Candidates Sub-Saharan Africa
Malesi Shivaji
Short Bio
Malesi Shivaji is a highly experienced Kenyan civil society practitioner and advocate, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network (KEWASNET). His leadership has been central to KEWASNET's mission of promoting good governance, policy advocacy, and capacity building to achieve sustainable, universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Kenya, directly supporting the human rights to water and sanitation.
Mr. Shivaji is a recognized leader on international platforms, including Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) and End Water Poverty (EWP), alongside continental governance roles on the Governing Councils of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the African Network for Water and Sanitation (ANEW), ensuring that grassroots African civil society voices influence global policy.
He brings with him a wealth of expertise in Corporate Governance, International water law, public policy analysis and advocacy, supported by a deep understanding and applied experience of practical implementation at various capacities. His analysis of the Kenyan water sector often highlights the challenge of achieving universal access amid institutional bottlenecks, which he addresses by strengthening civil society's role in social accountability and integrity management.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
My core motivation is to ensure the successful transition to SuSanA 2.0 by providing robust governance and strategic financial oversight. I am committed to leveraging my decade of experience and proven leadership to align the GSC's global mandate with Sub-Saharan Africa's urgent needs.
I will champion resource mobilisation and ensure regional technical findings and policy frameworks, particularly the ASPG, directly inform global strategy, maximizing SuSanA’s impact on sustainable and equitable sanitation delivery in Africa.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the SuSanA community?
I am eager to contribute strategically to the global governance and future direction of SuSanA. My candidacy is rooted in the possibility of contributing to the transition to SuSanA 2.0, ensuring robust governance, prudent financial oversight, and long-term resourcing strategies. My suitability is underpinned by my experience in the water and sanitation sector, which spans technical implementation, policy advocacy, and governance oversight across multiple scales.
I am confident that my unique blend of a decade of sectoral experience, policy formulation involvement, and proven track record in both global and continental governance roles makes me an ideal candidate to advance SuSanA's goals, and help the Sub-Saharan region achieve a resilient, safe, and truly sustainable sanitation future.
Links to personal website, social media
CEO -
KEWASNET
Chibambila Simbeye
Short Bio
Chibambila is a water and sanitation engineer and researcher with a background in civil engineering, infrastructure planning, and management. His expertise and interests mainly focus on developing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and technologies that support the circular use of resources and improve water management practices. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). His research centres on creating decentralized treatment technologies for source-separating urine systems. Additionally, he collaborates with Sanitation 360 AB through SLU to implement source-separated urine technologies in Sweden.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
I am deeply dedicated to advancing sustainable sanitation solutions that promote equity, resilience, and environmental integrity. My work centres on circular sanitation systems that close resource loops and support better climate practices; these approaches are vital to the future of sustainable development. Despite my limited professional experience in the WASH sector, I have witnessed the transformative power of collaboration, innovation, and inclusive governance. Serving on the SuSanA Global Steering Committee would enable me to contribute strategically to sound governance, resource mobilization, and the transition toward SuSanA 2.0, while advocating for circular, climate-smart, and equitable sanitation systems worldwide.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the SuSanA community?
From my first engagement with the SuSanA community, I was inspired by the openness, collaboration, and shared passion for advancing sustainable sanitation worldwide. The collective energy and commitment to innovation reaffirmed my belief in SuSanA’s crucial role in shaping a more resilient, inclusive, and circular sanitation future. I am eager to continue learning from and contributing to this vibrant network, broadening its impact across diverse regions and communities.
Links to personal website, social media
PhD Candidate -
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Bethlehem Mengistu (Ethiopian)
Bethlehem Mengistu
Short Bio
Bethlehem Mengistu is a global expert in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) with over 20 years of experience spanning development and humanitarian issues across Africa and Asia. She currently serves as the Global Coordinator of Agenda for Change, a coalition dedicated to strengthening WASH systems through collaboration and collective action in more than a dozen countries. Her career has focused on leadership, strategy, and systems strengthening, working closely with governments, development partners, and civil society to drive policy change and institutional reform. Bethlehem’s expertise covers WASH, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), governance, gender equality, and human rights.
An Ethiopian national, she brings both regional insight and global perspective to her work, advocating for locally led and inclusive approaches that bridge national realities with global policy and research spaces. She holds an academic background in international development and law and is deeply committed to advancing equitable, resilient, and sustainable WASH systems worldwide.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
I am motivated to join the SuSanA Global Steering Committee to strengthen Sub-Saharan Africa’s engagement and representation within the network. As the Global Coordinator of Agenda for Change, I lead a coalition focused on systems strengthening and collaboration in WASH, and I see strong opportunities to bridge our two networks to elevate the importance of sanitation globally. My professional journey, from national implementation to global coordination, has reinforced the value of inclusive, locally grounded systems approaches. I am committed to contributing my expertise, leadership, and regional perspective to advance SuSanA’s mission and collective impact.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the SuSanA community?
It would be a privilege to serve and learn alongside the SuSanA community. I have long admired the network’s openness, knowledge-sharing culture, and commitment to systems thinking. If elected, I would work to strengthen connections between regional practitioners and global partners, and foster collaboration between SuSanA and Agenda for Change to further elevate sanitation as a global development priority. I look forward to contributing to SuSanA’s evolution as an inclusive and action-oriented platform for achieving sustainable sanitation for all.
Links to personal website, social media
Global Coordinator -
WASH Agenda for Change
