Join us for an engaging panel discussion, dedicated to raising awareness about the ongoing crisis in Sudan. Panelists will discuss the realities of humanitarian efforts on the ground and provide valuable insights into how we can collectively make a difference.
Panelists
Leni Kinzli: Communications Officer, WFP Sudan (Virtual)
Maha Tambal: Senior Program Manager at DT Institute, Sudanese Political Economy Analysis (PEA) Researcher, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, and Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow (In-person)
Chi-Poe (CP) Hisa: Sudan Response Manager, USAID (Virtual)
Panelist Bios
Leni Kinzli
Leni has been the Head of Communications and Spokesperson for World Food Programme in Sudan since September 2020, currently based out of Nairobi, Kenya. She is a proactive communications professional and problem-solver dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable people on the planet through public outreach, advocacy, and communications.
Her work focuses on highlighting humanitarian crises, effective communication during emergencies, advocacy for improving food security and addressing root causes of hunger, and leveraging storytelling to raise awareness of humanitarian issues.
With a strong background in communications and media relations, Leni has been instrumental in highlighting the humanitarian crises and advocating for food security in conflict-affected regions, especially Sudan.
Leni’s storytelling skills and strategic communication initiatives have brought international attention to the severe hunger and displacement issues in Sudan. She has effectively communicated the urgent needs of affected populations, mobilizing support and resources to aid those in crisis. Her advocacy efforts have been crucial in ensuring humanitarian access and increased food assistance.
She has over ten years of experience in Communications and Public Information in and around the United Nations system including with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Maiduguri, Nigeria (2018-2020), the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (2017-2018), the Concordia Summit (2016) and the United Nations University in New York (2013-2015).
Maha Tambal
Maha Tambal is a Senior Program Manager at DT Institute and an international development professional practitioner in policy and business development in human rights, governance, and democracy. Maha served different scales of INGOs, including UN Women Sudan, IOM Washington DC, and EU Trust Fund – East Africa, and USG implementers, including the National Democratic Institute (NDI). Maha is a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship Alumna at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and a Fulbright – Humphrey Fellowship Alumna at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) with a major focus on Public International Law and Transitional Justice. Maha holds a master’s degree in computer engineering network Encryption from the University of Gezira – Sudan, and a master’s degree in international service – from the American University School of International Service – Major in Citizen Diplomacy and Policy Development in Africa and MENA.
Chi-Poe (C.P.) Hsia (he/him/his)
C.P. Hsia joined USAID in 2015 where he first covered southern and west Africa from Washington, DC. In 2021, he and his family moved to Dakar, Senegal to join BHA’s West Africa Regional Office before moving back to DC in 2024. Along the way, he deployed on the West Africa Ebola, Nigeria, Mozambique Cyclone, DRC Ebola, Northern Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Sudan Disaster Assistance Response Teams. Prior to joining USAID, C.P. worked in local emergency management in Baltimore and as a paramedic in Washington, DC.
C.P. holds a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University.
