Our Team
Meet Our Team
Ms. Lidya G. John
Founder & Executive Director
A trailblazing public health professional and development practitioner with over a decade of experience in nutrition, WASH, and maternal and child health programs.
Lidya John is a trailblazing public health professional and development practitioner with over a decade of experience in nutrition, WASH, and maternal and child health programs. Through her work with World Vision, she has improved health outcomes in Tanzania’s Dodoma Region by addressing malnutrition, reducing maternal and child mortality, and enhancing food security while promoting gender equality and capacity building.
She holds a Bachelor’s in Human Nutrition from Sokoine University of Agriculture and a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration and International Development from the University of York, UK. She is a Women’s Leadership Programme Fellow (UONGOZI Institute, 2024), a Leading African Women in Food Fellow (2024), and an Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Alumna (2025).
Her passion led to establishing Eden Urban Green Solutions in Dodoma, providing vegetable and fruit seedlings and climate-smart gardening solutions. She founded Nutri Planet Alliance to expand her impact, empowering women and youth while promoting climate resilience. Lidya believes that empowering youth and women with knowledge and resources fosters a healthier, resilient, and sustainable future.
Outside of work, she enjoys singing, playing netball, and team-building, which reflects her dynamic and inspiring personality.
Ms. Mariam M. Kamury
Co-founder & Director of Finance and Operations
A seasoned finance and operations expert with a strong foundation in development programming and strategic leadership.
Mariam Mohammed Kamury is a seasoned finance and operations expert with a strong foundation in development programming and strategic leadership. She is the Co-founder and Director of Finance and Operations at Nutri Planet Alliance, a Tanzanian NGO committed to advancing nutrition security, sustainable food systems, and environmental resilience. With nearly a decade of experience, Mariam ensures effective financial planning, operational efficiency, and accountability across the organization’s programs.
She holds a degree in Development Finance and Investment Planning from the Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) and is certified in Project Management (PMP) and Monitoring and Evaluation. Previously, Mariam served as Senior Programme Officer at Huruma Aids Concern and Care (HACOCA), where she led large-scale health programs, managed multi-donor budgets, and developed key partnerships in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
At Nutri Planet Alliance, Mariam leads financial sustainability, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. Her work supports community-based interventions that promote nutrition, empower women-led farming cooperatives, and encourage climate-smart agricultural practices.
Mariam is passionate about building systems that connect policy with community action ensuring no one is left behind.
Contacts; m.kamury@nutriplanetalliance.org or +255764673947
Ms. Zinduna J. Samweli
Administration Officer
A dedicated professional with a strong background in education, leadership, and organizational management, now serving as the Executive Secretary of Nutri Planet Alliance.
Zinduna Jumanne Samwel is a dedicated professional with a strong background in education, leadership, and organizational management, now serving as the Executive Secretary of Nutri Planet Alliance, an NGO committed to improving nutrition, food security, and environmental sustainability.
With a Certificate in Pre-School Education from the Global Montessori Institute and extensive experience as the Founder and CEO of Sunrise Pre-School, Zinduna brings strategic vision and operational expertise to her role. Her leadership skills were honed through developing institutional policies, managing budgets, and implementing innovative educational approaches, ensuring sustainable growth and excellence.
Prior to founding her own institution, she served as an Assistant Teacher at Darul Aqram Primary School, where she designed curricula, assessed student progress, and fostered inclusive learning environments. These experiences have equipped her with strong communication, team-building, and problem-solving skills—essential for driving impactful initiatives in nutrition and food security.
At Nutri Planet Alliance, Zinduna plays a pivotal role in coordinating programs, forging partnerships, and advocating for policies that promote sustainable food systems and environmental conservation. Her passion for community development aligns with the NGO’s mission to combat malnutrition and empower vulnerable populations through education and resource mobilization.
A Tanzanian national, Zinduna is committed to fostering collaboration among stakeholders to achieve a hunger-free, resilient future. Her leadership continues to inspire positive change at the intersection of nutrition, agriculture, and environmental stewardship.
Contact:
P.O Box 1249, Kikuyu, Dodoma City, Tanzania
Phone: +255 674970012
Email; z.busali@nutriplanetallliance.org
Ms. Doreen Irungu
Board Member
A social entrepreneur, climate advocate, and the CEO & Executive Chairperson of Ustawi Afrika, an organization dedicated to empowering rural women through regenerative agriculture, water harvesting, and climate-smart solutions.
Doreen Irungu is a social entrepreneur, climate advocate, and the CEO & Executive Chairperson of Ustawi Afrika, an organization dedicated to empowering rural women through regenerative agriculture, water harvesting, and climate-smart solutions. Under her leadership, Ustawi Afrika has impacted over 10,000 rural women across Kenya, increasing food production, improving financial access, and strengthening climate resilience. The organization has facilitated the construction of over 500 household water reservoirs, six community boreholes, and the distribution of 2,300 water tanks, significantly enhancing food security and livelihoods in marginalized communities.
Doreen is also the founder of Ustawi Schools, an initiative that fosters social entrepreneurship and innovation by equipping young learners with the skills and mindset to create sustainable solutions for their communities. The program integrates hands-on training and mentorship to empower the next generation of changemakers.
Recognized for her impactful work, Doreen is a 2024 World Food Prize TAP Pioneer, the African Coordinator of NAWFAT, and a 2023 Stop Hunger Award winner. She was selected as a 2024 TechWomen Emerging Leader, standing out among 6,000+ applicants for her contributions to agri-tech and gender equity. As part of Team Kenya, she helped develop an award-winning impact project, securing a seed grant to implement a tech-driven mentorship initiative for young women.
Doreen has also been part of the 2024 Leading African Women in Food Fellowship, the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program, and has spoken at global forums, including the African Food Systems Forum and the Borlaug Dialogue. As a climate advocate, she has led initiatives such as planting over 1,200 indigenous trees and supporting regenerative agricultural practices to combat environmental degradation.
She is a co-author of We Took a Risk, a book highlighting the bold steps women take in leadership and innovation. Currently, she is exploring climate finance strategies, carbon utilization incentives, and sustainable energy solutions.Doreen’s work is driven by the belief that rural, forgotten women and young learners must be equipped with the tools, knowledge, and financial access to thrive in an evolving climate and entrepreneurial landscape.
Mr. Hamis Kiloya
Board Member
Expert in gender mainstreaming, violence prevention, positive youth development, and the design of training curricula and implementation guidelines.
Hamis Kiloya Mohammed is a seasoned Community Engagement and Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) expert from Tanzania with over 15 years of experience in HIV prevention, care, and treatment programming. He currently serves as the Community Engagement Technical Officer at Huruma AIDS Concern and Care (HACOCA) under the EpiC Project, funded by USAID/PEPFAR and implemented by FHI 360. His work focuses on empowering key and vulnerable populations including adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) through evidence-based HIV interventions, gender-transformative approaches, and innovative tools such as the peer educator calendar he developed.
Hamis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the Muslim University of Morogoro. His expertise spans gender mainstreaming, violence prevention, positive youth development, and the design of training curricula and implementation guidelines. He has contributed to the rollout of national and community-level interventions through partnerships with organizations such as Plan International, EngenderHealth, JHPIEGO, and Deloitte.
A passionate advocate for community-led development. Hamis has co-authored scholarly works on peer network analysis, which were presented at AIDS 2024. He has submitted scholarly works on hybrid models for improving HIV testing and viral load suppression for AIDS 2025. He is an active member of the International AIDS Society (IAS) and regularly contributes to regional knowledge-sharing platforms focused on public health, HIV response, and gender equality.
With a career deeply rooted in grassroots mobilization, training of trainers, and participatory development, Hamis continues to drive meaningful change across Tanzania’s HIV response landscape transforming systems, uplifting communities, and inspiring a new generation of public health leaders.
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