Mizane Yohannes, Country Director
Mizanekristos Yohannes (Mizane) joined SNV in 2011 as Country Director of South Sudan after many years of casual collaboration in West Africa and Ethiopia. He holds a Master’s degree in International Economic Development from the University of Southern New Hampshire. His knowledge of international development cooperation gained even more depth during his fellowship at Brown University’s World Hunger Programme and at Bread for the World Institute (USA) as a researcher on Bretton Woods Institutions (World Bank and IMF). His research supported campaigns to reform their transparency and participation policies, as well as ‘drop the debt’ that resulted in the HIPC, PRSPs and the global commitments to the MDGs.
In the last two years, he developed the Ethiopian Governance and Transparency Fund project for ODI (UK), whereby he interrogates how government might be held accountable for employment, incomes and living standards through citizens’ engagement in local economic planning. After more than 10 years of innovative practice in Ghana and Ethiopia, he is excited to witness the birth of the Republic of South Sudan where he believes SNV’s relevance in nation-building will have no bounds. Mizane is father to one daughter, Kelela, whom he describes as his greatest joy and challenge in life.
Malidadi Berlings Langa, Portfolio Coordinator, Juba
Malidadi Langa holds a Masters in Economics. He has eight years experience in public sector capacity building at both macro and meso levels in Malawi and Zambia. Before joining SNV, Malidadi worked in Malawi’s Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and with MS Zambia as a Technical Advisor on decentralisation. Malidadi brings a wealth of practical capacity building perspectives grounded in sound academic training. He has also worked in the private sector for 14 years in the areas of marketing management and finance. Among his achievements has been the setting up of functional decentralised district development planning systems in Malawi and Zambia, anchored on effective engagement of communities through appropriate multi-stakeholder platforms. His passion and interests are in the area of decentralisation development planning and management as a basis for sustainable development.
Malidadi joined SNV Sudan in July 2009 as Senior Advisor, Public Sector Establishment. In October 2009, he was appointed Portfolio Coordinator for Juba. Malidadi’s role, in addition to his management responsibilities, is to mainstream public sector capacity development in SNV work across the core sector choices of water, sanitation and hygiene, education and economic development. Malidadi successfully developed a model for strategic engagement in South Sudan public sector capacity development which key agreements have been signed with the State Ministries of Finance and Local Governments to facilitate SNV strategic engagement at both meso and macro levels.
Justin Amos Miteng, Portfolio Coordinator, Kapoeta
Justin holds Master’s degree in International Natural Resource Development (Bangor, UK) and Bachelors degree in Food Science and Technology (MUK). He has hand-on experience in application of participatory methods in research and development and sustainable approaches to rural development, natural resource management and enterprise development.
Justin joined SNV in 2005. He has actively contributed in positioning of the SNV South Sudan programme right from its inception. He has worked with variety of clients including producer groups, county local government, state level government institutions and national government institutions. He initiated the sensitisation efforts to create a national awareness on the export potential of Gum Arabic and Shea nut products. He has brought together successfully functional Multi-Stakeholder Platforms in non-timber forest products. In addition, Justin has offered valuable support to the Education and WASH sector particularly in translating the public private partnership model in operations and maintenance into practical activities in Northern Bahr el Gazal.
He is responsible for the country’s agriculture programme. He has authored two cases; Gum for Peace – uncovering solutions for natural resource based conflicts; Wild nuts to valuable butter - The case of Evolution of Shea Value Chain in Magwi and contributed to a score of cases in the agriculture sector.
Prior to joining SNV, Justin had worked with Lutheran World Foundation department of international development and set up an emergency relief program for internally displaced persons and returnees in pre CPA Eastern Equatoria. He was also part of the team that establishment the Fisheries Training Centre in Padak, Jonglei in 2004.
Immaculate Aber, Human Resource Assistant
Immaculate is the Human Resource Assistant for SNV Sudan. She holds a diploma in Business Management and Administration and now pursuing Bachelors of Public Administration. She joined SNV Sudan in June 2009. Before joining SNV, Immaculate worked with Development Alternatives Inc, South Sudan, a USAID funded contractor and later joined Concern Worldwide- South Sudan programme as Human Resource and Administration Officer. Her role in SNV Sudan is to ensure efficient human resources practices and procedures are practiced through out the organisation and in line with SNV East and Southern Africa guidelines. Her passion is to realise sufficient results through teamwork.