Hellen Owiti joined World Vision Ethiopia in October 2023 as the Strategy, Program Quality, and Impact Director. Hellen is a humanitarian and development practitioner with a deep passion for the African continent with 17 years of experience advancing human rights for all through high-impact programming and evidence-based advocacy.

Hellen’s journey in international development commenced in Kenya at a pan-African child rights organization, ANPPCAN in 2006 where she supported programming on legal aid, violence against children and research. Since then, Hellen has worked across 26 countries in various capacities including Director of Program Development and Quality (Save the Children Kenya & Madagascar), Director of Program Implementation and Quality (Plan International Kenya), Senior Program Manager - Africa (Centre for Reproductive Rights), Regional Head of Awards Management (Save the Children ESA), Partnerships Development Manager – Africa and Americas (Action Aid International). Hellen has covered a broad range of workstreams including strategy development and execution, grant acquisition and management, program operations, advocacy and campaigns and MEAL at national and regional levels. Hellen is an experienced change manager and partnership broker with a keen interest in leadership development, digitization and social impact investments.  

Hellen holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London, an MA in Development Studies from the Department of International Development - Maynooth University (Ireland) and a doctoral researcher with the University of South Africa researching and writing on adolescent reproductive justice in Kenya. Hellen is a mother of five and married to Robert Owiti.