Biography

Awa Sillah is an accomplished development professional with over fifteen years of experience in project management, finance, human resources and training and development. She has a strong track record of empowering rural communities to become self-reliant and more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Awa previously served as a Researcher at the Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA) – The Gambia Chapter, where her work in education, human resource development and knowledge management earned her recognition and awards.

Through her work and advocacy, Awa has demonstrated a sustained commitment to advancing women empowerment, youth development and inclusive community empowerment. She is the Co-Founder of the Global Human Resource Development Initiatives, contributing to mentorship, capacity building, and leadership development young people especially junior and middle level managers in the Public sector.

Awa Sillah most recently served as Programme Coordinator for the Large-Scale Ecosystem- based Adaptation Project in The Gambia, implemented by UNEP in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources. In this role, she worked with national and international stakeholders to strengthen climate resilience and support sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable communities.

Earlier in her career, she held positions at the Gambia Revenue Authority and the United Nations World Food Programme as a Senior Human Resource Development Officer and Field Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, respectively. She also contributed to academia as a lecturer in Business Management, Financial Accounting, and Human Resource Management at ICOBARD.

In recognition of her leadership and impact, Awa was selected as a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the flagship program established by former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Awa holds a master’s degree in international human development (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Management and Finance. She is a skilled trainer and mentor, passionate about guiding youths and professionals to achieve their full potential.

Beyond her professional experience, she remains actively engaged in volunteerism, community development, providing mentorship and career guidance to youth and women in entrepreneurship, leadership, education, and health.