Magdalyne WERE

Magdalyne Were is a Gender and Development Specialist with over eight years of experience leading international development and humanitarian projects across East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean region. She has a proven track record in advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, social protection and inclusive governance within the contexts of climate justice, environmental sustainability and humanitarian response.

Magdalyne has held leadership roles in prominent organizations including Mission Inclusion, Peace Winds Japan, and the Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development. In her most recent role as Regional Gender Coordinator and Blue Economy lead with Mission Inclusion, she led the integration of gender across governance structures and nature-based solutions (NBS) in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and Comoros. She worked extensively on environmental and social due diligence and gender compliance, while building capacity for governments, feminist organizations and local partners to advance climate justice and women’s economic empowerment.

Her experience also includes frontline humanitarian work as Gender and Protection Lead with Peace Winds Japan in refugee camps across Kenya and Uganda. There, she developed and implemented safeguarding frameworks, including grievance mechanisms, referral pathways and organizational PSEA policies, strengthening protection systems and enhancing resilience in high-risk contexts.

Passionate about inclusive development, her career reflects a commitment to advancing gender-responsive, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable solutions that empower marginalized communities while safeguarding ecosystems.