Jackie Odhiambo is the Founder and Executive Director of Nyanam Widows Rising, a local non-profit in Kenya equipping widows, the most overlooked group in global development, to lead positive community transformation. Africa has at least 24 million widows, and 1 in 2 faces deep-rooted stigma on top of the profound loneliness and financial hardship that widowhood can cause.

Jackie completed her Bachelors from Williams College in USA, has a Masters of Science in International Public Health from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in UK, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health in sandwich program between Maseno University in Kenya and University of California San Francisco. Her Ph.D. dissertation explores the nature and effects of widowhood stigma. Jackie’s childhood, being raised by three widows, has inspired her work. Her vision is Africa where widows thrive.