Joseph Okecho Olwenyi

I am an expert on international development, Inclusive Governance and Accountability and my academic background include MSc. Environment and Natural Resources; MSc. Economics Policy and Public Finance; PGD Taxation and Revenue Administration; Fellow of Decentralization and Local governance; Certificate in Leadership-Creating Public value and Government; Bachelor of Environmental Health Sciences and am a Certified Program Manager. I have 16 years of work experience in governance and accountability programming covering Citizens Engagement, Community cohesion, Accountability, Anti-corruption, Democracy and Human rights at subnational, national, continental and global levels. In 2019 I was recognized for leading impactful programming on governance, accountability, anti-corruption and human rights in Sub-Saharan Africa by Oxfam Novib’s Netherlands Close Up Magazine; Also, the Governance and accountability programs I have managed have been recognized, appreciated and received an award from the Government of Uganda through the Office of the Vice President of Uganda Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo Rose Ebel for the outstanding contribution that was made towards enhancing sustainable development in the country. Previously, I have worked with Oxfam Novib (in Uganda) as Country Programs and Policy Manager-Governance and Accountability where I provided strategic and technical leadership, led on program development and management, grant management, budget management and program staff performance management over four (04) program pillars and a multi-year grant facility that promoted accountability, community cohesion and human rights. The program pillars include (i) Citizen engagement, Community cohesion and Human Rights program pillar: which promoted human rights, good governance, the rule of law and empowered a responsive citizenry that fully understands their rights and obligations to effectively hold their leaders accountable at all levels. The pillar promoted an enabling environment for civic and political freedoms, rule of law, and access to justice, while ensuring critical assistance was provided for human rights defenders as well as victims of abuse. (ii) Economic Justice and Financing for sustainable development program pillar: Promoted tax justice, gender responsive budgeting, transparency, anti-corruption and accountability and enhanced quality service delivery which addressed the rising inequality and poverty; focusing on Health, Education, Environment, Agriculture, Gender. (iii) VOICE innovative grant facility: which promoted accountability, community cohesion and human rights; The Facility supported only rights holders and groups facing marginalization or discrimination such as such as Persons with disabilities, LGBTI-Lesbians, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people; Women facing exploitation, abuse and violence; Vulnerable elderly and youth; Indigenous People and ethnic minorities to exert influence in political participation, anti-corruption, social accountability and accessing productive and social services. (iv) Extractives Industries and Just energy transition program pillar; which promoted transparency and accountability on revenue management in the Oil, Gas, Mining and Minerals sector; Advocacy on EI-Business and human rights; Promoted a green and Just energy transition-a nexus between climate change, energy and the EI sector. (v) Transformative Education Program Pillar: enhanced active citizenship and young learners’ academic and practical skills to be self-sustaining and influenced progressive policy reform. I also held an annual grant management portfolio of averagely EURO 8.2 million working with 24 grantees and over 53 strategic partners; Also overseeing grantee management; compliance monitoring, quality and timely reporting to development partners like DANIDA, SIDA, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU, NORAD, FORD Foundation, GAC CANADA etc. Previously I have also worked at Oxfam as Head of Programs (Acting) where I was responsible for the strategic development and management of the Country Program, and I also deputized the Country Director.; as Program Coordinator Economic Justice and Financing for sustainable development program pillar; and as Project Lead Financing for sustainable development. I have also worked as Senior Regional Program Advisor-Governance and Accountability at Agency for Transformation where I provided strategic leadership and management of the Regional Governance Programs and I also managed grants supported by National Democratic Institute (NDI), USAID etc. Over the years, I have engaged with and built strong linkages with the state and non-state actors including the Government of Uganda, Ministries, Departments, Agencies; Accountability actors/structures (OAG, IGG, PPDA, Parliamentary Accountability Committees; Local Government Accountability Structures); Justice Law and Order Sector Secretariate; Uganda Human Rights Commission, Private sector players, Embassies supporting governance, accountability and human rights work in Uganda; EAC, EALA; AU’s Africa Peer Review Mechanism, UN office of the High Commissioner, and African Union Commission bodies, processes and Initiatives; CSO networks, organizations and Human Rights Defenders; EU Commission, World Bank/IMF, AFDB, Universities and think tanks, philanthropists and the private sector. Am a Volunteer member of Amnesty International. I am an ardent practitioner of impactful policy influencing whose foundations are built on conducting research to generate evidences for policy advocacy and campaigns; I co-authored the Oxfam research report ‘’Money Pipeline 2020’’ which showcased the implications of the Uganda-Netherlands Double Taxation Agreement and the use of Dutch based subsidiaries by Oil and Gas Multinational Giant Companies TOTAL and CNOOC to evade and avoid taxes that would have been used to support sustainable development in Uganda and Africa at large. (https://uganda.oxfam.org/latest/policy-paper/money-pipeline)