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Send a Cow has teams of experts based in each of the seven African countries where we work.

Agricultural, social development and livestock specialists design packages of help tailored for the particular circumstances and challenges that rural farmers in their areas face.

Our Country Directors ensure that help gets to where it is needed most. And they share their experiences country to country, to make sure that Send a Cow keeps on getting better and better.

Samuel Kawumi, Uganda

Sam has seven years' experience in senior management roles for international NGOs and has been involved in supporting project teams in proposal development, resource acquisition, financial management and project reviews.

In his role as Manager of Procurement and Logistics at World Vision Uganda, he was responsible for providing leadership and logistic functions to all of the country programmes.

Sam grew up in Uganda and Kenya. He studied for a Master’s in Commerce in Bhopal, India, before coming back to Uganda and working for World Vision. He is also undertaking a Master’s in Business Administration at the East and Southern Africa Management Institute.

James Pimundu, Rwanda

James Pimundu became Send a Cow Rwanda’s Country Director in September 2011.

He has more than 15 years’ work experience in long-term development programming, humanitarian assistance, and international consultancies. He has worked for UNICEF, UNDP, World Vision and other organisations. His areas of expertise include: Organisational capacity development and enhancement; sustainable development and sustainable livelihoods; conflict management, peace building and enhancing local capacity for peace.

James, who is Ugandan, has an MA in Sociology and is a PhD candidate in the field of Development Anthropolgy at Makerere University, Uganda

Aklilu Dogisso, Ethiopia

Aklilu has worked for Send a Cow since 2007. He has extensive experience of working in government ministries and international NGOs like World Vision, in different capacities from Project Manager to Regional Director. He has an MA in Rural Social Development from the University of Reading and a BSc in Agriculture from Addis Ababa University.

“I love working for Send a Cow as it is a learning organization where we design, implement, evaluate and redesign with improvements for greater effectiveness and sustainability. Our love drives us to attend to the plights of poor families. We help them open up their eyes to their potential and opportunities within their reach; to take a conscious action for them to get out of economic and social impediments. We want to maximize our contribution in the times ahead.”

Malefetsane John Lepele, Lesotho

John joined Send a Cow Lesotho as Country Director in January 2010. Prior to this he was Managing Director of Sechaba Consultants, an indigenous Lesotho consulting company with extensive experience in socio-economic and rural development, and natural resource management.

He has a wealth of experience gained through 33 years of working in development projects in Lesotho, with government, local communities and national and international NGOs, including a range of consultancy assignments. His particular expertise lies in the fields of rural development and agriculture, participatory PME with rural communities, project monitoring and project management.

He gained a Master of Science in Management from Arthur D. Little Management Education Institute, Mass., USA, as well as a Master’s in Soil Science from the University of Nebraska. He also has a Bachelor of Science in General Agriculture from the Western Illinois University.

Alex Kirui, Kenya

Alex has been working with Send a Cow since 1986 when, as Heifer Project International’s representative in Kenya, he met with Send a Cow’s Chairman who was visiting Africa. Both agreed that Send a Cow could start providing support to farmer groups in Western Kenya and this support grew into a full partnership programme between Heifer and Send a Cow. In 1998, Alex became Country Programme Director and the programme now has an office in Kakamega and a full contingent of staff providing technical support in organizational development, animal husbandry and organic agriculture. Alex’s previous experience includes working for Technoserve, a large American organization specializing in agribusinesses.

“Our programme here has created its own niche in rural development approaches in Western Kenya. We have reached the most vulnerable families and individuals and have helped restore the lives of many through resources like livestock, crops, farming skills and social development. Our work is now being used as a referral by other development partners including the Kenyan government.”

James Chinkubila Kasongo, Zambia

After working for five years as a farm manager, James spent 15 years working for NGOs in Zambia (both national and international). He has gained vast experience in strategic management of such organisations, development of community based and demand-driven programs in the areas of sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, enterprise development and value chains. James has a Master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences with specialization in animal nutrition, a certificate in Management and is currently studying a Master’s of Business Administration at the Edith Cowan University.

"Send a Cow has made a big difference in the lives of poor people in the Eastern Province of Zambia, especially women, through the gift of livestock and training. Send a Cow has empowered the rural women; now they have a voice, can speak and question the duty bearers on some of their development decisions. It has been a good experience working with Send a Cow to end hunger and care for the earth among our target communities in the Eastern province of Zambia."

Henry Njakoi, Cameroon

Henry was appointed as Country Director for Cameroon in October 2005. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Country Director providing technical and administrative leadership to frontline staff, volunteers and interns.

Henry holds a Doctor of Veterinary degree and a Master’s in Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Following his postgraduate studies, he joined the Heifer International Cameroon program as an Extension Veterinarian and later as Dairy Program Manager. From 1994 he served in different positions coordinating and providing management, training and extension support to grassroots integrated animal/agricultural development projects that have enabled thousands of resource-limited farming families to build and secure their sustainable livelihoods.

Henry is fluent in English and French, in addition to several other local languages.