Grace Kumwenda
Blantyre
Summary
Experienced public health practitioner with a proven track record of leading and implementing impactful health and social programs. Skilled in HIV and SRHR programming, research advocacy, biomedical HIV prevention advocacy, and social and behavior change interventions. Holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Witwatersrand (2007) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Malawi (2005). Currently pursuing a Master of Science in International Public Health with the University of Liverpool Mores University. Currently serving as a Regional Program Manager (Africa) for research engagement at AVAC. Previously served as Chief-of-Party for the implementation of the PEPFAR-funded Local Endeavors for HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment Intervention under Pakachere Institute for Health and Development Communication. Recognized as an AVAC biomedical prevention advocate (2017), International AIDS Society HIV Cure Academy Fellow (2019), Perennial Leadership Fellow (2021), and Global Change Leadership Fellow (2015). Actively involved in various committees such as the Conference for Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) Community Liaison Subcommittee, PrEP Steering Committee at The Forum, and African Women HIV Prevention Community Accountability Board. Also serves on the boards of Elevate Her-Malawi, GEM, and Water Witness International (Malawi). Passionate about promoting women's leadership and health.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Program Manager: Research Engagement (Africa)
AVAC
08.2023 - Current
- Leads Clinical Trial Design Academy II for African based advocates from 9 countries engaging in complex and evolving clinical trial designs for HIV prevention in the context of efficacious HIV Prevention products such as PrEP
- Lead the design, development, launch and implementation of The People's Research Agenda Project- Community Priorities for HIV Prevention Research and Development
- Provides strategic support to the Young Women's HIV Prevention Council- an advocacy mechanism that brings together 15 AGYW across Africa influencing how young people should be engaging in HIV prevention research and implementation. The council brings together USAID mechanisms including MOSAIC Next-Gen Squad, AFHNI Youth Cohort and Project Engage.
- Provides technical support to the CASPR partnership across Africa (12 Organizations across 7 Countries)
- Provide strategic support and leadership to the Dual Prevention Pill Civil Society Advisory Group that leads global advocacy on the DPP
- Support annual planning, execution, budget tracking for all activities that I lead
- Support monitoring, knowledge management activities and reporting for all projects I lead
- Coordinate research literacy training sessions for partners and team members around the HIV Prevention Research and Development.
- Foster strong relationships with stakeholders such as the Forum, research sites and others ensuring alignment on project goals and expectations.
Chief of Party- Local Endeavors for HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment
Pakachere IHDC
09.2019 - 07.2023
- Provided overall leadership and oversight in strategic direction and implementation for this 5 year key population project that aimed to reduce new HIV transmission among sex workers in Malawi
- Led a team of 73 members of staff to deliver comprehensive HIV and SRH services through 12 Drop in Centers (clinics), outreach clinics and referral facilities
- Provided strategic direction, stakeholder coordination, management, quality control, and technical direction to achieve program results
- Contract and award management including compliance to USAID standard provisions
- Engaging with key actors including Ministry of Health, National AIDS Commission, KP-led organization to promote policies that enable key population friendly services
- Engaged in national level policy platforms including PrEP task force, KP technical working group and HIV prevention technical working group
- Ensured effective finance management, budget tracking and monitoring and compliance to audits
- Ensured efficiencies in Human Resources for Health within the program
- Provided leadership in digital innovations and actively engage in the role out of new HIV prevention technologies
- Oversaw monitoring, evaluation, research, learning, and communications efforts to ensure implementation is on schedule and aligned with the priorities and achieving results
- Led integrated work plan development process based on jointly determined priorities and proposed adjustments in implementation as needed
- Engaged in PEPFAR COP processes and ensured that KP/AGYW were adequately supported to engage
- Ensured timeliness and quality of all program deliverables, and efficient project management
- Continuously met all PEPFAR target on key indicators for the past three years of implementation
- Supported the development of Digital Health innovation called Digital Referral System
- Provided leadership in ensuring clean audits for the project for four years
- Selected by National AIDS Commission as a Key Population Champion in South to South Learning Network
Head of Programs
Pakachere IHDC
01.2012 - 07.2023
- Built partnerships with external organizations such as FHI 360, OSISA, AIDSFONDS, USAID, World Vision, National AIDS Commission that expanded Pakachere program and outreach efforts.
- Deputized the Executive Director and acted in his capacity in his absence
- Presented to the Strategy Sub-Committee of the board
- Represented the organizations in high-level meetings with partners and donors
- Liaison person for all technical and program related issues internally and externally
- Designed evaluation data system (Pakachere Information Management System) and tools that measured the success of various programming aspects against organizational objectives and targets.
- Led staff training sessions on best practices in program delivery, increasing overall effectiveness and morale across the organization.
- Launched innovative initiatives that addressed identified gaps in services such as the Digital Referral System (DRS) during COVID, Launch of Oral PrEP services for the first time in Malawi and Launch of the CSO Accountability Shadow Reports for HIV Prevention (2019-2023) expanding the organization''s offerings to better meet community needs.
- Oversaw volunteer recruitment efforts (Peer Educators, Peer Navigators, Peer Mobilisers), providing valuable support to staff while offering meaningful opportunities for community members to contribute their expertise. Across the years I have worked with over 500 volunteers across programs.
- Developed strategic plans for organizational growth, resulting in increased program reach and impact.
- Optimized resource allocation by analyzing financial data, ensuring efficient use of funds across all programs under my supervision.
- Managed a team of project managers, fostering professional development and consistently meeting departmental goals.
- Evaluated program performance using data-driven approaches to inform decision making and future planning.
- Secured funding for programs through successful grant writing and relationship building with donors, leading to greater financial stability. Including an $8Million USAID grant
- Championed the integration of technology into program delivery, improving access to resources and increasing participant engagement.
- Ensured compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards, maintaining a strong reputation among peers and partners.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging team members to share feedback and ideas for enhancing program quality.
- Enhanced communication within the organization by establishing regular meetings with key stakeholders and creating comprehensive progress reports.
- Established systems for tracking staff progress over time, enabling us to monitor individual achievements as well as overall trends.
- Created an inclusive work environment that encouraged diverse perspectives, ultimately leading to more effective problem-solving within the team.
- Increased collaboration between departments by initiating cross-functional teams and joint projects through monthly staff meeting which I chaired and an annual best practice forum for the organization.
- Facilitated programming by coordinating resources and deliverables between departments.
- Led the development, design and launch of the Pakachere website and social media platforms; ensuring content was up to date across years.
LINKAGES Program Manager
Pakachere IHDC
01.2015 - 12.2019
- Senior management position responsible for overall management, implementation and monitoring of USAID funded project
- Led a team of 45 people, clinical and non-clinical to deliver a set of interventions that aimed at reducing HIV infections among sex workers and improve the quality of life for those living with HIV
- Led the setting up of first sex worker specific HIV/SRH clinics in collaboration with Ministry of Health & FHI 360
- Co-investigator in the first PrEP implementation science project in Malawi that started 520 sex workers on Oral PrEP in 3 clinics
- Contributed the the development of Oral PrEP policy guidelines in Malawi through the PrEP Task-force (2019)
- Successfully supported the transition from a sub-award contract to USAID Prime recipient through another Project-LEAP
Bio-Medical Prevention Advocate Fellow
AVAC
01.2017 - 12.2017
- 2017 AVAC Biomedical HIV Prevention Advocacy Fellow
- Trained >100 Adolescent Girls and Young Women on Oral PrEP and >20 Health Care Workers
- Influenced the integration of oral PrEP as an HIV Prevention method in Ministry of Health policy guidelines
- Led the PrEP sub-team on language development on PrEP policy guidelines
- Engaged in first cohort of AVAC's Clinical Trial Design Academy which supported IMPOWER 24 protocol review
- Developed information materials on Oral PrEP in English and Chichewa
Programme Manager- Social and Behavior Change Communication
Pakachere Institute for Health and Development Communication
01.2009 - 12.2015
- Technical lead in an HIV prevention program among key populations (sex workers) that was being implemented in 8 districts in MALAWI with support from, Global Fund, OSISA, SIDA, UNFPA and AIDSFONDS
- Facilitating the establishment of community based structures/networks of key populations that acted as an entry point for peer education among the target population
- Co-facilitating the process of forming national and district level networks, advocacy bodies that promote health seeking behaviors among key population, child protection and women’s rights
- Facilitated the capacity building of groups, advocacy bodies for key populations through leadership trainings, peer education training
- Managed work plans for community led groups
- Coordinated HIV testing and counseling activities among key population groups
- Documented policies around HIV prevention and laws around key populations in an easy to use format
- Reporting to all donors
Research Support Manager
Wits School of Human and Community Development
05.2007 - 12.2007
- My work with school of human and community development was based on a one year HIV Research project that looked into the vulnerability to HIV/AIDS of foreigners living in inner city Johannesburg, South Africa
- Reporting to the chief Investigator my work involved data management, data quality control and supervising field teams
Education
Masters in Science - International Public Health
University of Liverpool John Moores
04-2025
Masters of Arts - Credit
University of the Witwatersrand
11.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Hummanities with credit
University of Malawi, Chancellor College
Malawi02.2005
Skills
- Leadership & Management
- Research and Policy Advocacy
- PowerPoint Presentation, Facilitation, Convening & Moderating
- Contract negotiation and management
- Budget development & tracking
- Mentoring & Coaching
- Cross-functional coordination
- Written and verbal communication
- Project timeline compliance
- Multitasking Abilities
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Cross-functional team leadership
Skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Advocacy
- Facilitation
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Budget tracking
- Mentoring
- Coaching
Publications
- COVID-19 Research, Africa, and Global Health, Tinkhani Mbichila, Grace Kumwenda, Ntando Yola, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Tamar Tchelidze, Joseph Lau, Stephanie Buchholz, Regine Lehnert, Jean-Michel Molina, Kenneth Mayer, Veronica Mille, 2021, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33558836/
- Assessment of Community-based ART Service Model Linking Female Sex Workers to HIV Care and Treatment in Blantyre and Mangochi, Malawi, Lung Vu, Brady Zieman, Adamson Muula, Vincent Samuel, Lyson Tenthani, David Chilongozi, Simon Sikwese, Grace Kumwenda, Scott Geibel, 2019, https://www.popcouncil.org/uploads/pdfs/2021HIV_ProjectSOAR_MalawiFSW.pdf
- Feasibility and Acceptability Study of Preparing Corn Soy Blend with Fortified Vegetable Oil in Malawi: Formative Research, https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00M6CS.pdf
- Barriers to Uptake and Use of Oral PrEP among FSW in Blantyre, Malawi, Josephine Chinele, Mellia Kamtimaleka, Esther Mgoli, Trezar Mnenula, Grace Kumwenda, Simon Sikwese, Fatsani Gadama, Elizabeth Mpunga, Louis Banda, Melchiade Ruberintwari, Christopher Akolo, David Chilongozi
- An indication of early success of Key population peer led initiatives to reach, test and treat for Female sex workers, Grace Kumwenda, Mellia Kamtimaleka, Enock Changamire, Stanley Kalyati, Edda Nyirenda, Barbara Kapenuka, Simon Sikwese
- Addressing HIV and SRH vulnerabilities among young people affected by disasters: Gains from a behavior change communication Intervention in Chikwawa and Nsanje, Malawi, Shida Mvula, Ken Sululu, Jonathan Mbuna, Grace Kumwenda, Simon Sikwese, Benjamin Kanike
References
- Basimenye Nhlema, Executive Director, Partners in Health, Neno, Malawi, +265 (0) 888 209246, bnhlema@pih.org
- Christopher Akolo, Technical Director, HIV Programs, FHI 360, Washington, DC, USA, cakolo@fhi360.org
- Ulanda Mtamba, Country Director, GEM, Blantyre, Malawi, umtamba@ageafrica.org
Training
- 12/01/21, Leadership Training (Perennial)
- 04/01/19, Towards HIV Cure Research Academy (IAS)
- 01/01/19, PrEP service Delivery and GCP
- 08/01/15, Global Change Leadership Program (St Francis Xavier University)
- 07/01/13, Doing Business with USAID
- 11/01/11, Result Based Project Management (Malawi Institute of Management)
- 08/01/10, Non Accredited MPH Course: Planning and Implementing Health Communication Programs for Social and Behaviour Change (University of Witwatersrand)
- 07/01/10, Leadership in Strategic Communication (Certified Training-John Hopkins)
- 12/01/09, Non Accredited MPH Course: Communication, Media and Society (University of Witwatersrand)
- 08/01/09, SBCC Training-An Introduction (Soul City SA)
Affiliatednetworks
- Africa Free of New HIV Infections (AFHNI)
- AVAC Fellows Network (Malawi/Global)
- Civil Society Forum on HIV and other infections (Malawi)
- Frontline AIDS (Through Pakachere as a partner organization)
- Next Generational Trial Design Academy Member (AVAC)
- The Forum for Collaborative Research (Berkeley)
Timeline
Regional Program Manager: Research Engagement (Africa)
AVAC
08.2023 - Current
Chief of Party- Local Endeavors for HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment
Pakachere IHDC
09.2019 - 07.2023
Bio-Medical Prevention Advocate Fellow
AVAC
01.2017 - 12.2017
LINKAGES Program Manager
Pakachere IHDC
01.2015 - 12.2019
Head of Programs
Pakachere IHDC
01.2012 - 07.2023
Programme Manager- Social and Behavior Change Communication
Pakachere Institute for Health and Development Communication
01.2009 - 12.2015
Research Support Manager
Wits School of Human and Community Development
05.2007 - 12.2007
Masters of Arts - Credit
University of the Witwatersrand
Masters in Science - International Public Health
University of Liverpool John Moores
Bachelor of Arts - Hummanities with credit
University of Malawi, Chancellor College
Similar Profiles
Liem LeLiem Le
Swim Teacher at Avac Swim SchoolSwim Teacher at Avac Swim School
Alya OgutAlya Ogut
Intern at AVAC Otomasyon Sistemleri Limited ŞİrketiIntern at AVAC Otomasyon Sistemleri Limited Şİrketi
Alexander WiklundAlexander Wiklund
Customer Service Supervisor at AVAC Swim SchoolCustomer Service Supervisor at AVAC Swim School