Melizsa Mugenyi

Melizsa Mugyenyi serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Graça Machel Trust, steering the organization’s Pan African programming towards broader social and economic transformation. Hailing from Uganda and residing in Kenya, Melizsa is deeply committed to enhancing development outcomes for marginalized groups in Africa. With a career spanning philanthropic, intergovernmental, and implementing organizations, she brings strategic and executive-level experience, notably as the Country Representative – East Africa at IREX and Head of Partnerships – East Africa at the Aga Khan Foundation. Melizsa is an engaged board member for several impactful African organizations, including Lwala Community Alliance, the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance, and the African Visionary Fund. She holds a BA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Sheffield and an MA in Law, Globalization, and Development from the University of London (SOAS).