Franz Okey

Regional advocacy advisor since January 2025, Franz joined Speak Up Africa in September 2020, as advocacy officer on the  »Zero Malaria Business Initiative Leadership’’. A year later, in 2021, he became National Coordinator for Benin, with the primary mission of engaging government representatives, political decision-makers at national and sub-national levels, civil society players, the private sector and the media on issues relating to malaria, neglected tropical diseases and health research and development, not forgetting gender equality.

Franz holds a Master’s degree in development, with a specialization in international project management, from Senghor University in Alexandria, as well as an MBA in project management and basic training in accounting and management. He has twelve years’ practical experience in the design, steering and evaluation of development projects and grant management.

He has served with Non-Governmental Organizations, companies and even international bodies including: PMF/GEF/UNDP Benin, RITIS GROUP, WANEP Benin where he developed an enriching experience in public policy formulation, analysis and monitoring, and project management in the fields of education, public governance, women’s rights, elections, not to mention advocacy, partnership management, resource and investment mobilization and political engagement, with a good knowledge of the procedures of several donors.

Franz received the Best Civic Engagement Award at the Benin Yali Alumni Association (BYAA) Awards in 2020 for his outstanding leadership as a Certified Civic Leadership Alumni of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) program, and for implementing high-impact community projects with direct funding from the U.S. State Government.