The Ambassador Program was created to provide individuals working in or with the social service workforce opportunities to develop leadership skills, inform strategy and influence policy at the local, national and regional level in support of social service workforce strengthening efforts. Ambassadors reflected a range of geographic regions as well as stakeholder groups to play a leading role in growing awareness and interest in the work of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance to plan, develop and support the social service workforce.
We are thankful to UBS Optimus Foundation, GHR Foundation, USAID and Rockefeller Foundation for supporting this program from 2016 - 2020.
2018 - 2020 Ambassadors
Ambassadors served two-year term from September 2018 - 2020. The program began an in-person orientation in Uganda to review advocacy and outreach, increasing stakeholder support and develop plans of action toward strengthening the social service workforce regionally and globally.
Dr. Erick Ater Onyango, Social Protection Specialist and Lecturer, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Ms. Nune Balyan, Executive Director, Child Protection Network, Armenia
Dr. Sanjai Bhatt, President, National Association of Professional Social Workers in India (NAPSWI), and Professor, Dept. of Social Work, University of Delhi, India
Ms. Camille Evans, Consultant, UNICEF and UN Women
Dr. Rosemarie Hunter, Dean, School of Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University, USA
Ms. Lilly Elizabeth Gossman Montenegro, Catedrático universitario en Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala
Mr. Neckvilleus Kamwesigye, Sector Head, Case Management, World Education Inc./Bantwana, Uganda
Dr. Malineo Matsela, Academic Programmes Manager, Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI), Lesotho and East/Central Africa
Dr. Nkatha Murungi, Deputy Director, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Mr. Braima Sellu, Child Protection Advocacy and Gender Advisor, World Vision International, Sierra Leone
2016 - 2018 Alliance Ambassadors
The first cohort has completed their two-year term as an Ambassador, but remain committed to leading social service workforce strengthening efforts nationally, regionally and globally, and will support the new group of Ambassadors in their activities. Read about their successes.
Mr. Michael Byamukama, Uganda Country Representative, Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative, Uganda/East and Southern Africa region; and President, National Association of Social Workers Uganda
Ms. Jane Calder, Regional Advisor for Child Protection in Asia, Save the Children, Thailand/Asia region
Ms. Jennifer Kaberi, Founder, Mtoto News, Kenya
Dr. Suresh Pathare, Professor and Director, Centre for Studies in Rural Development, Institute of Social Work and Research, India
Ms. Betsy Sherwood, ChildFund International
Mr. Tata Sudrajat, Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Save the Children International, Indonesia/Southeast Asia region
Ms. Agnes Wasike, TPO Uganda Officer working as Coordinator of National Child Protection Working Group under Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda
