Naledi Katsande, Youth for Health Promotion Zimbabwe

Naledi Katsande is a public health professional with five years of experience. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Naledi has supported health promotion projects in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa. At the global level, Naledi has been actively involved in technical assistance for the Women Deliver Young Leaders programme as a Digital University Facilitator and an Alumni Committee member. In 2018, Naledi led capacity building activities which equipped the LGBTI community and sex workers with advocacy skills aimed at removing barriers to accessing HIV prevention and treatment services in eight Southern African countries. In 2019, Naledi led HIV prevention capacity building, research and health promotion activities for adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe. Through her work in the Southern African region, Naledi has won two small grants to implement projects in which she interfaced with policy-makers and government officials as she sought to influence them to develop sexual and reproductive health and rights policies for adolescents in Zimbabwe. Naledi is the Programmes Lead for Youth for Health Promotion Zimbabwe, a youth-led organization focused on creating an enabling environment for adolescents and youth to lead healthy lives, fully enjoying their health rights and being meaningfully engaged in decision- making with regard to issues affecting their health.

Naledi has a special interest in health equity for vulnerable populations, especially adolescents and young people. As an advocate, Naledi is studying a master’s degree in public health, which enables her to represent vulnerable groups. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Promotion from the University of Zimbabwe.