The International Center for Research on Women Announces Appointment of New Africa Regional Director
Reproductive Empowerment, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Evelyne Opondo brings over 20 years of experience in gender, human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and law
15 July 2022
Joe Shaffner, Director, Global Communications: [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) announced the appointment of Evelyne Opondo as Director, ICRW Africa. Opondo brings over 20 years of deep experience in gender, human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and law to ICRW Africa.
“We are thrilled to welcome Evelyne to the ICRW team,” said Peggy Clark, Chief Executive Officer and President of ICRW. “Her strategic vision, cross-regional understanding of gender issues, staunch advocacy for women’s rights, and multi-faceted understanding of systemic inequities and how to disrupt them make Evelyne a powerful addition to ICRW.”
Opondo has joined ICRW from the Center for Reproductive Rights in Nairobi, where she served as Senior Regional Director for Africa. In this role, she was responsible for developing, communicating, executing strategies, and mobilizing resources to ensure the successful delivery and sustainability of the mandate of the Center in Africa. Prior to that, she served as the Regional Policy Associate for Ipas, a global SRHR organization, where she focused on regional norm building, partnering with both government and non-government organizations across a number of African countries to strengthen local and regional health systems.
“I am honored and excited to be leading ICRW Africa into the next phase of its journey,” said Opondo. “We are at a pivotal moment when the rights of women, girls, and others marginalized by social and institutional inequities are under threat, regressing significantly during COVID-19. The time to act is now, and ICRW – with over 45 years of experience in tipping the scales on inequities – is uniquely positioned to face the challenges head on and find solutions that work.”
From 2004- 2010, Opondo worked for the Federation of Women Lawyers Kenya, a premier women’s right organization where she advocated for a broad range of women rights issues. Opondo began her career in 2001 as a State Law Officer in the Office of the Attorney General of Kenya, where she worked primarily with poor and vulnerable widows in the administration of their estates.
Opondo holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from Pune University, India and a master’s degree in Gender and Development from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is a board member of FP2030 and the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee of the Reproductive Health Network – Kenya. In May 2022, she was selected for WomenLift Health’s inaugural East Africa leadership journey — a program that provides the tools, mentorship, and coaching support to help expand the power and influence of women leaders in global health.
“We are looking forward to working with Evelyne,” said Naome Wandera, Deputy Director of ICRW Africa. “She is well-revered across the region and brings the right expertise to complement our growing team in Nairobi and Kampala. Her thoughtful approach to gender equity and inclusion will provide a welcome boost to our work across Africa.”
– ENDS –
The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a global research institute with offices located in Washington, D.C.; New Delhi, India; Nairobi, Kenya; and Kampala, Uganda. Our research evidence identifies women’s contributions as well as the obstacles that prevent them from being economically strong and able to fully participate in society. ICRW translates these insights into a path of action that honors women’s human rights, ensures gender equality and creates the conditions in which all women can thrive.
ICRW is the premier applied research institute focused on women and girls. In 2016, ICRW merged with the U.S. research organization Re:Gender (formerly the National Council for Research on Women) to create a global research platform.Headquartered in Washington, DC, with regional offices in India and Uganda, ICRW provides research and analysis to inform programs and policies that promote gender equality and help alleviate poverty.