About Us

Tendai Murisa is a development practitioner and researcher in the areas of pro-poor development across Africa.  He was educated at the University of Zimbabwe, Leeds University (MA Development Studies), and at Rhodes University (DPhil Sociology). He completed short courses on Results Based Management, Social Entrepreneurship, Finance for Non-Finance Managers, and Leadership. Tendai has over 15 years’ experience working across Africa initially as a Research Fellow at the African Institute for Agrarian Studies (now rebranded as the Sam Moyo Africa Institute for Agrarian Studies-SMAIAS). In 2009, he joined TrustAfrica as a Program Officer responsible for the Pan-African Agriculture Advocacy project and also took on more portfolios over time including the work against Illicit Financial Flows out of the continent. I rose through the ranks to become Program Director and eventually Executive Director of TrustAfrica. He left TrustAfrica in April 2017 and I have since established SIVIO Institute (www.sivioinstitute.org) and SIVIO Advisory (based in Gaborone, Botswana). He has published extensively on Agency, Agrarian Reforms (especially in Zimbabwe and also in Africa), Citizens and Civil Society, Financial Inclusion, Social Entrepreneurship, and Social Policy. Tendai is an avid blogger, and you can read some of my recent blogs at www.beyondthecrises.org and also at www.tendaimurisa.org.

Eddah Jowah is a project management professional and researcher, with over ten years of working experience in the development sector with regional and international organisations. She enjoys working in dynamic and fast-paced environments and engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to development challenges. She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology Degree (Rhodes). Before joining SIVIO Institute in 2019, she worked for The Palladium Group as the Awards Coordinator for the Australia Awards – Africa program. Her current areas of interest are civic engagement, policy analysis advocacy, and philanthropy. She previously held the role of coordinator for the Centre for Philanthropy and Communities but now heads the Centre for Civic Engagement alongside her role as overall Program Manager for SIVIO Institute.

Patience joined SIVIO Institute in October 2019, working as a Finance and Administration Officer for the SIVIO Institute. Her role in the organization entails overseeing financial and administrative systems, procedures and operations, external audits, and providing strategic advice to the organization. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Johannesburg, is an ACCA member and currently pursuing studies in Project Management. She has over 10 years of experience in the accounting sector and her expertise lie in project management, financial reporting, audit, and data analysis.

Belinda is the Coordinator for the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Inclusion as well as the Team leader for Communications and Visibility. She holds a Master of Science Degree from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Environmental Science. Her skills in project management and communications have allowed her to intersect the non-profits space as holding communications portfolios in radio and television communications. Her areas of interest include livelihoods; inclusion for development; MSMEs; industrial development frameworks, investment, fundraising for SMSEs and non-profits, and philanthropy through individual and corporate giving.

Shelly Satuku is the current team leader of the prudent work we do Philanthropy and Communities. She is a researcher and project management professional and is currently pursuing a Master of Management in African Philanthropy with the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Her work has exposed her to the challenges and opportunities faced by marginalised rural communities in Zimbabwe. Of great relevance is her current role of team leader for ‘Africa Giving’ a SIVIO Institute technology platform dedicated to raise resources for struggling non-profits across the continent of Africa. She previously worked in wildlife conservation, conducting projects in wildlife hotspots of Zimbabwe’s south-east lowveld under the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority where she was involved in community engagement and environmental protection programs. Her interests include corporate social responsibility, community development, community philanthropy and individual giving.

Nontsikelelo joined SIVIO in 2023. She is responsible for the coordination of all training and research carried out by the institution. Under her portfolio she is directly responsible for the publication of the African Journal of Inclusive Societies, the SIVIO online training school and co-ordination of all research field work. She is a qualified social development practitioner with a Master’s in Social Development and Honours in Public Administration. 

Rebekah started at SIVIO Institute in September 2021, working as an intern in the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion (as it was known at the time) assisting with the development of the SIVIO Institute Financial Inclusion Index (SI-FIndex). Over the last 2 years, Rebekah has managed various portfolios including Research and Knowledge generation and the development of tech-assisted efficiencies within the team. She currently coordinates the Integrated Technology Platforms portfolio. She loves to assist the team in leveraging technology and experimenting with different tools and platforms to improve the dissemination of SIVIO’s knowledge products. Since SIVIO’s inception in 2018, the team has developed over 20 different platforms (around 17 are currently active) that include real-time trackers such as African Citizens Watch, assessment indexes like the Ease of Doing Philanthropy Index, and repositories of information such as the Entrepreneurship Lab.

Emilia joined SIVIO institute in 2021 as Finance and Administration Assistance. Her support has led to the everyday running and maintenance of the organisation in both Finance and Administration. Emilia holds a Bachelor of Science Honor’s Degree in  Accountancy from Chinhoyi University of Technology. Her expertise lies in Finance processes, and Administration.  She possess knowledge on Governance and Regulations and has experience in assisting Executive Directors.

Kuzivakwashe has been with SIVIO institute since 2020. Her role as Finance and Admin Clerk has led here to support the Finance and Admin Coordinator in the development of and maintenance of financial systems and process.  Kuzivakwashe holds a Bachelor of Science Honor’s Degree in Accountancy from Chinhoyi University of Technology and currently a member of a professional body ACCA. Her expertise lies in audit and finance processes.  She possesses knowledge on donor rules and regulations and has experience in preparation of donor reports.

Sharon Murisa is a Policy Analysis and Advocacy Research Associate. She joined SIVIO Institute in June 2019 although she had worked as a volunteer since 2018. She holds a BSc from Chinhoyi University of Technology. Through exposure to her work at SIVIO, Sharon’s research interests have broadened to philanthropy, policy analysis, land reform, agrarian studies, development of training materials for political economy actors, social justice activists and local authorities in Zimbabwe and the continent. Sharon considers herself to be a ‘tree hugger’ and values highly the work being carried out in the development community to promote climate change mitigation and bring adaptation to poor communities most affected by climate change.

A development, gender, and psychosocial support (PSS) practitioner by training. Matron is enthusiastic about research into topics such as gender, and policy advocacy. She enjoys working with different dynamics of young people and holds a BSC in Sociology and Gender Development. Before joining SIVIO, she has worked with REPSSI Zimbabwe.

Claire Nyamayaro serves as a Communications Associate and has been in this position since 2022. Her responsibilities encompass devising and implementing communication strategies, managing social media platforms, and developing a range of publications and multimedia content. Claire demonstrates a fervent dedication to causes such as social justice, civic participation, and the promotion of evidence-based policy formulation. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies and International Relations from The University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.