Rose Maruru - Co-founder and CEO, EPIC-Africa. Photo courtesy
Rose Maruru, Co-Founder and CEO of EPIC-Africa, will be among the key speakers at the 9th East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN) Conference, taking place from June 11 to 13, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda.
With a career spanning over three decades, Maruru brings a deep understanding of Africa’s civil society landscape and the role philanthropy can play in strengthening it.
At the helm of EPIC-Africa—a Dakar-based nonprofit organization—she has led efforts to close data and capacity gaps in the philanthropic and civil society sectors.
Her work focuses on raising performance standards, improving accountability, and increasing transparency across African civil society organizations.
These goals closely mirror the larger movement toward more effective, responsive, and locally grounded philanthropy on the continent.
A Career Rooted in Development and Humanitarian Leadership
Maruru’s experience in civil society and philanthropy is both broad and international.
From 1991 to 2000, she held diverse roles with Save the Children USA, serving in Egypt, The Gambia, Yemen, and the United States.
She later worked as a Bids and Proposal Manager at Population Council in the U.S., before moving into leadership and advisory positions within key development organizations.
She served as Director of Operations at TrustAfrica in Senegal from 2009 to 2015, strengthening internal systems to support long-term organizational performance.
Her subsequent roles include Partnership Manager at Oxfam International in the UK, where she managed strategic collaborations with institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB).
In 2017, she served as a consultant with the AfDB’s Civil Society Division under the Gender, Women and Civil Society Department.
There, she helped design engagement strategies with civil society actors and contributed to high-level programming during the bank’s annual meetings. That same year, she co-founded EPIC-Africa, driven by a vision to enhance the role of data and institutional excellence within African civil society.
Educational Background Anchored in Global and African Institutions
Maruru holds a Master’s degree in Development Planning and Management from the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP). She also earned a post-graduate diploma in American Studies from Smith College and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Literature from the University of Nairobi. Her education reflects a strong foundation in both African development issues and global social systems.
Influencing Philanthropy Through Recognition and Governance
In 2019, through a partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, Maruru launched the first African CSO Excellence Awards.
The awards program highlighted the importance of institutional capacity in achieving program results and drew attention to the need for sector-wide improvement in governance and sustainability.
Beyond EPIC-Africa, she contributes her expertise through board roles with the Firelight Foundation and The Accelerator Project.
She also serves on the WINGS steering committee focused on enabling environments for philanthropy and sits on the editorial board of Alliance Magazine, a global philanthropy publication.
Rose Maruru’s Significance to the EAPN Conference
Rose Maruru’s long-standing work in strengthening African civil society makes her a valuable voice at the EAPN Conference.
Through EPIC-Africa, she has championed improved standards in performance, transparency, and local legitimacy.
Her presence at the conference brings a practical, data-driven perspective on how philanthropy can better support homegrown solutions and institutional growth across the continent.
About the EAPN Conference
The East Africa Philanthropy Network Conference is a biennial gathering that brings together foundations, civil society leaders, donors, and policymakers to explore the future of philanthropy in the region.
The 2025 edition in Kigali focuses on promoting African-led solutions, ethical financing, and community-centered giving.
By convening experts and practitioners, the conference aims to foster collaboration and inspire innovations that drive long-term social change.
