Sobel Aziz NNgom

Chief Executive Officer

Sobel Aziz Ngom is a dedicated social entrepreneur and a strong advocate for youth leadership and the transformative power of education. For more than 15 years, he has worked to expand opportunities for young people to learn, lead, and shape the future of their communities. Using his time, talent, and network, Sobel brings together leaders and organizations to advance youth empowerment, inclusion, education, and emancipation.

He began his career with Ashoka Changemakers, supporting over 2,000 young African social entrepreneurs. In 2014, he founded Social Change Factory, a civic leadership center in Senegal that grew to reach millions across seven African countries. He later co-created the Youth Consortium of Senegal, an alliance of 18 organizations amplifying youth voices in national programs and policies, directly impacting over 200,000 young people.

Sobel has advised national and global leaders, mobilized significant resources for youth-led initiatives, and represented African youth at major international forums. His impact has earned recognition from world figures including Barack Obama, Ursula von der Leyen, Bill Gates, and, most recently, Élisabeth Borne, the French Prime Minister.

At 34, Sobel holds degrees in Communication Science from SupdeCo Business School in Dakar and Civic Leadership from Wagner College in New York. As Tostan’s CEO, he brings a steadfast belief that lasting change takes root when people have the knowledge, and collective power to shape their own future.

Kadji Diop

Chief Finance and Operations Officer

Kadji Diop is Tostan’s Chief Finance and Operations Officer. Kadji has over twenty years of experience working in organizational development, finance and accounting in the U.S. and Africa. She comes with a proven track record in driving positive change in financial processes and systems across organizations to maximize revenue generation and profitability. She also comes with demonstrated expertise in strengthening internal controls to improve forecasting, investments, financial reporting, cost accounting, and overall performance of operations. She provides direction and leadership to direct daily responsibilities, and ensures all established policies and procedures are followed. She has a proven ability to function effectively with multiple host-country counterparts in the public and NGO sectors, and in Foundations.

Before joining Tostan, she was the Chief Operating Officer at SAGCOT (Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania) Centre Ltd. from 2016 to 2019. She also headed the Finance & Accounting Departments at TrustAfrica, a Pan-African Foundation incorporated in the U.S. and headquartered in Senegal. Between 2011 and 2013, she played a major role in the establishment of Amref-West Africa in Senegal while she managed the administration and the finances.

Carina Ndiaye

Chief Partnerships Officer

Carina Ndiaye is Chief Partnerships Officer for Tostan. She joined Tostan in 2022 from Speak Up Africa, where she was Director of Strategic Operations.

She is an organizational development and project management expert with fifteen years of proven track record in donor regulation, contracts, compliance and risk management, and procedure development/implementation for development programs worldwide. Carina has dedicated the last fifteen years of her life to her passion for understanding community challenges while implementing sustainable solutions and building/scaling, quality, collaborative relationships.

Carina spent ten years managing and improving program management issues and systems at Family Health International, including a recent four-year assignment as the head of an education project operations department in Equatorial Guinea and as a Strategic and Legal Advisor to SMEs in Dakar, Senegal. At Speak Up Africa, Carina directed the programs team working on African public health issues such as malaria, immunization, neglected tropical diseases, sanitation and global health research and development and supervised the accompanying strategic communications team to create an efficient matrix of efficient coordination, motivating systematic gains and relevant innovation.

Carina earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Women Studies from Mount Holyoke University and her Juris Doctor from Howard University in the United States.

Yussuf Sané

Program Leadership Team Coordinator

Yussuf Sané is Tostan’s Programs Coordinator, with a strong background in human rights education and sustainable community-led development. He is a WISE Emerging Leaders Fellow and a FAF Friendship Ambassador. Yussuf holds a Master’s degree in International Studies from the University of Sheffield and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Security Studies from the University of Bradford, Department of Peace Studies.

In his current role, Yussuf helps align Tostan’s program with the strategy and fosters collaboration to strengthen impact across the countries where Tostan works. He previously served as National Coordinator in Guinea-Bissau, leading community empowerment partnerships with more than 200 communities, building strategic partnerships with government and civil society, and promoting learning exchanges with NGOs.

Yussuf also contributed to the Tostan Training Center in Senegal from 2016 to 2018, supporting training with youth and religious leaders, NGOs, and development partners. Prior to joining Tostan, he worked with the West Africa Civil Society Institute in Ghana, advancing knowledge-sharing and capacity development for civil society organizations across Africa.

Penda Mbaye

Program Leadership Team member

Penda Mbaye is a member of Tostan’s Program Leadership Team and leads the Pedagogy, Design, and Training Unit at Tostan. With more than 30 years of experience at Tostan, she has advanced from her early role as a facilitator to her current position as Senior Program Manager, responsible for developing curricula for staff and partner training on Tostan’s community-led approach.

She began her journey as a facilitator for the Community Empowerment Program in Keur Mbaye Guèye, in the Thiès region of Senegal. A specialist in human rights education and local-language literacy, Penda ensures that Tostan’s learning materials remain culturally relevant and grounded in community realities.

Penda also represents Tostan on international platforms. She has participated in the Carter Center Human Rights Defenders Forum as a Senegalese expert in human rights education and social change.

In her current role, she leads the ongoing renewal of Tostan’s curriculum and coordinates training for partners, ensuring the continued relevance and ownership of Tostan’s approach in diverse contexts.

Mory Camara

Program Leadership Team member

Mory Camara is a Senior Program Officer and member of Tostan’s Program Leadership Team. With extensive experience across several of Tostan’s countries of operation, he has held key leadership roles that have contributed to advancing human rights education, peacebuilding, and community-led development in West and East Africa.

Mory joined Tostan in 2003 as Regional Coordinator and Program Officer in Guinea (2003–2008). He later served as National Coordinator in Djibouti (2009–2011), Regional Coordinator of Tostan’s Peace and Security Initiative, and Senior Program Officer at Tostan International (2011–2017). Since September 2021, he has served as Senior Liaison Officer for Tostan’s Country Programs, supporting cross-country collaboration and strategic alignment.

Before joining Tostan, Mory worked with International Alert as a Research Officer and with Save the Children as Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa, focusing on programs supporting children affected by armed conflict. In this role, he collaborated with defense and security forces, regional organizations such as ECOWAS, and centers of excellence to strengthen child protection mechanisms in conflict situations.

Mory holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights, Citizenship, and Humanitarian Action and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Law.

Rose Diop

National Coordinator in Senegal & Program Leadership Team member

Rose Diop is the National Coordinator of Tostan Senegal and a member of the Program Leadership Team. For more than twenty years, she has supported communities in advancing human rights education, inclusive development, and women’s leadership, becoming a recognized figure in community-led development across Senegal and West Africa.

After studying in the Department of English at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Rose joined Tostan, where she received training in the Community Empowerment Program (CEP)—a human rights–based education model that empowers communities to define and achieve their own vision for wellbeing.

Throughout her career with Tostan, Rose has held several key positions, including Community Facilitator, Project Supervisor, National Coordinator for Social Mobilization, Assistant to the National Coordinator, and Regional Coordinator in Kaolack.

Since 2016, she has led Tostan Senegal, guiding national strategy, strengthening partnerships, and mentoring a new generation of women leaders. In 2018, she completed additional training in management and organizational leadership at the Institut Supérieur de Management in Mbour.

Today, Rose continues to champion shared leadership, collective vision, and community-driven change, reflecting Tostan’s commitment to dignity for all.

Rose Diop

National Coordinator in Senegal & Program Leadership Team member

Rose Diop is the National Coordinator of Tostan Senegal and a member of the Program Leadership Team. For more than twenty years, she has supported communities in advancing human rights education, inclusive development, and women’s leadership, becoming a recognized figure in community-led development across Senegal and West Africa.

After studying in the Department of English at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Rose joined Tostan, where she received training in the Community Empowerment Program (CEP)—a human rights–based education model that empowers communities to define and achieve their own vision for wellbeing.

Throughout her career with Tostan, Rose has held several key positions, including Community Facilitator, Project Supervisor, National Coordinator for Social Mobilization, Assistant to the National Coordinator, and Regional Coordinator in Kaolack.

Since 2016, she has led Tostan Senegal, guiding national strategy, strengthening partnerships, and mentoring a new generation of women leaders. In 2018, she completed additional training in management and organizational leadership at the Institut Supérieur de Management in Mbour.

Today, Rose continues to champion shared leadership, collective vision, and community-driven change, reflecting Tostan’s commitment to dignity for all.

Joelma Pereira

National Coordinator in Guinea-Bissau

Joelma Insoande Vaz Pereira is the National Coordinator of Tostan Guinea-Bissau, leading the organization’s efforts to strengthen community-led development, women’s leadership, and human rights education across the country.

Joelma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociolinguistics from the University of West London and a Master’s degree in Leadership and Management from York St John University in the United Kingdom. She brings over a decade of progressive experience in communications, program management, advocacy, resource mobilization, and partnership development in both development and humanitarian contexts.

Before joining Tostan Guinea-Bissau, Joelma worked with several international organizations and UN agencies, including Handicap International, Plan International, World Vision International, UNDP (Resident Coordination Office, Guinea-Bissau), and the World Health Organization.

Her career includes leadership roles such as Gender and Communications Specialist, Regional Communications Officer, Communications Manager, and Program Officer, contributing to emergency and development responses across West, Central, and Southern Africa—including in Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, the Central African Republic, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Outside of work, Joelma enjoys exercising, reading, meditation, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is married, a mother of three, and a proud grandmother.

Edrisa Keita

National Coordinator of Tostan The Gambia

Edrisa Keita is the National Coordinator of Tostan The Gambia, a position he has held since 2016. With more than two decades of experience in community development, project management, and human rights education, he plays a key role in advancing Tostan’s vision of community-led change and collective wellbeing across The Gambia.

Born in Sukuta, The Gambia, in 1976, Edrisa first joined Tostan in 2006 as Assistant to the National Coordinator, contributing to the implementation of the Community Empowerment Program (CEP) and national partnerships for social transformation.

He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Population and Development from the University of The Gambia and has completed specialized training in Entrepreneurship and Income-Generating Activities at NIESBUD in India, as well as a Professional Certificate in Project Planning, Management, and Evaluation from the Pan-African Institute for Development (West Africa) in Cameroon. He also earned a Diploma in Business Management and Administration from the Institute of Commercial Management in London.

Before joining Tostan, Edrisa worked as a teacher, Accounts Clerk at the Ministry of Finance, and Regional Program Officer at the National Women’s Bureau. He has served on several national committees, including the Gender Action and Technical Advisory Committee in the Upper River Region, and has chaired the Gambia Red Cross Society.

Edrisa actively represents Tostan The Gambia in national and international forums, contributing to multi-stakeholder efforts such as the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) working group and other government and civil society partnerships promoting inclusive development.