Meet our team

Yacine Djibo founded Speak Up Africa in 2011 with one goal in mind: to discover and implement effective, sustainable solutions to the most challenging problems facing the African people. Focusing on strategic communications, policy and advocacy, Speak Up Africa is dedicated to empowering African leaders and citizens to take on issues such as malaria, neglected tropical diseases and sanitation in order to save and improve lives.

Previously, Yacine worked as the Senegal country director for Malaria No More, where she developed and managed several high-profile national programs to promote malaria prevention and treatment. She built and maintained relationships with national and local government officials; designed and oversaw the distribution of lifesaving commodities countrywide; and cultivated partnerships with private-sector companies, media outlets, musicians and celebrities to develop marketing programs that raise awareness about malaria.

Prior to devoting her career to the health and well-being of children and families in Africa, Yacine honed her skills in the areas of business administration, finance and real estate at several private-sector companies, including Intercontinental Life Insurance Company, where she served as managing director; SAGEF Construction and Real Estate Development Company, where she was director of sales; and Fidelity Investments, where she served as a business analyst.

Yacine earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations and her MBA from Boston University.

Fara Ndiaye has been an integral member of the Speak Up Africa team since its founding in 2011. There she has been able to pursue her passion for public health and sustainable development advocacy, social and behavioral change communication, community outreach, and partnership building and engagement.

Beginning as the Director of Programs, Fara focused on external relations and coordinating partner activities. She then moved to the position of strategy and development director, in which she managed initiatives to advance the organization’s advocacy, programmatic and partnership goals; developed strategies to engage the private sector; and created advocacy and communications tools. Currently, as Deputy Executive Director, Fara has taken on the oversight of all program activities, ensuring proper planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; appropriate liaison and negotiation with government partners; and the meeting of national and international standards and practices.

Before joining Speak Up Africa, Fara spearheaded the communications, partnership and advocacy initiatives in Senegal for Malaria No More. Prior to that, she worked on the research of migration issues for a variety of small non-governmental and major global organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, including the International Organization for Migration and the International Center for Migration and Health.

Ali Sidikou joined Speak Up Africa in February 2016 as Senior Financial Manager. He has a broad professional expertise acquired after over fifteen years in the financial departments of leading subsidiaries of large multinational groups in West Africa. Ali has been active in various sectors: telecommunication (Etisalat Group, Monaco Telecom), industry and the information and communication technology (People Input).

As Director of Finance, Ali provides leadership and coordination in all aspects related to finance, including risk management, treasury, budget control, accounting, reporting, human resources management and administrative duties.

After a Master in Management and Business Administration obtained at Université Pierre Mendes-France (Grenoble 2 France) Ali completed a Postgraduate Degree in Economics at University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada).

Carina Ndiaye joined Speak Up Africa in January 2021 as the Director of Strategic Operations to maximize efficiency, communication and fluid coordination between Programs, Operations and Communications.

She is an organizational development and project management expert with fifteen years of proven track record in donor regulation, contracts, compliance and risk management, and procedure development/implementation for development programs worldwide.

As a jurist she has crafted excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skills, used in English, Spanish and French as a leader of cross-departmental and multilevel teams to accomplish objectives and meet critical deadlines. As such, Carina has dedicated the last fifteen years of her life to her passion for understanding community challenges while implementing sustainable solutions and building/scaling, quality, collaborative relationships.

Before joining Speak Up Africa, Carina spent ten years managing and improving program management issues and systems at Family Health International, including a recent four-year assignment as the head of an education project operations department in Equatorial Guinea and as a Strategic and Legal Advisor to SMEs in Dakar, Senegal.

Carina earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Women Studies from Mount Holyoke University and her Juris Doctor from Howard University in the United States.

As Speak Up Africa’s Strategic Communications Manager, Maelle is leading communication and outreach initiatives and planning under the mentorship of the Deputy Executive Director. She also leads the development and creative expression of the organization’s social marketing assets across video, design, copy, and photography.

She joined the Speak Up Africa team in January 2014, to reinforce and develop the communication branch, after an experience in the UNESCO’s Regional Office in Dakar, as a communication and knowledge management intern. As a program officer at Speak Up Africa, Maelle worked on the design and development of communication programs and campaigns, implemented on the field, while striving to create sustainable partnerships with key national and international stakeholders.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in both History and English and a Master’s degree in History and Comparative Civilizations. In 2013, she obtained a MBA in International Institutions and NGOs Management.

Yaye Sophietou Diop joined Speak Up Africa team in February 2016 after working for 2 years on communication for behavioral change around issues related to maternal, neonatal and child health.

Holder of a master’s degree in strategic communication, Sophietou is in charge of planning and coordinating Speak Up Africa’s programs. She ensures cohesion within the programs’ team, and assures linkages among all issue areas. Her work focuses mainly on formative research, strategy development, training and coaching in the implementation of communication and advocacy activities.

Passionate about research, she has worked on topics related to health, agriculture, equity, gender and sanitation.

Aïda Kabo joined Speak Up Africa in August 2018 and is leading the implementation of the Sanitation program. Prior to that, she served as a Program Associate on the organization’s Sanitation and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programs. She is an experienced development professional with a focus on human development and public health related issues. Her academic background includes a MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Action Management (University of Laval) and a BA in Political Science and Government (Concordia University). She is very passionate about content creation, gender issues, story-telling and possesses a certification in international business from HEC Montreal.

James Wallen joined the Speak Up Africa team in July 2019.As a Program Officer, he is piloting the roll out of the now pan-African anti-malaria campaign « Zero Malaria Starts with Me » in Ghana and Sierra Leone. Between 2015 and 2019, James worked with Global Citizen Year, an international education program. He has a broad set of professional experiences including research, advocacy, M&E, program coordination and youth development. He holds a Masters degree in Medical Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and an MA in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh.

Gráinne joined Speak Up Africa in November 2019 and is responsible for implementing Speak Up Africa’s Neglected Tropical Disease Advocacy program in Senegal, Guinea and Niger. Previously Gráinne worked at KYNE, a global health communications agency based in Ireland. There her areas of focus included NTDs, neurology, haematology, smoking cessation, environmental health and vaccinations, including leading their work on the Confederation of African Football’s AFCON 2017 pan-African vaccination campaign and working on the Carter Center Guinea Worm Eradication Program.
While studying for her Masters, Gráinne coordinated the Students for Global Health Lecture Series focusing on different aspects of global health — including climate change, health inequalities, governance, human rights and NCD policy, and started the Cambridge branch of Healthy Planet, promoting awareness of climate change and sustainability and their effect on health and healthcare. Gráinne holds a BSc in International Relations and Modern Languages from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MPhil in Public Health from the University of Cambridge.

Prior to Speak Up Africa, Didier has worked in various private sector companies (Woezon Communication – Chrono Business), then joined Ecobank Academy as Program Coordinator and Data Analyst. Didier is a dedicated Data Analyst and Programmer with more than 10 years of hands on experience in web programing, database administration and data analytics. He has proficient knowledge in statistics and analytics which are key to turn data into information, information into insight and insight into business decisions. He equally has good understanding of operations in private and non-private sector. He is a team player, execution focused and always keen to advance the socio-economic progress of Africa.

Prior to joining the Speak Up Africa team, Papa Momar Sokhna worked for two years as an economist at the Directorate General of Planning and Economic Policies, at the Ministry of Economy, Cooperation and Planning. At Speak Up Africa, he serves as an Associate Research and Policy Analyst and his work is focused on action research and supporting the organization’s various programs.

He holds an engineering degree from the Community Development and Training Department of the National School of Applied Economics and has experience in planning and monitoring public policies through his participation at the Technical Committee of the Territorial Conference of the Dakar and Kedougou Regions and the Regional Monitoring Committee for the Sustainable Development Goals Indicators. Papa Momar Sokhna also worked in the Malnutrition Committee on nutrition-sensitive and cross-cutting territorial planning and with USAID GOLD on the integrated good governance barometer.

OKEY L. Franz, joined Speak Up Africa in September 2020 as an Advocacy Officer for the ‘’Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative ». His mission is to mobilize companies for a better private sector contribution to the control and elimination of malaria in Benin. Franz is a member of the African Network of Project Management Professionals and certified « Civic Leadership » of the YALI program and holds a master’s degree in project management with a basic background in accounting and management.

He has years of practical experience in non-governmental organizations, companies and even international organizations with an enriching experience in leadership, citizen participation, citizen control of public action, awareness, advocacy, effective project management, mobilization of resources, coordination of partnerships and humanitarian missions. Franz has worked on issues related to governance, peace, elections, education, health, equity and gender.

Marieme Sy joined the Speak Up Africa team in October 2020 as an Advocacy Officer for the « Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative ». Her mission focuses mainly on the mobilization and increased involvement of the private sector in the fight against malaria in Senegal.

Previously, Marieme has worked for the IFC, a World Bank Group’s global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. There she concentrated on promoting and coordinating the institutions’ activities in Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Cabo Verde. She also participated in building and maintaining an enduring relationship with local stakeholders like government officials and the private sector.

Marieme holds a Bachelor in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Banking and Financial Engineering.

Roukiattou Ouédraogo is a communicator with more than 15 years of experience in the development world. She joined Speak Up Africa in December 2020 as an advocacy officer for the “Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative”.

She is passionate about networking and dialogue for constructive collaborations in favor of communities and therefore joined Speak Up Africa’s team with a goal of contributing to a greater mobilization and involvement of the private sector in the fight against malaria in Burkina Faso. She previously worked for several not-for-profit organizations before being a communication and advocacy officer at SPONG (Permanent Secretariat of NGOs) for 10 years, one of the largest civil society organization in Burkina Faso. This or

During her professional career, she has had the opportunity to lead and participate in advocacy activities and campaigns at national, regional and international level on various issues such as health, access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation, social protection and youth employment among others. She holds of a Master 1 in Communication from the University of Ouagadougou and is currently completing a professional degree in political science at Thomas Sankara University.

Assiétou Diop joined the Speak Up Africa team in March 2020 as Programme Officer for Civil Society Engagement in the fight for the control and elimination of malaria.

She holds a Master 2 in Sociology of Development with a specialization in International Development,  and Gender Equality from the University Gaston Berger of Saint-Louis. She also holds a professional Master 2 in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development from  Alioune Diop University of Bambey. Before joining SpeakUpAfrica, Assiétou worked on issues related to Gender Equality and the insertion and retention of women and girls in scientific fields in a Pan-African Institute for Mathematical Sciences. She has also conducted programmes on women’s socio-economic empowerment, leadership, politics and irregular migration. In her capacity as a gender expert, she conducted the evaluation of the Government of Senegal’s gender policy of the National Strategic Review for the Total Eradication of Hunger (ODD 2) in Senegal funded by the World Food Programme.

Assiétou is passionate about human rights issues and the achievement of gender equality. She continues to carry out associative activities aimed at promoting women’s rights and protecting vulnerable groups.

Bara started his journey in audiovisual communication in 2003. Over the years within companies or as a free-lancer, he has perfected his savoir-faire in web and multimedia DTP. His passion for image, innovation, better access to health and education, led him to work almost exclusively in these areas, where he further polished his skills in France, the Caribbean and Senegal.

For the past eight years, he served as Pedagogical director and trainer at Africatic Education Group in Senegal, as a Graphic designer and trainer at AP-HP (Paris Hospitals), and as a volunteer at New-Health. Bara is now based in Senegal, where he joined the Speak Up Africa team, determined to participate in improving public health on the continent.

Prior to joining Speak Up Africa in March 2015, Angelo was Creative Director at AK Project. With 10 years of experience in the production of communication support. Within the communication team of Speak Up Africa, Angelo oversees and creates the visuals to highlight the campaigns and actions carried out by the organization.

Passionate about photography and nature, he knows how to translate the values of the organization and relay them through his creativity.

From 2002 to 2008, Mame Cheikh worked as a press cartoonist in Senegal for “Le Matin”, “The Office” and “Sunulab”. In 2008, he moved to Belgium to obtain an infographics degree and a master’s degree in visual communication. He then worked for a year at Technicode communication before joining the communication’s team at Speak Up Africa.

Roxane Fian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Information and Communication Science at the Higher Communications Institute (ISCOM), a Faculty of the Catholic University of West Africa of Abidjan (CUWA). Passionate about communications, she joined Speak Up Africa in January 2020 as a Production Associate.

Previously, he was an assistant accountant in a public accountancy and tax firm of the place where he
was in charge of the accounting of a dozen companies working in various fields of activity (commercial
companies, service companies, industries and liberal professions).

He holds a master’s degree 2 in audit and management control at the UCAD. He also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in management sciences from the integrated university after obtaining the Bachelor’s degree in quantitative management techniques from the Lycée Maurice DELAFOSSE in Dakar.

He has also successfully completed training in the Participatory Research Accelerated Method
(M.A.R.P) of the African Institute of Local Development (I.A.D.L).

Seynabou is an experienced Finance Manager who helps small size organization to grow by implementing strong financial management systems and efficient team.

Prior to joining SUA, Seynabou led the finance and administrative operations in West African countries for social enterprises in climate insurance and agricultural sectors. She helped transition to scalable business and oversaw the budgeting, monitoring, reporting, accounting, cash management.

Before her transition to the not for profit sector, Seynabou spent 5 years as Head of Audit and Accounting in an Accounting Firm where she helped start-ups and middle size companies in various sectors to grow by managing all areas of accounting, admin, HR, tax and audit.

She holds a master’s degree in Audit, Control and Accounting from Orleans University (France).

Anta joined Speak Up Africa after 9 years of experience in customer relationship management and administration. Prior to joining the team, Anta focused on the organization of fundraising and networking events as well as the supervision of castings for commercial film productions.

At Speak Up Africa, Anta is responsible for organizing all of the administrative activities that facilitate the smooth running of the office. This includes the organizing of people, information and all other resources. She makes sure the office equipment is maintained, relevant records are up to date and that all administration processes work effectively. Anta creates and maintains a pleasant work environment while ensuring high levels of organizational effectiveness, communication and safety.

Anta Mbodj Sarr joined Speak Up Africa in June 2014 as an Administrative and Logistics Officer for the Football Combating Malaria (FCM) program. Since January 2017, Anta is in charge of all Speak Up Africa’s administrative and financial programs coordination.

Prior to Speak Up Africa, Anta has worked in various private sector companies in Senegal (SGBS – BCEAO – Elton), then joined « Vision 21 Sport Consulting » specialized in the fields of marketing, sponsorship and events where she acquired 10 years of experience as an Operations Manager.

Anta is passionate about basketball and a former basketball player herself at the Dakar University Club. During her basketball years, Anta was a FSBB marketing agent, she organized basketball tournaments & All Star Games, she also facilitated a basketball TV show broadcasted on a national TV channel (RTS), she filed reports of Senegalese basketball players living abroad and organized inclusive sports events for children.

After ten years of experience in customer relationship management (for call processing and quality monitoring for the improvement of partner customer services) and with two years in Human Resources management, Marième joined Speak Up Africa team in November 2017 as assistant to further support the Administration and Logistics Department.