Irene Wanjiku

Human Rights and Governance expert and an accomplished and seasoned grant maker with distinguished 10+ years of service in grant making and management, and over 10 years in experience in program and project management, research, organizational development, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), resource mobilization, donor reporting, evidence-based advocacy and policy development around Human Rights, Social Justice, Access to Justice (Administration of Justice: Judicial Sector reforms, Security   and Penal reforms) and gender equality. 

Currently serving as program officer in charge of  Access to Justice under Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights pillar  at the Diakonia Sweden (Kenya Country Office). (Diakonia is a Swedish development organization working with around four hundred local partner organizations in twenty-five countries) together we work for a sustainable change for the most vulnerable people in the world). I coordinate Access to justice work under the Democracy, Governance and Human Rights programme, implemented in 28 countiesby 16 civil Society partners. The work is contributing to Strengthened accountability and independence of governance structures and institutions at local and national level’’ through interventions that inculcate Responsive, Accessible, and Independent delivery of justice. I also serve as the Kenya country gender focal person, supporting Kenya country office and Diakonia partners in ensuring  gender is mainstreamed across all work and that of Diakonia partners and to ensure our work contribute to gender justice. I also serve at Diakonia Global Gender Working group. Also worked as Program officer managing various grant making processes at Akiba Uhaki Foundation (East Africa Human rights and Social Justice Fund) supporting human rights, social justice, and human rights defenders in East Africa region. Served as the  Regional Coordinator; East Africa Human Rights Education Project (EAHRP), where isupported the development and coordinated the implementation of the East Africa Human Rights education program, problem identification, project design and planning, implementation, budget management and evaluation. I served in a national organization in Kenya- The Legal Resources Foundation in various capacities in areas of research and development, program officer in charge of judicial, security and penal reforms and as a Human Rights officer and educator in various prisons in Kenya.

Reviewed and edited various publications: Family Law and Succession Booklet, A booklet published by Legal Resources Foundation Trust, 2010 version; Criminal Trial process booklet, a booklet, published by Legal Resources Foundation Trust, 2009 version;  Workers Rightsbooklet, by Legal Resources Foundation Trust, 2009 version and HIV and AIDS human rights, by Legal Resources Foundation Trust,2009 version. Designed and Coordinated Regional Research that supported the Human Rights community workers as well as the local leaders in human rights education in East Africa among others .

Has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (Major) and Political Science (Minor)-Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Diploma in Social work and development and Master of Arts degree in International Relations-University of Nairobi. An Alumni of International Human Rights Education-Equitas Canada. Various professional trainings feminism training;fundraising and grant writing;communication and report writing- British institute; evaluating human rights education-UN office of High Commissioner for human rights-Geneva Switzerland; human rights defendersprotection-Protection desk International disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) course-Kofi Annan International peace training centreAccra-Ghana; certificate in advocacy and training skills- USAID Kenya civil society strengthening program certificate in result management course; Ms training for development co-operation Arusha, Tanzania; refugee law and refugeehuman rights monitoringKenya; UNCHR; certificate in conflictmanagement in childreninstitutions; monitoring and evaluation, AMREF training center.