Wandia is a feminist Pan-Africanist with over 16 years of experience working with regional, international and civil society organizations on women’s and girls’ rights, grant making and management, regional integration and governance. She currently manages the Global End FGM at Equality Now. Prior, she was the Regional Program Officer for the Open Society Foundation’s Africa Regional Office. She also worked as the Pan African Gender Justice Lead for Oxfam Great Britain’s Pan Africa Program; Regional Women’s Rights Coordinator-Africa for ActionAid International; and an Advocacy Officer for the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET). Mary holds a Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University and a Masters of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Mary is dedicated to ensuring that women and girls enjoy their human rights. She believes good laws not only condemn perpetrators of gender discrimination and violence, but also provide protection against human rights violations. Her favorite quote is by Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Mary’s shero is award-winning writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adhichie, who said, “Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.”
Outside of the office, Mary enjoys book clubs, coaching, traveling, music, and volunteering her skills and expertise to advance women’s and girls’ rights.
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