Ngasuma Kanyeka

Ngasuma works at the intersection of tech-for-good, communication and policy. She is interested in advancing the understanding of misinformation especially with the growing use of AI and the ethical implications and opportunities in future pandemic preparedness and the growing challenge with synthetic material.  She is also interested in fintech and how it can be used to alleviate and increase access to economic empowerment for people living on the fringes of financial inclusion thus enabling economic wellbeing that leads to better health outcomes. She is the co-founder of Taji Finance, a microlending platform focused on rural youth and women in agribusiness in the African continent.

Prior to joining the DrPH Program, Ngasuma worked for UNICEF’s Global Innovation team, where she led a 40-country communication division of Giga- a UNICEF and ITU initiative to connect all schools in the world to the internet. Giga uses machine learning, AI and satellite to map then connect schools to the internet.

Between 2017-22, she managed a $20 million USAID funded project in Tanzania known as Feed the Future Tanzania Advancing (AY) Youth as Chief of Party. AY created over 6,000 jobs, 5500 new businesses and reached 42,000 rural young people with leadership, entrepreneurship, and health opportunities. AY also facilitated saving and lending groups worth $1.2 million.

Ngasuma also ran her own strategic communication consulting firm, Capacitate, for eight years where she consulted for the UN, the African Union, the Open Society Foundation, and myriad other international institutions. Ngasuma has worked in over 20 African countries, as well as in Norway with the UN Association and with UNFPA HQ as a fellow. She also worked as a journalist for radio and TV and wrote for the Citizen newspaper in Tanzania. Ngasuma has made appearances as a commentator on BBC, Bloomberg, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera and Voice of America.

Ngasuma has a BSc in Computing from London Metropolitan University, an MPhil in International Health Promotion from the University of Bergen, Norway, an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School and an MBA from Cambridge University, United Kingdom.