Our Advisory Council
Josephine Ekiru
Strategic Advisor – Advisory Council Josephine Ekiru is a visionary leader in peacebuilding and community empowerment, transforming lives across northern Kenya with her unwavering dedication. As a Peace Coordinator at the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), she has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives that have bridged divides, fostered reconciliation, and brought lasting peace to pastoralist communities long plagued by conflict. Her relentless efforts have earned her the prestigious United States Institute for Peace (USIP) Women Building Peace Award, a testament to her profound impact in conflict resolution and grassroots leadership. But her influence doesn’t stop there—Ekiru harnesses the power of music to spread messages of unity, composing songs that resonate across cultures and inspire hope where it’s needed most. A true champion of sustainable development, she empowers marginalized groups, amplifies the voices of women and youth, and builds resilient communities that thrive beyond conflict. Her leadership is not just remarkable—it’s indispensable. Ekiru’s work stands as a beacon of progress, proving that peace is not just an ideal but a reality that can be achieved through dedication, innovation, and an unyielding belief in the power of community-driven solutions.
CPA Hosea Kandagor
Livelihoods and Climate Change Advisor, Hosea brings a unique intersection of financial expertise and environmental stewardship to the team. As a Certified Public Accountant, he ensures the integrity of financial management and leads strategic resource mobilization efforts. His leadership in climate finance advances community-driven initiatives that strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable livelihoods. Hosea is instrumental in securing funding and cultivating strategic partnerships that uphold the initiative’s mission and long-term sustainability.
Juniper Neill
Juniper Neill is a sustainable development expert with 30 years’ experience working on environment, conservation, climate change and community development programming across East Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and the United States. She led USAID’s environment programming for 11 years, before moving into an executive management position with the Agency beginning in 2019, overseeing the entire development portfolios in the Asia and South Caucasus regional missions. She served as a Peace Corps Environment Volunteer in Ukraine from 1997-99, and prior to that, from 1991-1997, was the founder of a successful environmental consulting start-up firm in the Bay Area in California. Juniper is from rural Alaska and received a B.A. degree in International Relations and Environmental Studies from Mills College. She has a M.A. degree in International Affairs, Environmental Policy, from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Her passion is finding ways to support rural and Indigenous communities to advance and achieve their goals for conservation and economic development.