John Gitonga Email & Phone Number

Nairobi, Kenya

To tackle the numerous challenges faced by children living in urban areas, especially the marginalized children, Global Alliance - cities4children (GA-C4CY) is an establishment of a network of over 25 children and youth focused organisations committed to achieve greater impact and influence and work together to ensure that child rights are firmly embedded in the urban agenda www.cities4children.orgCities4children and youth Kenya Alliance (C4CY Kenya Alliance) The national alliances bring together institutions committed to creating a fundamental change on how to collectively tackle the numerous issues faced by children and young people living in urban areas in Kenya, especially the most marginalised. With the fact that there is a growing concern that children and youth, are largely excluded in the urban agenda. The C4CY Kenya alliance endeavours to inspire and ignite conversations towards making our urban areas more inclusive and participatory, and cognisant of children protection and participation in urban development.My role as the project team leader is to support processes that build on a strong multi sectoral membership base who are working with children and youth in Kenya , and to support mechanisms and strategies that establish an effective including children and youth, to ensure our urban areas are planned, designed and managed to support children and youth to reach their highest potential, by establishing a strong united front that amplifies the voice of the children and youth, to ensure that their rights and concerns are respected and to share the opportunities that provide children and youth space in urban agenda.

East Africa Region (Kenya Uganda, Tanzanai)

I support municipal partnerships focusing on youth and children within the East Africa region (Uganda, Tanzania Kenya) within the network for Sustainable Futures. The network was formed to fill the need for a horizontal knowledge exchange and facilitate the dissemination and use of ICLD tools and mentorship. The participating municipalities work on issues of youth inclusion, child rights, youth in environment advocacy and education as preparation for an active civic life. They share the commitment to enable youth to take an active part in forming their future, for social, environmental and economic sustainability. https://icld.se/en/what-we-do/network/

East Africa Region (Kenya Uganda, Tanzanai Rwanda)

As an alumni regional coordinator, I play a crucial role in maintaining alumni connections and engagement within the East Africa countries of Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. I support ICLD to create long term relations with its alumni within the region, who have participated in ICLDs programmes such as International Training Programme (ITP) and Municipal PartnershipTogether with ICLD and Alumni, I coordinate co-creation of activities that connect alumni through continuing education (virtual and physical), dissemination workshops, online exclusive digital courses , professional networking activities, connect researchers with practitioners through organising Local democracy Labs – to discuss relevant policy dilemmas with academic experts, as well as organising Alumni Talks that facilitate continuous structured learning, knowledge-sharing and exchange of practical experience, among teams and individuals in ICLD’s programmes. The Alumni talks provide constructive dialogue and exchange of experiences among former participants – the ICLD Alumni. Through these continuous empowerment programmes, ICLD Alumni continue to have positive impacts in the lives of others, through sustainable local democratic change. From mayors, to inspirational councillors and managers, to NGO representatives and beyond, ICLD alumni foster democratic development in their local government, country or region.

East Africa Region (Kenya Uganda, Tanzanai Rwanda)

Green Flag Association (GFA) https://gfa.or.ke/ is registered as a nonprofit organization in Kenya and its committed to contributing meaningfully to sustainable development, environmental sustainability and improved urban Governance in Eat Africa region (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda) and beyond. GFA aims also to contribute to the improvement of skills and awareness through vibrant advocacy campaigns, education, sensitization, training and capacity Building in different sectors and to engage in problem solving, and make informed and responsible decisions to improve socio economic and environmental sustainabilityAt GFA, I lead energetic experienced team that is passionate in developing strategies and providing solutions and actions to sustainable development and I provide leadership for coordinating and developing and implementation of organisational strategic directionI lead diverse programme in Sustainable development, Urban governance and Environment and climate change where we believe that creating inclusive and resilient green urban communities requires responsible investments and consumption, that leads to sustainable resource use and reduced vulnerability to climate change as well as creating cleaner, safer neighborhoods. GFA is open to collaboration with individuals and organization in Sustainable Development, urban Governance, Environment and climate change for the fulfillment of the diverse SDGS related goals including supporting localization of SDGs and making our urban areas that are SDG compliant

Nairobi, Kenya

At the IGS, I managed all development projects covering different sectors such as environment, urban development, local economic development and organizing training, capacity building programmes, dissemination workshops targeting urban practitioners, civil society organisations and elected leaders in the East Africa region of Kenya Uganda Tanzania and Rwanda. I was also in charge of organising city to city learning within East Africa cities, documenting best practices and organising dissemination forums. Further I was involved in planning international workshops and conferences in Eastern African countries of nd monitoring the different stages of implemented programmes

East Africa Region Kenya Uganda Tanzania

As the programmes administrator at PCRD, I coordinating projects undertaken by the organization and ensured high-quality outputs, further organizing and carrying out exploratory training, research and consultancy needs assessments for community projects, Local Authorities within the East Africa region, with a view to offering them the appropriate desired interventions. I also represented the organisation as a member of the national steering committee of MILGAP East Africa programme (Mashariki Innovations in Local Governance programme), an awards programme recognizing innovations in local governance in East Africa region, funded by Ford foundation, and implemented through UN HABITAT in organizing and executing awareness and dissemination workshops, capacity building and city to city learning in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, targeting Local authorities, civil societies and other organizations, as well as managing the cross sector partnership project among other responsibilities