The 2024 GEST Cohort Selected
After a lengthy selection process during March-July 2023, as the GEST selection panel reviewed nearly 400 nominations from almost 50 countries, 23 candidates from 14 countries have been selected to attend the 2024 GEST academic programme. The candidates were required to submit a comprehensive application, including a short proposal for a final assignment, and shortlisted candidates were also interviewed by members of the selection panel. All the selected candidates fulfilled GEST’s prerequisites and requirements, and demonstrated a strong dedication to advancing gender equality in their home communities and/or their professional fields.
The selected group of candidates for the 2024 GEST programme represents local NGOs and CSOs, federal and local governments, universities, and research institutions. Furthermore, the cohort consists of individuals of different genders and abilities. The diverse group of fellows, from different countries, regions, and professions, enables transnational knowledge sharing and learning within the classroom.
Twenty fellows will each receive a full GRÓ scholarship to attend the programme while five fellows, who are enrolled in post-graduate programmes at GEST’s partner universities, will receive joint Erasmus+ and GRÓ scholarships.
The GEST team looks forward to welcoming the 2024 GRÓ-GEST fellows in January.
The selected fellows in an alphabetic order for 2024 are:
Name in full |
Country |
Current workplace and position: |
| Aklam Amanya |
Uganda | MA Student in Gender Studies at Makerere University |
| Anastase Ndagijimana | Rwanda | Youth Coordinator at Rwanda Men's Resource Centre - Men Engage Network |
| Baleseng Faith Maeneche | South Africa | PhD Student at the University of Western Cape |
| Benjamin Wilson Blay | Ghana | MPhil Student in Geography at the University of Ghana |
| David Kisotu Melubo | Kenya | Deputy Director of Finance at Narok County Government |
| Dina N. A. Almughrabi | Palestine | Project Coordinator at Juzoor for Health and Social Development |
| Dorcus Asiimwe | Uganda | Programs Manager at Michigan Fellows Africa Initiatives |
| Elizabeth Achola Mang'eni | Kenya | Senior Trade Development Officer at Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities |
| Enas B. A. Daryacoub | Palestine | Founder of SLETATE and Global Champion of SheDecides |
| Hameeda Syed | India | Community Engagement Leader at Dignity in Difference |
| Ibrahim Kadara | Uganda | Teacher at Pangea Educational Development (PED) |
| Innocent Uladi | Malawi | CfDD, Resilience and Livelihood Program Officer at Center for Democracy and Development |
| Linus Odhiambo Ouma | Kenya | Partnership and Fundraising Officer at Together for Better Foundation |
| Mialy Rakotondramboa | Madagascar | Project Manager at Geosystems et Développement |
| Mihitha Basnayake | Sri Lanka | Research Assistant at University of Colombo (De Soysa Hospital for Women) |
| Nikolina Gagić | Bosnia and Herzegovina | European Regional Masters Student in Democracy and Human Rights in South Eastern Europe at University of Sarajevo |
| Radhika Modi | India | Program Consultant at The Pad Project |
| Rajina Shrestha | Nepal | Advisor at SSEAP FRIDA (The Young Feminist Fund) Committee |
| Ramatu Issah | Ghana | MA in African Studies at the University of Ghana |
| Rukaya Issah | Ghana | Assistant Fisheries Manager at the Fisheries Commission |
| Sarmad Muhammad Soomar | Pakistan | Senior Instructor at the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Pakistan |
| Tawonga Kwangu Msowoya | Malawi | Pepeta Malawi Coordinator at Katswe Sistahood |
| Varney Teddy Wilson | Liberia | Project Coordinator at Youth Crime Watch of Liberia |