Our Expert Team

Sareta based in South Africa and founder of FR=SH is a seasoned financial professional with 21 years of experience in both International and National NGOs within the development sector. Her expertise spans Financial Management, Financial Sustainability, Grant Management, and Governance, where she advised NGO teams, managers, and boards on best practices. With a degree in financial accounting from the University of Pretoria (SA) and prior experience with commercial accounting firms in the UK, Sareta brings a wealth of knowledge to her role.

Throughout her career, Sareta’s passion for NGO capacity building and strengthening shines through. She has delivered over 200 training courses in more than 48 countries across Africa, the Caribbean, the US, UK, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific.

Her commitment to empowering non-profit organizations to be more effective and financially sustainable is evident in her mentorship initiatives and support for the establishment of social enterprises in Ethiopia and Sudan. Sareta’s leadership and management skills have been even more refined through her diverse experiences, from managing the finances of large INGO’s national and regional offices to running her own businesses. She seamlessly integrates these skills with her consultancy and training expertise to support organizations in enhancing their capacity in financial management, sustainability, and accountability.

Sareta’s track record of success is exemplified through numerous accolades and awards, including the Operational Excellence award from Humentum for “Demonstrated excellence in delivering external impact.” Her leadership, combined with her training and consultancy skills, has made a tangible difference in all the organizations she has been involved with, both globally and locally and will continue to do so through her new journey in FR=SH.

Hilda based in Uganda, brings over 15 years of finance experience from both non-profit and private sectors. As an independent financial management consultant since 2018, she specializes in strategic financial management, risk management, and advisory services. With a chartered accountant designation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants-UK, she gained earlier experience at PwC Bermuda and local accounting firms. She has held senior finance positions in international NGOs, providing her with expertise in humanitarian and development sectors. Since 2011, she’s been an accredited financial management trainer, conducting various courses including Financial Literacy, Grant Management, and Financial Governance. As a Capacity Development Professional, she’s conducted organizational assessments and initiatives, aiding non-profits to thrive and create equitable, accountable communities. Additionally, she also serves on the board of ICON, Enterprise Foundation, contributing as Treasurer and Chairperson of the Finance and Administration Committee.

Ibrahim, based in Uganda is a results-driven Finance Expert with 16 years of proven international development and NGOs experience. He holds certifications as a Fraud Examiner and as a trainer in financial management and fraud risk management, and his specialization lies in strengthening internal audit environments. Ibrahim has built financial, project management, and fraud risk management capacities for technical staff and he is currently serving as the Country Finance team leader within the GFA portfolio for the Global Fund in a high-impact country. He also fulfils the role of Fiscal Agent for the Global Fund, adhering to the Additional Safeguard Policy of the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan. Ibrahim has also held senior financial management positions under various donors including Global Fund, USAID, DFID, CHF, EU, BMZ, SIDA, Gavi, etc.

Joyce, based in South Africa, is a seasoned financial management and compliance professional with over 20 years of diverse experience in international and local organizations, now serving as an independent consultant and educator after six years at Ernst & Young. Leveraging her extensive expertise, she focuses on fostering operational excellence in the development sector. Joyce holds an MBA from GIBS Business School, University of Pretoria, a Bachelor of Accounting Science degree from UNISA, and a diploma from the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators. Joyce is dedicated to training, coaching, and mentoring organizational leadership and teams. She specializes in Compliance, Financial Management, Financial Sustainability, Grant Management, and Governance, conducting internal audits, assessing organizational needs, and developing corrective action plans to enhance performance.

Meti, based in Ethiopia and fluent in English, Amharic, and Afaan Oromoo, is a highly qualified finance and business professional with a B.A in Accounting and Finance, an M.A in Economics, and certifications as an international project manager and ACCA member. With over 15 years of experience, she has held various roles in financial management and grant management for international NGOs like Pact Ethiopia, World Vision Ethiopia, British Council, RTI Ethiopia, Lead star INC and VSF Germany. She has managed funds from diverse donors such as USAID, EU, GIZ, BMZ UN OCHA, German Foreign office, FAO and others, ensuring effective budget monitoring and reporting. Meti also provides consultancy services to NGOs, focusing on capacity development in grant and financial management. She has facilitated training and mentored organizations in Ethiopia and Ghana, supporting them in financial sustainability and policy development. Additionally, Meti has extensive experience in strategic business modelling, assisting numerous companies in developing business plans and operational strategies.

Nazir, based in Nigeria is a seasoned financial management specialist and trainer with over two decades of diverse experience across the international development, private and public sectors. As a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) with dual Master’s degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and Development Studies (MDS), he has lent his expertise to a wide array of global, national, and civil society entities. His consultancy extends to critical areas such as financial management, internal auditing, compliance, organizational development (OD), proposal costing, budgeting, mentoring / coaching support and training design and delivery. Nazir’s portfolio includes collaboration with various donors and projects, including but not limited to USAID, The Global Fund, FCDO (formerly DfID), CIDA, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Ford Foundation initiatives.

Sosena, based in Ethopia and with over two decades of experience, is a capacity development expert specializing in civil society organizations (CSOs). She has spearheaded major initiatives such as the Civil Society Support Programme Phase 1 (CSSP1), working closely with 500 CSOs and leading pioneering projects like SASA! community mobilization. Also as an accredited trainer by Raising Voices, Sosena has played a vital role in implementing SASA! programs both nationally and internationally. In CSSP2, she held pivotal positions as Safeguarding Lead and Engagement/Influence Lead, contributing significantly to initiatives like the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub (RSH) for Africa. Beyond her contributions to CSSP1, Sosena co-founded AGAR Development Partners, a testament to her commitment to ongoing CSO capacity development in Ethiopia and throughout Africa. As the managing director, she collaborates closely with organizations like Humentum and INTRAC, driving forward localization efforts in the sector. Sosena’s versatility shines through her adeptness in both managerial and technical roles, particularly in tailoring training programs to meet the diverse needs of organizations. She has fostered enduring relationships across CSOs, governmental entities, and donor networks, always prioritizing sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Thembile, based in Zimbabwe is an experienced Governance and OD Independent Consultant, with notable roles including former Country Director/Chief of Party at Pact Zimbabwe and working for the European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe. She is currently a Consultant Coordinator for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) at the Canadian Embassy in Zimbabwe and since 2021, she has also been a Humentum Associate, consulting on the Weaving Resilience project supported by the Ford Foundation. She sits on multiple Civil Society Organization boards and has over 20 years of experience in senior management roles within Zimbabwe’s Civil Society. She holds an MSc in Sociology and Anthropology, an MBA, and a BA in Sociology & Industrial. Her expertise includes operations management, leadership, program delivery, grants management, capacity development, monitoring and evaluation, and budgeting. She has managed programs for various organizations including USAID, EU, DFAT, UNDP, and more, and has initiated impactful projects like the first local Zimbabwe Civil Society Leadership program and the Zimbabwe Youth Situation Analysis Study, both supported by USAID.

Walelign, based in Ethiopia, boasts over 16 years of expertise in the NGO sector, with a focus on financial management, project management, grants management, and financial sustainability. He has conducted numerous trainings on these topics in several countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, and Uganda. Additionally, he has led online courses on Financial Management for Development professional (FMD Pro) and Budget Monitoring Essentials worldwide. Walelign has provided mentorship and guidance to numerous program and finance personnel, including board members and CEOs, within various NGO organizations. His notable achievements include developing financing strategies, creating financial and procurement manuals, establishing financial management systems, conducting reviews of financial management systems, performing organizational capacity assessments, managing contracts, and verifying expenditures.

Edna, based in Kenya and a dynamic powerhouse in capacity building organizations and Executive Leadership Coaching, blends over 20 years of expertise in governance, financial and grants management, risk management, compliance, boosting organizations’ operational effectiveness, empowering leaders and training on Emotional Intelligence across both profit and non-profit sectors. She’s a trailblazer who turned her passion into a thriving profession, offering top-tier consultancy and training services worldwide while consulting for organizations like Humentum, UN Women, GAIN, IPPF, Help Age International, AMREF amongst others. Edna has empowered over 3,000 professionals globally with her hands-on transformative approach that meets their unique needs with excellence and precision. Her credibility? It’s backed by a stellar career in leadership roles at global giants like USAID, KPMG, BroadReach, Palladium, and Global Communities amongst others before she ventured into her Private Practice. With a Master of Commerce Degree, a BCOM, ACCA certification and other numerous certifications, including FMDPro, her credentials speak volumes. Edna has served in various Boards including the ACCA Kenya board as the Vice Chairperson and Treasurer for Zinduka Afrika.