News
Published on 16/10/2024
We’re thrilled to introduce ISDAO’s newly appointed Governance Board, marking an exciting milestone in our journey. This board takes over from the Interim Governance Body, which has provided oversight and strategic guidance for ISDAO since 2017.
In 2023, we launched a public call to establish ISDAO's first permanent Governance Board. After an extensive and thoughtful selection process led by an activist selection committee, we welcome three inspiring West African activists: Marie-Josiane Tra, Orneill Latiyah, and Robert Akoto Amoafo.
Our new board members bring a wealth of expertise in organizational governance and leadership, as well as movement strengthening and advocacy across national, regional, and global platforms. We are excited to have them join ISDAO’s leadership and contribute to deepening our impact across the region.
From shaping the initial vision of our Governance Board to the recruitment process, we remained committed to our ethos of participatory decision-making and consultation with our community. I am deeply grateful to all the members of the Interim Governance Body (IGB), the 7-person external Board Selection Committee, and our governance transition consultant, Nonyamezelo Bulunga, for their leadership, insights, and commitment to ensuring that the process was anchored in ISDAO’s core values and aligned with our bold vision.
I am delighted to welcome Marie-Jo, Latiyah, and Robert to ISDAO’s governance board. Together, they bring a depth of knowledge of the LGBTQI movement across West Africa, diverse leadership and governance experiences from community, regional, and international organizations, and a strategic, questioning mindset that strengthens our collective work. Their emphasis on collective care, well-being, and accountability will be invaluable in ensuring that ISDAO upholds our mission and vision for transformative change in West Africa.
— B. Caroline Kouassiaman, Executive Director, ISDAO
Meet our new Governance Board members
Orneill Latiyah (Elle) - Co-President
Latiyah is a 28-year-old trans feminist activist, born and raised in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. She brings a wealth of experience spanning 5 years spent working with various organizations, such as the African Queer Youth Initiative (AQYI) board, which she has chaired, the FRIDA Global Advisory Committee for which she is an advisor, and Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE), of which she is an outgoing board member. Latiyah is the founder of the Association Transgenres et Droits, with over 10 years of commitment to the LGBTI communities, and the trans community in particular.
Joining ISDAO's Governance Board is a great opportunity for me to deepen my commitment towards LGBTIQ communities, and to continue to support the urgent and amazing work that ISDAO does in our region.
As a feminist and activist-led fund, ISDAO's mission is fundamentally about community participation in decision-making processes, and I look forward to co-creating spaces where accountability, transparency, integrity, inclusion, intersectionality, and learning are core values.
Read the rest of Latiyah's profile here
Robert Akoto Amoafo (He/Him) - Co-President
Robert Amoafo is an expert in governance, leadership, and organizational development with a strong commitment to human rights advocacy. Robert serves as the Advocacy Manager at Pan Africa ILGA, where he spearheads global and regional advocacy strategies. His leadership experience spans several prominent organizations, including his role as Country Director for Amnesty International Ghana from 2018 to 2021. He provides strategic consulting to global philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, guiding them through organizational change management, leadership transitions, and crisis management.
I am thrilled to be joining ISDAO's Governance Board. This role offers my colleagues and me the challenge and the opportunity to set a strong precedent for governance, not just at ISDAO, but within the broader community.
I look forward to supporting ISDAO's team with my experience and expertise to advance our shared vision and mission, strengthening ISDAO’s connection with activists and furthering its impact.
Read the rest of Robert's profile here
Marie-Josiane Tra (She/Her) - Secretary
Marie-Jo is a feminist activist who resides in Côte d'Ivoire. She is joining ISDAO’s governance body as its newly appointed Secretary. In addition to being the Program and Project Officer for Initiative Tilé, an LBQ organization, Marie-Jo also runs Radio Tilé and hosts Arc-en-ciel MAG, an information, awareness-raising, and advocacy talk show. Marie-Jo has been actively involved in the LBQ community for the past 5 years, as she is passionate about human rights and women's empowerment issues. She is a founding member and Coordinator of the Réseau Ivoirien des Femmes LBQ (RIF-LBQ - Ivorian LBQ Women’s Network) as well as the Regional Coordinator for Francophone Africa for Outright International's LBQ Connect program.
There is always something we can contribute to bring our convictions to life, no matter the scale. Joining ISDAO’s Governance Board is a new journey of learning, growth, and exchange that will not only deepen my vision of a more inclusive and equitable world but will also enrich my growth as an activist through the experiences, shared knowledge, and insights gained.
Read the rest of Marie-Jo's profile here
