Dr. John Mugo, Executive Director of Zizi Afrique Foundation, is among the featured speakers at the 9th East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN) Conference.Photo courtesy
Dr. John Mugo, Executive Director of Zizi Afrique Foundation, is among the featured speakers at the 9th East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN) Conference, set for June 11–13, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda.
This year’s conference theme, “Localizing Giving, Accelerating Impact,” focuses on how African philanthropy can shift power, center community voices, and unlock homegrown solutions.
Sessions will explore decolonised funding, education capital, youth-led development, and rural economic transformation.
Dr. Mugo’s presence is especially relevant to breakout sessions on “Equity and Learning Transitions” and “Measuring What Matters: Data in Local Philanthropy.”
His experience in evidence-based education reform and youth skills development positions him as a key contributor to these dialogues.
Education Grounded in Inclusion and Excellence
Dr. Mugo graduated with First Class Honours in Music Education from Kenyatta University in 1998.
He went on to earn a Master’s degree and later a PhD in Special Needs Education from the University of Hanover, Germany. He completed his doctoral studies in 2004, graduating summa cum laude.
His academic journey has informed a career focused on marginalized learners, inclusive policy, and educational equity.
Two Decades of Regional Leadership
Across the past 20 years, Dr. Mugo has served in academia, international development, and civil society, consistently elevating data-driven approaches to education reform:
- Director of Data and Voice, Twaweza East Africa (2015–2017)
He led the Uwezo learning assessments across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—mobilizing nearly 30,000 volunteers annually to collect data from over 100,000 children.
(Sources: Aptantech, TechMoran) - Country Coordinator, Uwezo Kenya (2011–2014)
Oversaw large-scale national learning assessments that exposed critical learning gaps and helped shape policy. - Senior Lecturer and Chair, Department of Special Needs Education, Kenyatta University (2006–2011)
Taught and developed curricula, training the next generation of education professionals. - Program Officer, German Technical Cooperation (2004–2005)
Led research on street children and developed policies for non-formal education and rehabilitation programs.
This work built his reputation as a data-driven leader committed to amplifying citizen voices and influencing policy through grassroots evidence.
Zizi Afrique and the Push for Meaningful Learning
Since 2017, Dr. Mugo has led Zizi Afrique Foundation, a Nairobi-based organisation that works to improve learning outcomes for children and youth at risk of exclusion.
Under his leadership, the foundation has developed and scaled programs such as:
ALiVE (Assessments of Life Skills and Values in East Africa) – measuring collaboration, problem solving, and self-awareness among adolescents.
100% Transition Campaign – supporting learners to complete basic education through family engagement and school support.
Skills for Life – equipping out-of-school youth with technical and life skills to access dignified work.
Zizi Afrique partners with the Ministry of Education and other actors to ensure no learner is left behind.
Dr. Mugo’s focus on equity, measurement, and youth potential aligns closely with this year’s EAPN themes.
What He Brings to Kigali
At the Kigali conference, Dr. John Mugo brings valuable experience to ongoing discussions on how African philanthropy can drive systemic change, especially in education and youth development.
His background in citizen-generated data, inclusive policy, and evidence-based programming speaks directly to the conference’s ambition to strengthen collaboration across philanthropy, government, business, academia, and civil society.
With over two decades of work spanning research, policy, and practice, Dr. Mugo’s perspective is especially relevant as stakeholders explore how to localize giving and accelerate impact.
His longstanding focus on equipping young people with practical skills, not just academic credentials, and on amplifying marginalized voices through data and action aligns closely with the conference’s call for sustainable, community-led solutions.
The East Africa Philanthropy Network Conference brings together leaders from philanthropy, civil society, government, and the private sector.
It serves as a key platform for learning, collaboration, and reimagining African-led development.
