Conzana Cornelius Mangati
SRHR practitioner, qualitative researcher and program leader turning community voices and evidence into people-centred solutions for refugee and host communities in Kenya.
“I bring together qualitative research, data analysis, program leadership and grassroots experience to understand complex challenges and develop practical solutions that create lasting impact.”
Where research, health and community meet
I have spent over ten years working within refugee and humanitarian settings in Kenya, working directly with communities to understand their experiences, collect and analyse data, design programs, coordinate implementation and translate evidence into solutions that respond to real needs.
My work focuses on women, girls, adolescents, youth, refugees and marginalized communities, and on the social and structural factors that shape access to health, opportunities and rights. Rather than viewing challenges only as problems, I see them as opportunities to research, innovate, build partnerships and develop community-led solutions.
I am also the Founder and Executive Director of Saidia Community Initiative, a women-led community organization in Kakuma working to strengthen resilience, dignity, inclusion, livelihoods, education and SRHR.
What I bring to the work
Research & Evidence
Field research, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, carried out to ethical standards and research protocols.
Data & Impact
Organizing, quality-checking and analysing data, identifying themes and patterns, and interpreting findings for decision-making.
Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights
SRHR education, menstrual health and hygiene, contraceptive information and access, adolescent health and referrals.
Gender-Based Violence Advocacy
GBV prevention and response through community dialogues, male engagement (EMAP), survivor-centred support, referrals and advocacy for safer communities.
Leadership & Innovation
Designing, coordinating and leading community-based programs from planning through implementation, building partnerships and developing community-led solutions to complex humanitarian challenges.
Action-Oriented
Translating evidence into practical, people-centred action that creates lasting change.
From research to community action
I lead a women-led organization in Kakuma building pathways toward dignity, resilience, inclusion, protection and self-reliance. I oversee community engagement, psychosocial support, case identification and referrals, GBV prevention and linkages to essential services, while strengthening women’s livelihoods and supporting young people through leadership and skills development.
- SRHR
- GBV prevention & response
- Protection & case management
- MHPSS
- Women’s economic empowerment
- Youth development
One of the strongest pillars of my career: engaging women, girls, adolescents and young people on SRHR, while understanding the social, cultural and structural factors behind the data and turning evidence into responsive programming.
- Menstrual health & hygiene
- Contraceptive information & access
- Adolescent health
- Community awareness
- Referrals
- Dignity & protection
Strengthened my foundation in population and health research, particularly qualitative and community-based data collection: planning field research, conducting interviews and FGDs, engaging participants, ensuring quality assurance, and contributing to the analysis and interpretation of findings.
- Qualitative research
- In-depth interviews
- Focus group discussions
- Data quality & analysis
Three perspectives, one approach
The Researcher
I understand how to collect, process, analyse and interpret data.
The Practitioner
I understand how programs work in real communities.
The Community Leader
I understand the lived realities behind the data, drawing on lived experience of displacement.
Communities should not simply participate in research or development programs as beneficiaries. They should be partners in defining the problem, generating evidence, designing solutions, and measuring impact.
— Conzana Cornelius Mangati
Thank you for visiting
I hope you find inspiration in my work. For research collaborations, partnerships or speaking opportunities, I’d love to hear from you.
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