Malesi Shivaji is a highly experienced Kenyan civil society practitioner and advocate, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network (KEWASNET). His leadership has been central to KEWASNET's mission of promoting good governance, policy advocacy, and capacity building to achieve sustainable, universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Kenya, directly supporting the human rights to water and sanitation.
{###Malesi Shivaji###Mr.###Kenyan###Male###KEWASNET###CEO}
Short Bio
Malesi Shivaji is a highly experienced Kenyan civil society practitioner and advocate, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network (KEWASNET). His leadership has been central to KEWASNET's mission of promoting good governance, policy advocacy, and capacity building to achieve sustainable, universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Kenya, directly supporting the human rights to water and sanitation.
Mr. Shivaji is a recognized leader on international platforms, including Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) and End Water Poverty (EWP), alongside continental governance roles on the Governing Councils of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and the African Network for Water and Sanitation (ANEW), ensuring that grassroots African civil society voices influence global policy.
He brings with him a wealth of expertise in Corporate Governance, International water law, public policy analysis and advocacy, supported by a deep understanding and applied experience of practical implementation at various capacities. His analysis of the Kenyan water sector often highlights the challenge of achieving universal access amid institutional bottlenecks, which he addresses by strengthening civil society's role in social accountability and integrity management.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
My core motivation is to ensure the successful transition to SuSanA 2.0 by providing robust governance and strategic financial oversight. I am committed to leveraging my decade of experience and proven leadership to align the GSC's global mandate with Sub-Saharan Africa's urgent needs.
I will champion resource mobilisation and ensure regional technical findings and policy frameworks, particularly the ASPG, directly inform global strategy, maximizing SuSanA’s impact on sustainable and equitable sanitation delivery in Africa.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the SuSanA community?
I am eager to contribute strategically to the global governance and future direction of SuSanA. My candidacy is rooted in the possibility of contributing to the transition to SuSanA 2.0, ensuring robust governance, prudent financial oversight, and long-term resourcing strategies. My suitability is underpinned by my experience in the water and sanitation sector, which spans technical implementation, policy advocacy, and governance oversight across multiple scales.
I am confident that my unique blend of a decade of sectoral experience, policy formulation involvement, and proven track record in both global and continental governance roles makes me an ideal candidate to advance SuSanA's goals, and help the Sub-Saharan region achieve a resilient, safe, and truly sustainable sanitation future.
