Yves Bawa is the President and Co-Founder of Kumbuka Afrika and oversees the organisation in his role as CEO. Yves was previously Country Director of DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda for the US NGO, Pact, and the Regional Technical Director for all Pact’s mining sector projects in the region. Yves has been integral to the implementation of ITSCI since its inception, playing a key role in its roll-out and expansion, liaising with national governments and supporting local partners.

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With over 20 years of experience in social development covering democracy and governance, education, community development, agriculture and natural resources management programs with governmental and international organizations and the private sector, Yves’ mandate covers technical leadership, team management and mentoring, donor, government, and partner liaison, and oversight of programmatic and financial management. Used to operating in high-risk and conflict zones including with demobilized soldiers, Yves has a strong track record in peacebuilding and resource-related conflict resolution. Yves’ language proficiency includes French, English, Kiswahili, and Lingala. He holds a Master’s degree in Agronomy and Social Development (BAC + 5) from Yangambi University in Kisangani, DRC.

Nkulu Kankote is the Vice-President and the Chief Finance and Operations Officer of Kumbuka Afrika. Nkulu was previously the Finance, Operations and Grants Director for the US NGO, Pact, in the Great Lakes Region with more than 20 years of experience in finance, grant, admin, and operations management with bilateral and private sector donors, including international aid agencies, governments, foundations, and industry associations.

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Nkulu has intensive experience with different non-profit organisations in managing complex portfolios and multi-million-dollar budgets, strategic planning and successfully developing new funding sources. Nkulu has worked on the ITSCI Programme since 2010, overseeing all in-country operations in the GLR, including finance and accounting functions, internal control systems and procedures, budgets, procurement, human resources, and IT. Nkulu’s language proficiency includes English, French, Swahili, and Lingala. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Frankfurt School of Finance in Germany, and a Masters in Applied Economics from at the University of Lubumbashi, DRC.

Vincent Songe is the Country Director of Kumbuka Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Previously, for over a decade, Vincent was the ITSCI Program Manager in the DRC for US NGO, Pact. A highly experienced program manager, trainer, and researcher, Vincent brings to the team more than 20 years of technical experiences focused on ASM, social development and agriculture. During his career, he has led the programmatic and financial management of a range of community development, humanitarian, and emergency activities in many of the most high-risk and conflict affected areas in Eastern DRC.

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With direct experience in North and South Kivu, Maniema, and the Katanga region, Vincent has been a pioneer for ITSCI expansion, a mentor for regional teams, and a trainer and evaluator for skills development and technical performance. Vincent is a specialist in development-based research, project management, monitoring and evaluation of impacts, and the design/delivery of mass awareness and media campaigns. Vincent’s language proficiency includes French, English, Swahili, and Lingala. He holds a master’s degree in Agronomy and Social Development and trainings on Project management, implementation od Due-Diligence by OECD, the management of ASM sector.

Ildephonse Niyonsaba is the Country Director of Kumbuka Afrika in Rwanda. Previously, as Project Manager for the US NGO, Pact, he executed a leadership role for ITSCI in Rwanda for over a decade, overseeing all project operations and ensuring engagement of key stakeholders in both private and public sectors, especially the Government of Rwanda and the Rwanda Minerals Board (RMB). Ildephonse has played a leadership role in building the capacity of stakeholders to achieve DDG compliance as part of the successful implementation of ITSCI.

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With over 15 years of experience in project design, management, and implementation, Ildephonse brings a strong track record of leadership to the Kumbuka Afrika team, with clear communication skills, a proven ability to deliver on donor and partner expectations, and a strategic vision for the project. He has ensured the successful delivery of large-scale projects funded by a wide variety of donors. Alphonse’s language proficiency includes French, English, and Kinyarwanda. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Earth Sciences, along with Certificates in Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Industrial Minerals, and Geological Data Management.

Jean Baptiste is the Kumbuka Afrika Country Director in Burundi. Previously, Jean Baptiste was the ITSCI Country Manager in Burundi for US NGO, Pact. With more than 15 years of technical experience in ASM in the GLR, Jean Baptiste has focused specifically on the challenges of ASM in terms of DDG and responsible supply chains for the successful delivery of ITSCI. He is also widely experienced in other aspects of the ASM sector including management including exploration, water pollution, environmental impacts, Occupational Health and Safety, gender, governance, and market issues.

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He is an African Union Expert, actively involved in the formulation of guidelines for ASM Strategy and regulations, as well as being Burundi’s Country Representative to the Africa Mining Hall of Fame headquartered in Ghana. Jean Baptiste is a member of the Minerals Africa Development Institution (MADI) which focuses on building capacities, research for policy guidance and promoting knowledge-based African solutions for mineral resources development, building upon best international practices. Jean Baptiste’s language proficiency includes French, English, Kirundi and Kinyarwanda. He a Master’ degree in Leadership and Organisational Management