Akinyi Awora

Akinyi Awora is the Founder and President of Kadana Foundation, a multidisciplinary organisation working at the intersection of grassroots innovation, global policy, and market systems to address Africa's most pressing development challenges. With over a decade of experience, she is a respected voice in health systems strengthening, climate resilience, education innovation, and economic development.

Akinyi has collaborated with a distinguished roster of global organisations including Ashoka, York University, Christian Aid, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), USAID, EY, and SAP — leading transformative initiatives across multiple African countries. She has been recognised as a One Young World counsellor, reflecting her standing as a global youth leadership authority.

Through Kadana Foundation, Akinyi bridges the gap between grassroots communities and global systems — ensuring that locally-generated solutions are amplified, resourced, and connected to the policy and market actors needed to scale their impact. Her human-centred approach ensures that community voices are at the heart of every intervention.

At the NGO Summit 2026, Akinyi brings cross-sectoral expertise to conversations on locally-led development, youth innovation, and the critical role that women-led organisations play in driving Africa's sustainable future — offering both practical models and systemic advocacy for a more inclusive NGO ecosystem.