Leadership and Structure

As an official NGO, the ‘Grassroots Women’s and Men’s Association for Development’ (GWAD) is led by seven board members including the co-founder and today’s Patron is Mego Betty Aol Ocan. The board meets quarterly to supervise as well as consult with the staff members about ongoing work and future projects. It supports GWAD with expertise and lobbying.

Staff

As of February 2022, GWAD consists of six staff members, ten volunteers and 43 groups with approximately 2.006 direct individual members (farmers) in the area of Gulu City, Gulu District and Omoro District.

Within the staff and volunteers, there are experts in various fields from agronomy, economy, IT to women’s rights and teaching.

Introduction of board and staff members

Patron Betty Aol Ocan

“Voluntarism built me up. I’m always passionate about women, empowerment and peace-building. As a leader, I want to be servant of the people to work for them, with them and to learn from them. So I am promoting the spirit of transparency, accountability and self-reliance.”

Education: Master Degree in Development Studies with speciality in Human Rights, Degree in Development Studies, National Diploma in Secondary Science Education

Current Member of Parliament for Gulu City

Background abstained:

·         Public speaking in democracy

·         Training in rural development and participatory methodology

·         Human rights based development

·         Gender and development

Field Officer Solomon Rackara

“As a total orphan from a rural area I faced all the community challenges of life, but I was helped so much by the surrounding people.  That built in me the passion to work more for the community.”

Education: Bachelor Degree in Information and Communication Technologies

Background abstained:

·         Climate smart Agriculture

·         Youth empowerment

·         Suicide prevention and mental health

Accountant Denis Oceng

“Growing up it has always been my dream to work with the community. So I got very excited when GWAD gave me the opportunity to do so and I am still very passionate about this work. GWAD is such an amazing organization; It makes me very proud to be able to reach so many people through my work and have positive impacts on their lives.”

Education: National Diploma in Accounting and Finance

Background abstained:

·         Gender Action Learning (GAL)

Administration Secretary Genevieve Apio

Education: National Diploma in Secondary Education

Background abstained:

·         Teaching

·         Human Rights

·         Health