2023 Leadership Journey Project: Scaling up capacity for women in leadership to influence and advance domestic resource mobilization for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights programmes in Kenya
Ms. Akaco Ekirapa is a senior public health specialist with over 20 years working in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her strong track record entails working with governments, multi-laterals, implementing partners, private sector, civil society, and global think tanks. She is known for strategic partnership building, policy influencing and technical expertise in global health systems, monitoring and evaluation, public health research, and developing sexual reproductive health and rights programmes.
As a passionate leader, she plays a large role in organizational development, diversity and inclusion and leading mental health and wellbeing activities. Akaco works at the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office as the Health team leader in Nairobi, Kenya. She provides strategic and technical leadership in the Human and Social Development Team, to ensure quality delivery of services in family planning, maternal and neonatal health, and universal health coverage across Kenya.
Flagship projects include the DESIP Family planning programme operating in 12 counties in Kenya. She also leads Maternal and Child Health Programme implemented by the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund, UNICEF, Marie Stopes International/Options Consultancy Services and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She holds a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Strathmore University and a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Minnesota. Her team is recognised for leadership in knowledge management at the British High Commission.
Fun fact: Akaco used to be a national swimmer for Kenya back in primary school and represented Kenya in Zambia. She is working on building her fitness and has registered for her first triathlon relay in August 2023
