Continental Coordinating Team

The people steering Africa's water movement.

AYWF is led by a pan-African team of young water professionals: conveners setting direction, coordinators mobilizing their corner of the continent, and committee leads turning strategy into everyday action.

At the helm

Setting the continental direction.

Continental Convener

Joseph Tettey Afangbe

Joseph Tettey Afangbe is a Ghanaian development practitioner, social worker, and youth leader with over a decade of experience designing and implementing community-driven development initiatives. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Young Visionary Leaders Ghana (YVLG), a youth-led NGO committed to improving the well-being of children, young people, and underserved communities through education, WASH, social protection, and sustainable development.

As Continental Convener of the African Youth Water Forum, Joseph leads efforts to strengthen youth engagement in water governance, water justice, and climate resilience across Africa. He is passionate about empowering young people to influence policy, promote equitable access to water and sanitation, and drive sustainable solutions to Africa's water challenges.

Beyond AYWF and YVLG, Joseph serves in several national and international civil society leadership roles. He is a United Nations ECOSOC Representative and a recipient of the Joy News Impact Maker Award 2025, in recognition of his contributions to community development and social impact.

Co-Convener

Kekesi Isaac Defoe

Kekesi Isaac Defoe is a sustainability and environmental practitioner, WASH and public health advocate, and social entrepreneur with over two decades of experience advancing environmental sustainability, research, innovation, and community development. He is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Environmental Watch (FEW), Ghana, leading work on environmental protection, climate action, WASH, and public health.

As Co-Convener of the African Youth Water Forum, he strengthens youth leadership and collaboration across Africa, promoting evidence-based dialogue and action on water governance, water justice, climate resilience, and sustainable development. He also serves as a National Board Member of the Stop TB Partnership Ghana.

Driven by his faith and a passion for service, Kekesi is committed to empowering communities, influencing policy, and fostering innovative solutions to environmental and public health challenges — a respected voice in Ghana's development landscape.

Continental Coordinator

Hannah Enyonam Edor

Hannah Enyonam Edor is the Continental Coordinator of the African Youth Water Forum, leading the coordination of youth-led initiatives that promote water security, sanitation, climate resilience, and water justice across Africa. She has a background in Development Studies and Social Work, with a particular interest in research that informs inclusive and sustainable development.

With over five years in the social development sector, Hannah has built expertise in programme coordination, planning, and community development. She serves as Programs Officer at Young Visionary Leaders Ghana (YVLG) and previously worked as a Child and Youth Development Worker.

As a development practitioner and emerging researcher, Hannah works to strengthen youth participation, foster partnerships, and coordinate programmes that create lasting impact across the continent.

Across the continent

Regional coordination.

West Africa

Anthony Akacha

Anthony Akacha is the Regional Coordinator for West Africa. From Gombi, Adamawa State, Nigeria, and currently based in Bauchi, he has a strong interest in engineering and technology, with a focus on innovation, problem-solving, and applying technical knowledge to real-world challenges.

He is pursuing a Master's in Engineering at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, and holds a Bachelor's in Engineering (Honours) from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. An SDG advocate with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Nigeria, he brings critical thinking, conflict management, cross-cultural engagement, and a technical foundation in cybersecurity and networking.

East Africa

Philister Aketch

Philister Aketch is the East Africa Regional Coordinator. She is a climate and sustainable development advocate based in South Sudan, working with youth- and women-driven organizations focused on environmental protection, WASH, and climate action.

Philister brings experience in youth mobilization, policy advocacy, project management, and building meaningful partnerships across borders. She looks forward to bringing young people together across East Africa, advancing water security, and creating lasting impact.

Central Africa

Alphonse Masandi

Alphonse Masandi is the National Coordinator for the Democratic Republic of Congo. He holds a degree in Agronomy, specializing in natural resource management, and brings energy and a strong ability to connect with people from all walks of life to identify new opportunities for the forum. He also has foundational knowledge in marketing and fieldwork.

Alphonse speaks two local languages, Lingala and Swahili — an asset for outreach and awareness-raising in rural areas. He is delighted to be part of this journey and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

Southern Africa

Judith Rampokanyo

Relebeletse Judith Rampokanyo, from Lesotho, is the Southern Africa Regional Coordinator. She brings a diverse skillset to the forum, including precision task management, accounting, project management, administration, research, grant writing, and Google Workspace proficiency.

Judith's background includes an internship at Young Visionary Leaders Ghana, where she honed her project management and intercultural communication skills alongside strong remote-work adeptness. With a foundation in Cost and Management Accounting and Project Management, she plans, executes, and delivers projects within scope, time, and budget.

Portfolios

Committees & functions.

Partnerships & Resource Mobilization

Olivia Quarshie

Olivia Quarshie is the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Coordinator. A dedicated social worker from Ghana with a heart for people and community development, she focuses on supporting vulnerable individuals, women, persons with disabilities, families, and youth to access care, dignity, and opportunities.

Olivia brings expertise in case management, community engagement, advocacy, and teamwork. She is passionate about service, empathy, and building systems that uplift people, and looks forward to serving communities with excellence.

Programmes, Events & Conferences

Huzaifa Issahaku

Huzaifa Issahaku is a public health professional from Ghana with in-depth experience in project management, social and behaviour change, youth engagement, research, monitoring and evaluation, and community development. He has worked with NGOs, government institutions, and development partners on health, climate action, and youth empowerment.

He brings strong skills in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication, partnership building, proposal development, and knowledge management, and is passionate about collaborative leadership and leveraging innovation for sustainable community impact.

Research & Knowledge Management

Paul Atsu

Paul Atsu is a development practitioner and knowledge management specialist with over 10 years of experience working with international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector to promote sustainable livelihoods, agribusiness development, and community resilience.

His expertise spans development research, knowledge management, development communications, and programme design, with a strong focus on youth and women's empowerment in agrifood systems. Passionate about evidence-based decision-making and indigenous knowledge systems, he strengthens research, learning, and knowledge sharing across Africa.

Communications, Campaigns & Media

Jennifer Adomah

Jennifer Adomah leads Communication, Campaign & Media. She is an award-winning philanthropist, registered nurse, and professional counsellor, and the Chief Executive Officer of Rest Philanthropy. She also serves as a counsellor with Rest Consult, supporting individuals through personal, emotional, and life challenges.

With extensive experience in healthcare, counselling, and community development, Jennifer is dedicated to improving lives through compassionate service and advocacy. Through Rest Philanthropy she has championed projects in health promotion, clean water access, education, poverty alleviation, and community empowerment.