director, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), Email:  [email protected], Mobile: +256-706291963

3.     Dr. Christopher Mbazira

Coordinator Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC) and Lecturer School of law Makerere University, Mobile: +256-785927829, Email: [email protected]

I declare that the above information I have written about my self is true `to the best of my knowledge.

Mwanga Mastullah Ashah                                               Date 17th April 2020