SAGCOT Centre Staff

Maria joined the SAGCOT Centre in 2014. Prior to this, she was CEO of Faida Market Link Company Ltd (www.faidamarketlink.or.tz) for nine (09) years. She then joined SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation project in Tanzania as a Senior Advisor Agriculture-Dairy Value Chain Development, overseeing country level dairy strategy development. She also worked for FAO-Dar es Salaam as the National Program Officer, Agribusiness; FAO-Southern Highlands Food Systems Program. She has a solid track record of agribusiness leadership and has wide experience in coordinating public and private sector actors and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue on business opportunities in a wide range of agricultural value chains. Maria holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Crop Science from Makerere University Kampala-Uganda, and a Master’s Degree in Plant Breeding from the University of Nairobi-Kenya.

Neema has a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of natural resource management in several African countries towards retaining added value from their natural resource exploitation and its multi-sectoral linkages to key economic sectors like Agriculture. For about 5 years, Neema has played a key role in championing Local Content in Tanzania which started from initiating the Local Content Agenda in the country to strategically influencing and participating in the Local Content Policy & Legal Framework Development process in Tanzania, and finally successfully establishing the Local content Department at the National Economic Empowerment Council under the Prime Minister’s Office. Neema is currently a member of the Global Steering Committee tasked with developing Global Reporting Standard for Local Procurement in the Extractives Sector and is also the author - Local Content in Supplier Development (April 2014).

Anna is Head of Accounts and Finance for SAGCOT Centre Limited since September 2016. She is the Custodian and Implementer of financial systems and policies to ensure accounting, fund management and compliance. She also oversees the accounting and finance team and is responsible for accounting of SAGCOT Centre and donor resources. Prior to Joining SAGCOT Centre Limited, Anna worked with National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC), a government Agency under the Prime Minister’s Office as Director of Finance and Administration (2015 – 2016). Anna is a holder of Masters of Science in Finance ( MSc Finance) from the University of Strathclyde UK and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA (T)) with over 18 years post qualifying experience. She also holds an advanced Diploma in Accountancy awarded by the Institute of Finance Management (IFM) in Tanzania

Tulalumba has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics and Masters of Administration in International Management from the University of Applied Sciences Nuertingen-Geisslingen in Germany. She has diverse experience in research, management and project coordination. Prior to joining SAGCOT, she worked with the Embassy of Tanzania in Germany in the administration unit and in events management. She has done research in the energy sector as well as agriculture. She has been with the SAGCOT Centre since 2014.

Selemani is a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant registered with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA - UK) and National Board of Accountants and Auditors Tanzania (NBAA) as Associate Certified Public Accountant (ACPA). He brings to SAGCOT over 24 years of work experience in finance and accounts with private and public sector entities.

Khalid joined the SAGCOT Centre in January 2017 to oversee land and infrastructure tasks responsible for supporting agricultural investment in the Corridor. Prior to joining SCL, he served as the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist responsible for Capacity Development for Partners of Accountability at ESRF. He also worked for CARE International in Tanzania as a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist implementing agriculture, community development and livelihood projects. Khalid holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro.

Emmanuely joined the SAGCOT Centre Limited in December, 2014. He has a BA in Sociology and MA in Development Management from the University of Dar es Salaam. Emmanuely worked with Economic Development Initiatives (EDI), Youth Initiatives Tanzania (YITA), Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA). He brings his experience in Policy analysis and Advocacy, Project Planning and Management and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Abraham has been working with us since 2012 as an IT Coordinator, web developer and administrator. Abraham is a Microsoft Certified solution Associate (Windows Server 2012 Track) and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology from University of Dar es Salaam Computing Center. Apart from maintaining the website, he is also assisting in the development of the SAGCOT Centre knowledge and information hub and System`s Design & development.

Jillian joined SAGCOT Centre in March 2017 as a Human Resource Specialist. She has a Diploma in Secreatrial duties, BA/HRM from the College of Business Adminisrtion. She has 21 years of working experience (10 years in administration and 11 years in HR Management) Prior to joining SAGCOT, she worked with USAID Projects: John Snow Inc (JSI) as HR Officer and Elizabeth Glaser Pedriatic Foundation (EGPAF) as HR Assistant. She also worked for Concern Worldwide as an HR and Admin officer

Sakaya joined the SAGCOT Centre in 2017. He holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics and a BSc degree in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). Prior to joining SAGCOT Centre, he worked with VECO East Africa to develop, strengthen and support business linkages between farmer organisations and private companies. His unique skill set includes value chain analysis, business plan development, Inclusive Business models development, farming system, scientific analysis on governance and efficiency in various value chains.

Clarence holds a Masters of Science in Agricultural Economics from Hohenheim University, Germany and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). He has worked in the agricultural microfinance sectors supporting smallholder farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He has in-depth experience in commodity value chain analysis and development, market and financial linkage facilitation, business training facilitation in value chains and coordination of public and private sector agricultural stakeholders. Prior to joining SAGCOT Centre Ltd, Clarence worked as a farm enterprise development specialist with Vi Agroforestry Tanzania, Livelihoods Specialist with World Vision Tanzania, a value chain development officer with VECO Tanzania and as a programme coordinator with Faida Market Link Company Ltd (Faida MaLi).

Rehema is a certified customer experience professional with extensive experience in the service industry that includes 10 years of experience in customer experience and people experience. Over 7 years work experience in digital (pay) Television industry and setup the Customer Service department in 2 Pay Television companies in Tanzania. Over 5 years of experience in the Banking Industry on change management, recruitment, training and career development. Rehema has championed the setup of the Customer Experience function in Commercial Bank of Africa (Tanzania) Limited.

Adam holds a Bachelor Degree in Development Economics from Insitute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) in Dodoma. One of his core skills is policy analysis and research. Prior to joining SAGCOT Centre as the Partner Coordinator, Adam worked as an Intern at SAGCOT Centre and M&E Officer at Building Rural Incomes Through Enterprise (BRiTEN).

Lilliane holds a Bachelor Degree in Accounting from The Institute of Finance Management. She joined SAGCOT Centre Ltd in November 2015. Prior to joining SAGCOT Centre, Lilliane worked as a Payable Assistant Accountant with Precision Air Plc.

Shazdah is a charming, delightful character that bonds the administrative aspect of SAGCOT Centre Limited by serving in the capacity of an Office Administrator. She has a solid background in Office Administration as well as Human Resource Management, having worked in similar positions in several reputable Organizations such as Occasions by Jo in Kenya, Breakthrough Attorneys, First National Bank and Tanzania Cigarette Company (TCC). She joined the Centre in May of 2016 and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management which she acquired from the Kampala International University.

Lilian Lugola is the Office Administrator at SAGCOT Centre Ltd. She holds a Higher Diploma in Business Administration from Eastern and Southern African Management Institute and a Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from Centre for Foreign Relations and Diplomacy. She is presently pursuing a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management with Open University of Tanzania. Before joining SAGCOT Centre Ltd, Lilian worked as Administration Officer for JHPIEGO and in the same capacity at World Vision. She also worked as a Customer Care Representative for Airtel after serving as Administration Officer for Oceanic Bay Hotel and Resorts. Prior to that, Lilian was the Operations Coordinator at iWay Africa. Her forte is customer care, management and operations.

Obel is the heart of the daily administrative operations at the SAGCOT Centre Ltd operations in the Mbeya office; the headquarters of the Mbarali Cluster operations. He has a strong background in finance holding a Bachelor of Science in Tax Administration specialising in accounting. Before joining SAGCOT Centre Ltd, Obel served as tax officer in the Tanzania Revenue Authority familiarising himself with tax law and compliance monitoring. In his current role, Obel assists in the management of tax returns, account management and auditing with experience with Sage Evolution and Pastel accounting software.

Alice plays a crucial role in the day-to-day administrative operations of the SAGCOT Centre Ltd. She supports the head of administration and procurement in her role. Alice holds a Bachelor in Business Management with a specialisation in Finance from Bangalore University, India and a Masters in Business Administration from Cyprus International University, Cyprus. Alice commenced her career in Administration at international firm Deloitte in Tanzania, as a human capital officer in recruitment and HR operations. Her experience expanses general office operations, recruitment, accounting -with experience with Sage Evolution, Pastel and Tally 9.0 (ERP), event management, report writing and database management.

Daniel holds Certificates of Advanced Driver Grader II, from National Institute of Transport, Dar es Salaam and a Certificate of Motor Vehicle Maintenance from VETA, Dar es Salaam. Prior to joining the SAGCOT Centre, he worked for Kanji Lalji Ltd and TANESCO as a driver. Daniel joined the SAGCOT Centre in 2014.

Ihemi Cluster Driver, SAGCOT Centre Limited Phillip holds the Certificates of Advanced Driver Grader I & II, from National Institute of Transport, Dar es Salaam.. Prior to joining the SAGCOT Centre, he worked for TPSF as a Driver to Executive Director. He also worked for Skanpihl Colas and Tanzania Insurance co Ltd as a Driver. Phillip joined the SAGCOT Centre in 2017.

Said holds the Certificates of Advanced Driver Grader I & II and Certificate of Road Accident Prevention from National Institute of Transport, Dar es Salaam. Prior to joining the SAGCOT Centre, he worked for DANIDA Project (ASPS/Ministry of Agricultural and Food Security as driver. He also worked for Ministry of Agrculture and Food Security as Senior Driver. Said joined the SAGCOT Centre in 2013.