People Directory

Our team is the heartbeat of our collaborative efforts, comprising diverse experts from various fields. Each member brings unique skills and perspectives, uniting to drive innovation and impact in the health sector. Together, we are more than just a team; we are a community committed to transforming healthcare across Africa.

People Directory

Photo of Dr. Yeukai Mlambo

, PhD

Interim Director of Special Programs Collaboratives

Mastercard Foundation

Photo of Solomon Makuza

, BSc (Hons); MPH

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Photo of Peter Materu

Chief Program Officer

Mastercard Foundation

Photo of Papa Salif

, MD

Head of Health Initiatives, Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation

Photo of Naomi Teshome Assegied

, MD

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Profile

Dr. Yeukai Mlambo , PhD

Interim Director of Special Programs Collaboratives

Mastercard Foundation

Dr. Yeukai Mlambo is the Interim Director of Special Programs Collaboratives at the Mastercard Foundation. In her role, she advances multi-stakeholder sectoral programs that leverage a consortia of higher education institutions working collaboratively to address pressing global challenges that impact African youth. Current Collaboratives focus on health, pandemic sciences and climate resilience and sustainability, aimed at strengthening the workforce, entrepreneurship, ecosystems, and knowledge activities and outcomes in and for Africa in these key sectors.  

Yeukai holds a master’s degree in research psychology from the University of Pretoria, and a PhD in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. She has worked in the private sector, civil society, and higher education for 15 years where she advanced higher education development, faculty engagement and research, and partnerships for African development. Yeukai continues to publish on issues of higher education transformation, access, and leadership. Yeukai’s work spans multiple thematic areas including a focus on the recruitment, retention, and sustained success of women in higher education; faculty development in sub-Saharan Africa; international student experiences; global north-south higher education partnerships; and leveraging technology to support youth transitions into and beyond higher education. Drawing from her educational and professional experiences in both Africa and North America, Yeukai brings a strategic operational approach to her work to achieve impact.

Profile

Solomon Makuza, BSc (Hons); MPH

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto

Solomon Makuza is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. He has devoted his career to improving social determinants of health and well-being in under-resourced communities. His career began at AVSI International, where he led a child protection and development project across three refugee camps in Rwanda. There, he established multisectoral mechanisms to protect, respond to, and prevent child abuse.

Following this, he served as Programs Manager at Partners in Health, addressing socioeconomic disparities and improving healthcare and social support for vulnerable communities. Most recently, Solomon served as the Executive Director of Gardens for Health International, an NGO focused on maternal and child nutrition. Under his leadership, thousands of families and children were positively impacted. He built enduring partnerships with both local and global stakeholders and played a pivotal role in shaping national policies, including school feeding programs, community health workers’ nutrition guidelines, and the food and nutrition policy.

With a strong background in community outreach, international development, and health equity, Solomon’s interests include maternal and child health, food and nutrition security, global health, and policy development.

In his free time, Solomon enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching soccer and basketball, and jogging. Originally from Rwanda, he holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Health Sciences and a Master’s in Public Health. Upon completing his DrPH program, Solomon aims to use his expertise and platform to advance public health in underserved communities, driven by a strong sense of optimism about his potential impact.

Profile

Peter Materu

Chief Program Officer

Mastercard Foundation

Peter Materu is currently the Chief Program Officer of the Mastercard
Foundation. In this role, he is responsible for all the Foundation’s
programs globally. Among others, Peter championed the rollout of the
Foundation’s new operating model since 2019, which saw the Foundation set
up its footprint in Africa for the first time.


Peter joined the Mastercard Foundation over seven years ago from the World Bank where he served for seventeen years, including as Practice Manager for Education and Skills Development
in Africa. During his time at the World Bank, Peter made a significant contribution to the Bank’s higher education agenda, notably the Africa Centers of Excellence and the Partnership for Applied
Science, Engineering and Technology initiatives which seek to strengthen higher education institutions as hubs for socio-economic transformation in Africa. Prior to joining the World Bank, Peter served as Professor and Dean of Engineering, and as Director of Graduate Studies at the
University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Peter holds a doctorate in electrical engineering and master’s degrees in engineering and education.

Profile

Papa Salif, MD

Head of Health Initiatives, Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation

Papa Salif joined the Mastercard Foundation in September 2021 as Head of Health Initiatives with a focus on Health Employment, Health Entrepreneurship and Health Ecosystems.

He is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine University of Dakar (Senegal) and Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases (2002-2012). Then, Papa Salif joined the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, in 2012 as Senior Program Officer in Global Health HIV/AIDS supporting resource-limited settings in Africa in collaboration with key stakeholders, government, academic institutions, and communities. On January 3, 2017, Papa Salif joined Gilead Sciences (US Biopharmaceutical Company), as Vice President for Access Operations & Emerging Markets, Africa/Geneva, supporting HIV, Viral Hepatitis B/C and Capacity building programs for African countries.

Papa Salif trained as a physician at the University of Dakar and received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1987. He completed his training with a Master of Sciences at the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp in Belgium in 1992 and in Nagasaki University Japan in 1993.

Profile

Naomi Teshome Assegied, MD

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto

Dr. Naomi Teshome Assegied is an accomplished medical doctor with almost ten years of experience, most of which has been dedicated to public health. With a solid foundation in medicine, she has a proven track record in health financing, project management, health system strengthening, and strategic planning. Naomi completed her undergraduate studies in medicine from the University of Gondar and her Master’s in Public Health from the Hebrew University. She has also completed a leadership fellowship from the University of Delaware and is a Mandela Washington Fellow under the Young African Leaders Initiative.

Naomi has illustrated her leadership abilities throughout her career, one notable example being her role in spearheading the development of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for Ethiopia’s emergency, injury, and critical care systems. She has also played a crucial role in preparing and revising over ten national policy documents at the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia during her time as a technical advisor.

In her most recent role as a Country Manager for East Africa at Akros Research, Naomi oversaw the implementation of critical health initiatives in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. Her role involved managing local teams, coordinating with member states, and driving innovative solutions to improve health outcomes at the country level. Naomi also served as a Co-Chair of the Standing Committee of Medical Care and a Scientific Committee Member at the Ethiopian Medical Association.

Naomi’s areas of interest include public health leadership, health equity and social determinants of health, emergency preparedness and response, and global health.

Beyond her professional life, Naomi is passionate about exploring new places, learning about diverse cultures, and indulging in the rich variety of global cuisines. She has also been a Sunday school teacher at her local church since she was fifteen years old and deeply values this role.