Joseph Sewedo Akoro

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JOSEPH SEWEDO AKORO

With over 12 years of professional experience in the fields of social development and inclusion, I am passionate about advancing human rights, gender equality, and LGBTI rights in Africa and beyond. I hold an M.A. in Global Diplomacy from SOAS University of London and a B.Sc. in Politics and International Relations from Lead City University. Currently, I am the World Bank’s focal point on SOGIESC Inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa where I support Social Specialist in promoting the inclusion of LGBTAQI+ people in Bank’s funded project. I am also a policy advisor for West and Central Africa at UNDP, where I provide technical support in the formulation and implementation of WeBelong Africa, a regional programme that promotes social inclusion and empowerment of LGBTI people. Concurrently, I work as a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant at PRB, where I design and deliver training programmes and policy reviews to enhance the organizational culture and performance of PRB\'s African-based staff and offices. As the founder and principal consultant of JSA Consulting Group, I have led and conducted research, training, and evaluation projects for various clients, including Global Affairs Canada, COC Netherlands, UNICEF, UNFPA, Humentum, and World Bank. Some of my recent achievements include conducting a deep dive evaluation of the Women Voices and Leadership project in Nigeria, facilitating a gender transformation accelerator training for UNICEF and UNFPA in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Mauritania, and ensuring SOGI inclusion in a World Bank funded project in sub-Saharan Africa. I have strong skills in workshop facilitation, cultural diversity, and racial justice, as well as extensive knowledge and experience in HIV/AIDS, youth, sexual and reproductive health rights, philanthropy, and culture. I am bilingual in English and French, and proficient in Spanish. I am a committed program specialist, social entrepreneur, and activist who strives to drive social change and inclusion through evidence-based and participatory approaches.