Leadership

Rahul Ali

Vice President, Eye Health

Rahul Ali has over 25 years of clinical and international experience as an ophthalmologist, with a strong passion for public health and a deep commitment to ending avoidable blindness. He provides technical oversight and strategic leadership for Helen Keller Intl’s global vision work.

Previously Rahul was Head of Global Programs and Grants at the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. There he provided strategic leadership and oversight to the grant management team and nine regional teams worldwide, focusing on implementing programs and partnering with governments and local organizations to tackle uncorrected refractive errors. At Orbis, Rahul was the Country Director of India, later the Vice President, Asia and Africa Programs, and conceived and implemented numerous projects focusing on the eye health of children and healthcare quality assurance. He has also been a faculty member at the International Center for Advancement of Rural Eye Care (ICARE) at L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad, India and served on the Board of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight India.

Rahul holds an MPH and MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a MS in Ophthalmology and MBBS from Christian Medical College, Vellore and Ludhiana respectively. He is based in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

Sarmento Júlio Armando

Country Director, Mozambique

Sarmento Armando serves as Helen Keller’s Country Director in Mozambique, bringing over 20 years of experience in program management, community development, and health systems strengthening. He has led major public health initiatives focused on malaria and HIV/AIDS, partnering with government ministries and international NGOs to drive sustainable impact at the community and national levels.

Prior to joining Helen Keller, Sarmento held senior leadership roles with Malaria Consortium, Jhpiego, Chemonics International, and Food for the Hungry, managing multi-million-dollar programs funded by USAID, CDC, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His work has consistently focused on building local capacity, strengthening governance systems, and improving outcomes through evidence-based planning and monitoring.

Sarmento holds a Ph.D. in Project Management and is completing a second doctorate in Community and Social Development. He also earned a master’s degree in International Development and a bachelor’s degree in Social and Human Sciences. He is based in Maputo, Mozambique.

Dr. Ndèye Astou Badiane

Country Director, Senegal

Dr. Ndèye Astou Badiane serves as Country Director for Helen Keller Intl in Senegal, based in the capital city of Dakar.

She is a trained medical doctor who drives strategic initiatives and champions operational excellence to advance organizational goals. Ndeye Astou has demonstrated experience in program management, including design, implementation, and evaluation from UN entities and iNGOs.

Prior to joining Helen Keller Intl, she was leading PATH’ respiratory care work in Senegal collaborating with the Ministry of Health to improve oxygen availability and utilization in Senegal. During this period, she had the opportunity to coordinate the development of an oxygen scale-up strategy, to provide health entities with oxygen piping systems, oxygen devices and strategic guidance to reduce mortality due to oxygen failure in Senegal. She also coordinated malaria pediatrics vaccines and pediatric praziquantel rollout in Senegal, an initiative Helen Keller supports.

At Save the Children, where she served as health and Nutrition Manager before PATH, she led proposal development and quality program implementation.

Yves Ilunga Banze

Country Director, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Yves Ilunga Banza is a seasoned public health professional with more than 20 years of experience leading large-scale health programs across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As Country Director for Helen Keller Intl in the DRC, Yves provides strategic direction, technical guidance, and operational oversight to ensure the quality, impact, and sustainability of the organization’s programs. He represents Helen Keller to government counterparts, partners, and donors, cultivating strong collaborations that advance national health priorities.

Yves joined Helen Keller in 2024. Prior to this role, he spent 19 years in progressively senior leadership positions, including serving as Chief of Party for the USAID-funded Country Health Information System and Data Use (CHISU) Program at RTI International; Strategic Information Director for the PEPFAR-funded Strategic Information Project at ICAP at Columbia University; Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for the DFID-funded DHIS2/Health Information System implementation project at IMA World Health; and Health Technical Specialist for the USAID-funded Integrated Health Project at the International Rescue Committee. Earlier in his career, he spent six years as a Health Zone Manager within the Ministry of Health of the DRC.

Yves holds an MD from the University of Kinshasa and an MPH in Community Health and Epidemiology from the Kinshasa School of Public Health.

Melissa Brody

Head, Center for Marketing and Branding

Melissa Brody is a seasoned marketing and branding leader with more than two decades of experience across the nonprofit and corporate sectors. She brings deep expertise in translating complex ideas into clear, compelling messages and building targeted brands that drive visibility and impact. Melissa joined Helen Keller Intl in 2021 as Director of Marketing and Communications and was appointed Head, Center for Marketing and Branding in 2025. She leads the organization’s global marketing and branding efforts, bringing Helen Keller’s mission to life through compelling, people-first storytelling.

Before joining Helen Keller, Melissa led product marketing for Scholastic Education’s small-group curriculum suite, where she repositioned the brand from product-focused to solutions-oriented, strengthening its value proposition and credibility with educators. She previously served as Director of Marketing at Turnaround for Children, where she led a comprehensive organizational rebrand, including refreshed brand identity, messaging, and digital platforms.

Melissa holds a Master of Arts in Corporate Communication from Baruch College and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass and Human Communication from La Salle University. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and her turtle.

Volkan Cakir

Head, Center for Strategic Partnerships

Volkan Cakir heads Helen Keller’s Center for Strategic Partnerships, responsible advancing locally-led development and leading collaborative relationships with institutional donors and investors and global, regional, national and local partners. He previously served as Regional Director of Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa, providing management and program oversight to Helen Keller’s work in six countries – Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania – ensuring our programs operate with high standards to fulfill Helen Keller’s mission.

Volkan is a skilled health economist and manager, with almost 30 years of experience in health sector reform and has worked in more than 10 African countries over the past 20 years to create policy change that achieves better development outcomes on the ground. He has managed large and complex health programs and built effective working relationships with U.S. Agency for International Development and European Union missions, the World Bank, United Nations agencies, various global development funds, and host country counterparts across Africa. Volkan has MSc in economics and speaks English, French, and Turkish. He is based in France.

Georges Dimithe, PhD

Country Director, Burkino Faso

Georges Dimithe is an accomplished agricultural economist with more than three decades of experience advancing food security, agricultural innovation, and sustainable development. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University and joined Helen Keller Intl in 2024 as Country Director for Burkina Faso.

Over the course of his career—including eight years in research and nearly three decades providing technical assistance—Georges has focused on driving the adoption of improved agricultural technologies, strengthening food systems, and fostering policy environments that support private sector investment. His work has consistently emphasized evidence-based solutions, capacity strengthening, and collaboration with government, community, and industry partners.

As Country Director, Georges leads Helen Keller’s strategy and operations in Burkina Faso, representing the organization with national and international stakeholders and guiding the expansion of its programs and reach. He oversees technical and operational excellence across all activities, ensuring that initiatives meet grant objectives and advance Helen Keller’s mission to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable communities.

David Dolédec

Director, Vitamin A

David Dolédec is Helen Keller Intl’s Regional Program Director for Vitamin A Supplementation, providing strategic and technical leadership across 14 countries to strengthen health and nutrition systems and expand the reach of life-saving interventions such as vitamin A supplementation. Since joining Helen Keller in 2014, he has led the integration of empirical evidence, cost-effectiveness modeling, and robust data systems into program design and policy dialogue with governments and donors.

Before joining Helen Keller, David worked with USAID/FANTA, UNICEF, and Action Against Hunger across Africa, Asia, and at global level, advancing research, program quality, and capacity development in humanitarian and development settings. A former critical-care nurse, he holds Master of Public Health from the University of Liverpool. David is passionate about translating evidence into sustainable, locally led solutions that enable every child to thrive.

Craig Evans

Vice President, Individual Giving

Craig Evans is a seasoned fundraising leader with years of experience driving revenue growth and deepening donor engagement across national and global nonprofits. He brings extensive expertise in major gifts, individual giving, strategic planning, campaign management, events, board engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Craig joined Helen Keller Intl in 2021 as the Director of Major Gifts and, in 2025, was appointed Vice President of Individual Giving. In this role, he leads the organization’s flexible funding from individuals and families to power Helen Keller’s worldwide programs.

Prior to Helen Keller, Craig held senior development positions at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Marie Stopes International, the Parkinson’s Action Network, and GLAAD. Throughout his career, he has consistently grown revenue, launched high-impact campaigns, expanded regional fundraising markets, strengthened donor stewardship systems, and led high-performing teams. He holds a Master of Nonprofit Leadership (MNPL) from Seattle University.

George Kabona

Country Director, Tanzania

George Kabona became Country Director of Helen Keller Intl Tanzania in 2024. In this role, he leads program design, implementation, and strategic partnerships to advance Helen Keller’s mission in nutrition, eye health, and neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

With more than 15 years of leadership experience in Tanzania’s health sector, George has served as NTD Program Manager at the Ministry of Health, Regional Coordinator for NTD and Eye Health Programs, and Senior Eye Specialist at regional referral hospitals. He has played a pivotal role in national initiatives such as Vision 2020, the elimination of trachoma, and the delivery of eye health outreach programs, surveys, and professional training across the country.

George is widely recognized for his expertise in program strategy, policy development, and multisector collaboration, working closely with communities, government, NGOs, and international partners to drive impactful public health outcomes. He is based in Dar es Salaam, while his family resides in Iringa.

Rolf Klemm

Vice President, Nutrition

Rolf Klemm has more than 25 years of professional experience in international public health nutrition with expertise that spans nutrition efficacy and effectiveness research and program design, management, and evaluation.

He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (Philippines, 1979-81), Indochinese Refugee Program Supervisor (1982-84), Program Manager and Country Director for Helen Keller Intl (Philippines, 1986-98), Senior Technical Advisor and Technical Director of USAID’s flagship A2Z micronutrient program (2009-11), and Johns Hopkins University faculty member and principal and/or co-investigator (1998-present) for studies in Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Philippines) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya,  Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia).

He currently serves as Vice President for Nutrition with Helen Keller and holds a faculty appointment at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Hou Krouen

Country Director, Cambodia

Hou Kroeun, MPH has served as Country Director for Helen Keller Intl in Cambodia since 2022, following more than two decades of leadership within the organization—including roles as Deputy Country Director, Senior Program Manager, and Program Coordinator. Throughout his tenure, he has helped shape high-impact nutrition, food security, and community development programs that strengthen government systems and improve the well-being of vulnerable communities nationwide.

Mr. Kroeun is the Vice-Chair of the National Steering Committee for the Innovation Initiative on the Integration of Nutrition, Agriculture, and Education Sectors (INAS), where he supports multisectoral collaboration to advance national nutrition outcomes. From 2015 to 2022, he chaired the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance in Cambodia, leading civil society efforts to promote evidence-based policies, strengthen accountability, and foster alignment among government and development partners.

A prolific contributor to the scientific and development fields, Mr. Kroeun has authored or co-authored nearly 30 publications on nutrition, maternal and child health, public health, and climate-smart agriculture. His leadership and service have been recognized with multiple national honors, including the Royal Order of Sowathara awarded by His Majesty the King of Cambodia.

Today, Mr. Kroeun continues to guide the Helen Keller Cambodia team in expanding life-saving nutrition programs, strengthening local systems, advancing eye health services, promoting climate-resilient food production, and scaling community-driven solutions that support healthier, more resilient futures for Cambodian families.

Robert Mba, PhD

Country Director, Cameroon

Robert Mba, PhD, joined Helen Keller Intl in August 2023 and serves as Country Director for the Cameroon office. He brings more than 18 years of experience in international development, including 11 years with the German Development Bank (KfW) and several years with international organizations such as the IFRC and IOM. His background spans public health, community nutrition, reproductive health, and neglected tropical diseases, with field experience in Cameroon, Gabon, and Togo.

Before joining Helen Keller, Dr. Mba held senior roles at KfW in Frankfurt and Cameroon, where he led major multi-country health and nutrition programs across the CEMAC region and worked closely with partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA, PSI, and national ministries. Driven by a commitment to serving vulnerable communities and bringing his expertise closer to field impact, he joined Helen Keller to support programs that improve the lives of people affected by poverty, malnutrition, and disability.

As Country Director, he oversees all Helen Keller activities in Cameroon, ensures strong technical and operational performance, represents the organization with government and donors, and fosters a supportive environment for staff.

Dr. Mba holds a PhD in Health Sociology, a Certificate in Community Health, and has authored numerous scientific publications. He is fluent in French, English, and German.

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Vanessa Mejia, PhD, MPH, CLC

Director, US Programs

Vanessa Mejia, PhD, MPH, CLC, is a public health professional with more than 15 years of experience developing, managing, and strengthening domestic and international health programs. She provides strategic leadership for Helen Keller Intl’s US Programs, advancing initiatives that promote vision care, health equity, and community well-being.

Vanessa has led large-scale efforts to improve nutrition security, reduce food deserts, and expand culturally responsive health education, including the development of bilingual public health training programs. Her research and evaluation work has strengthened youth development and school-based initiatives, and her program leadership has supported maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, and adolescent wellness. Internationally, she has partnered with Ministries of Health in Haiti and across Latin America to strengthen public health systems and advance community-based nutrition efforts.

Throughout her career, Vanessa has been committed to advancing policies and programs that support adolescent sexual and reproductive health, championing culturally responsive, community-driven approaches that reduce health disparities and create sustainable pathways to wellness for families and communities.

Vanessa is based in New York.

Aliyu Mohammed (Jabo)

Country Director, Nigeria

Aliyu Mohammed joined Helen Keller Intl in 2015 and currently serves as Country Director, Nigeria. In this role, he provides strategic leadership for the design and implementation of integrated health and nutrition programs that advance Helen Keller’s mission across Nigeria.

He brings over 25 years of experience in public health programming, with a deep expertise in eye health, neglected tropical disease (NTD) elimination and control, immunization, and maternal and child health. His career spans leadership roles in both government and non-governmental sectors.

For a decade, Aliyu spearheaded the development and implementation of the Sokoto State Eye Care Program—widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most sustainable, state-led eye health initiatives. He successfully led the program from inception to sustainability, coordinating a multi-partner collaboration between the state government, a tertiary institution, and a non-profit (Sightsavers).

Since joining Helen Keller Intl, Aliyu has held several leadership roles, including Program Manager for NTDs and Eye Health, Head of the NTDs Program, and Head of Programs, before assuming his current role as Country Director.

Peter O. Ofware

Country Director, Kenya

Peter O. Ofware provides strategic leadership to ensure technical excellence and operational effectiveness across Helen Keller Intl’s Kenya country portfolio. He leads the development and execution of action plans that advance grant objectives and strategic priorities, while strengthening health systems, expanding funding opportunities, and ensuring sound financial stewardship. Working closely with country teams, Peter offers strategic vision and direction for program design, implementation, and proposal development, and plays a key role in cultivating strong relationships with in-country donors and partners.

Before joining Helen Keller, Peter served as Country Director at HealthRight International. He previously held senior leadership roles at Amref Health Africa, including Acting Deputy Country Director and Director of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Program. Earlier in his career, Peter worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/KEMRI), where he helped establish the Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Siaya County and led the expansion of home-based HIV testing, prevention, care, and treatment services across multiple counties in Kenya.

Peter brings deep expertise in health systems strengthening and service delivery science. He holds a Master’s degree in Medical Anthropology from the University of Nairobi, a Master of Science in Development Management from the Open University (UK), and has completed the International Course in Applied Epidemiology at Emory University. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Augustine Okoruwa

Regional Program Manager, Food Fortification

Augustine Okoruwa leads Helen Keller Intl’s Food Fortification programs, advancing efforts to reduce micronutrient deficiencies and improve public health outcomes. With more than 30 years of experience in food science and technology, he brings deep expertise in training and capacity building, food safety, and quality management systems. Augustine is widely recognized for his collaborative leadership style, effective stakeholder engagement, and ability to navigate complex, multi-sector challenges.

Prior to joining Helen Keller, Augustine served as Head of Country Programs–Food Safety at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), where he provided strategic leadership to food safety initiatives in Nigeria and Ethiopia. His career also includes senior roles at GlaxoSmithKline, Flour Mills of Nigeria, UAC of Nigeria, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), spanning both the private sector and international development.

Augustine has played a pivotal role in strengthening food safety systems, including supporting the formation of the Organisation of Tropical Africa Cocoa and Coffee Alliance (OTACCWA) and the African Platform for Food Safety and Nutrition (APFSAN), as well as contributing to the revision and launch of Nigeria’s National Policy on Food Safety and Quality in 2023. A Certified Bromatologist, he holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Food Science and Technology and is based in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Philomena Orji

Program Director, Transforming Lives Through Nutrition

Philomena Orji serves as Program Director for Transforming Lives Through Nutrition, a global initiative operating across countries in Africa and Asia. Implemented by a consortium of three partners, the program integrates nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to improve nutrition outcomes for women and children.

With extensive experience in global health and nutrition, Philomena brings strong strategic and operational leadership to her role. She joined Helen Keller Intl as Chief of Party for a USAID-funded multisectoral nutrition project and later served as Country Director for Nigeria, where she provided leadership across complex, large-scale programs. She subsequently assumed her current role, guiding the strategic direction and implementation of Transforming Lives Through Nutrition across multiple countries.

Prior to joining Helen Keller, Philomena worked at Management Sciences for Health (MSH), where she led health systems strengthening initiatives, managed a civil society portfolio, and oversaw the PEPFAR Health Professionals’ Fellowship Program, supporting institutional capacity building across public sector organizations. Earlier in her career, she worked with Columbia University’s HIV Program, directing the pharmacy portfolio in Nigeria and strengthening health professionals’ capacity in HIV service delivery. She also contributed to Médecins Sans Frontières’ Access to Essential Medicines campaign.

Philomena holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, a Master’s degree in International Health, and diplomas in Health Care Management for Tropical Countries and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. She is based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Pooja Pandey Rana

Country Director, Bangladesh and Nepal

Pooja Pandey Rana serves as Country Director for Bangladesh and Nepal, providing strategic direction and organizational leadership across a diverse portfolio of health, nutrition, and food systems programs. She leads large, multidisciplinary teams; guides strategic partnerships with governments, civil society, and the private sector; and advances Helen Keller Intl’s mission to improve the health and well-being of women, adolescents, and children across South Asia. Her leadership emphasizes systems strengthening, equity, and sustainable, context-appropriate solutions.

With more than 25 years of experience, Pooja has led complex, multisectoral programs in Nepal and Bangladesh spanning nutrition, primary health care, community-driven development, agriculture and food systems, and governance. She is recognized for her ability to translate evidence into policy and action, integrate nutrition into broader development agendas, and design practical models that address real-world constraints, particularly for underserved and marginalized communities.

Pooja actively contributes to regional and global nutrition technical networks, helping shape dialogue on integrated programming, national systems strengthening, and multisectoral nutrition. She is deeply committed to promoting local leadership, advancing the use of data for decision-making, and fostering meaningful collaboration across diverse stakeholders.

Pooja holds a Master of Science in Public Health, with a focus on Developing Countries, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Steven Reid, PhD

Director, Neglected Tropical Diseases

Steven Reid, PhD, joined Helen Keller Intl in 2015 and brings nearly two decades of experience in global health, with a focus on the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). He currently serves as Director, Neglected Tropical Diseases, working closely with the organization’s country offices and global teams to advance evidence-based strategies for NTD control and elimination.

Prior to joining Helen Keller, Steven worked with the Malaria Elimination Initiative in San Francisco and at Imperial College London, where he collaborated with an international team to develop low-cost CD4 testing technologies to support timely initiation of HIV treatment in resource-limited settings. Earlier in his career, he was a research scientist specializing in immunology, providing a strong scientific foundation for his applied global health work.

Steven holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree from the University of Glasgow and a PhD from the University of Sheffield. He speaks English, French, and Italian.

Bonaventure Rakotomalala

Country Director, Madagascar

Bonaventure Rakotomalala leads program implementation for Helen Keller Intl’s Country Office in Madagascar. With more than 30 years of experience in rural development, he has played a pivotal role in establishing community health and nutrition programs in the country.

Before joining Helen Keller Intl, Bonaventure served as In-Country Coordinator for a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health team providing technical assistance to a World Bank-funded nutrition project. Earlier in his career, he contributed to two USAID-funded health projects, focusing on community health activities and community health financing. He also led a World Bank-financed dairy production development project in the late 1990s.

Bonaventure holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and an engineering diploma in Agronomy.

Maria Fatima Dolly R. Reario

Country Representative, Philippines

We look forward to sharing more about Dolly’s background and experience soon.

Ouassa Sanogo

Country Director, Mali

Ouassa Sanogo is a seasoned public health leader with more than 20 years of experience strengthening health systems and advancing maternal and child health, adolescent and youth reproductive health, and nutrition in Mali. She currently serves as the Country Director in Mali, where she provides strategic and operational leadership across the country portfolio.

Prior to joining Helen Keller Intl, Ouassa held senior roles with international NGOs and bilateral organizations. She served as Deputy Project Director at Santé Monde, Health and Nutrition Program Coordinator at the Aga Khan Foundation, and Senior Health and Nutrition Advisor for the Canada–Mali Cooperation Program, a position she held for more than a decade. Across these roles, she built deep expertise in program design, implementation, and partnership management within complex development contexts.

Since assuming her role as Country Director, Ouassa has contributed significantly to improving the quality, scale, and impact of Helen Keller’s programs in Mali. She has played a key role in expanding the country portfolio, including the extension of the vitamin A supplementation (VAS) program, while strengthening institutional partnerships and elevating Helen Keller’s visibility within the INGO community in Mali.

Ouassa holds a Doctorate in Medicine, a Master’s degree in Public Health with a focus on Health and Development, and a Certificate in Policy and Strategic Management of Health Systems.

Angela Weaver, PhD, MPH

Head, Center for Program Impact

Dr. Angela Weaver is a public health professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, developing, and leading domestic and international health programs and initiatives. She provides technical oversight and strategic leadership for Helen Keller Intl’s neglected tropical disease program.

Angela joined Helen Keller in 2020. Previously, she served as the Senior Advisor for Neglected Tropical Diseases at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) where she was instrumental in launching USAID’s program and leading its expansion from 5 to 25 countries. During her 11-year tenure at USAID, she also served as the Agency’s technical lead for lymphatic filariasis and trachoma elimination. Throughout her career she has worked to advance policies and promote partnerships to reach more people in need of neglected tropical disease treatment and care. She is also an advocate for comprehensive neglected tropical disease control efforts including morbidity management and disability prevention.

Angela earned an MPH from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and a PhD in tropical medicine from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Mohamed Lamine Yattara

Country Director, Guinea, Niger, and Sierra Leone

Mohamed Lamine Yattara is a seasoned development and public health leader with more than 20 years of experience managing complex, multisectoral programs across West Africa. He currently serves as Helen Keller Intl’s Country Director in Guinea, Niger, and Sierra Leone, where he provides strategic direction, ensures program quality, and represents the organization with governments, donors, and technical partners.

Mohamed has held multiple senior leadership roles within Helen Keller focused on strengthening strategic partnerships, expanding country portfolios, and overseeing large-scale health, nutrition, and neglected tropical disease programs. Earlier in his career, he provided regional technical support for vitamin A supplementation initiatives and built a strong foundation in monitoring, evaluation, and socio-economic analysis.

Mohamed brings deep expertise in program leadership, systems strengthening, and results-driven management in complex operating environments. He holds a Master of Science in Agroeconomics from the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute in Morocco.

Hubert Zirimwabagabo

Country Director, Côte d’Ivoire

Hubert Zirimwabagabo serves as Helen Keller Intl’s Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire, where he provides strategic and operational leadership across the country portfolio. In this role, he oversees the implementation of the organization’s programs and projects, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and values while driving high-quality results. He also represents Helen Keller with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, donors, and a wide range of national and international partners.

Prior to joining Helen Keller, Dr. Zirimwabagabo served for five years as Country Representative for The Carter Center in Chad. He also held several senior technical positions with The Carter Center, including Technical Advisor and Associate Director for the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, contributing to global efforts to eliminate the disease through evidence-based, community-driven approaches.

Dr. Zirimwabagabo brings strong expertise in public health leadership, disease eradication, and program management in complex settings. He holds a Master of Public Health from Boston University, a Bachelor of Science in General Medicine from the University of Rwanda, and a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from Fordham University.