GWPEA Steering Committee
The Regional Steering Committee is the decision-making body of GWPEA. It approves the annual work plan, monitors ongoing activities, and provides guidance across all work areas, including the political aspects of water management in the Eastern African region. The Committee meets twice a year. The RSC is headed by a Chairperson and composed of Chairs and Vice Chairs of the respective Country Water Partnerships
Regional Steering Committee Members’ Profiles:
François Xavier Tetero, Chairperson RSC-GWPEA
Mr.François Tetero is the Chairperson of the Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa (GWPEA) and Water Partnership Rwanda. He is an experienced water resources professional with a strong background in water governance, policy development, and transboundary water cooperation.
He previously served with the Government of Rwanda, including as Head of the Water Resources Management Department at the former Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority (2017–2020), where he led national water resources management and regulatory functions.
Mr. Tetero has played a key role in regional water cooperation, serving on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Nile Basin Initiative (2015–2020) and as Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin Organisation (ABAKIR) from 2018 to 2020. He holds a Master of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Management from the former National University of Rwanda, in collaboration with UNESCO-IHE, and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the same university.
Anicet Nkurikiye, Chair- Burundi Water Partnership
Mr. Anicet Nkurikiye is the Chair of the Burundi Water Partnership (part of GWP Eastern Africa), a role in which he promotes Integrated Water Resoources Management (IWRM) and climate resilience. He is a member of the GWP Regional Steering Committee, contributing to regional water security strategies, focusing on issues like flood management and agricultural water use.
Eng. Dunstan Ddamulira – Vice Chair- Uganda Water Partnership
Eng. Dunstan Ddamulira is a Water Resources Engineer and development and humanitarian professional with over 20 years of experience working with national and international organisations. He has led multi-sectoral programmes in Water Resources Management, Climate Change Adaptation, WASH, livelihoods, reproductive health, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, and the protection of vulnerable children. He is the Director of Programmes at ACORD Uganda. He provides strategic leadership for complex development and humanitarian initiatives. He has also contributed to applied research as a co-investigator, including the study “Low-Cost Water Technologies for Developing Countries” conducted with the University of Warwick and the Technical University of Denmark.
Eng. Ddamulira is skilled in participatory programme design for rural, peri-urban, and refugee communities, as well as hydrological and water resources modelling, climate change, and drought analysis. He holds master’s degrees in Institutional Management and Leadership and Civil/Water Resources Engineering, and serves as Vice Chairperson of the Uganda Water Partnership and a Steering Committee Member of GWP–Eastern Africa.
Nestor Mburente, Vice Chair- Burundi Water Partnership
Mr. Nestor Mburente is a prominent water and sanitation expert in Burundi, serving as the Vice Chair of the Burundi Water Partnership and Legal Representative of AVEDEC. He is a founding member of the National Observatory on Water and Sanitation (OBEA) and a member of the Nile Basin Discourse and the Burundi Nile Discourse Forum. He focuses on promoting the right to water, sustainability, and socio-ecological resilience.
Sewagudde Sowedi- Chairperson, Uganda Water Partnership
Mr Sewagudde Sowedi is the Acting Commissioner for International and Transboundary Water Affairs at the Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda. He holds a Master of Science in Water Science and Engineering (Hydro-informatics) from the Institute of Water Education (IHE), Delft, The Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering from Makerere University, Kampala. A hydrological engineer by training, Mr Sowedi brings over 19 years of hands-on professional experience in water resources management. His expertise includes watershed hydrology analysis, as well as the application of hydrological models and decision-support systems for water-based planning and management.
Dr. Leunita Asande Sumba- Executive Secretary, Kenya Water Partnership
Dr. Leunita Asande Sumba is the Executive Secretary of the Kenya Water Partnership and a seasoned water and sanitation professional with over 20 years’ experience in the sector. She also serves as Chairperson of the Women in Water and Sanitation Association (WIWAS), a Director at DirectWays Networking (a wastewater treatment company), a Project Committee Member of the Mbooni WaterMart Water Project, and an Adjunct Lecturer at the Sanitation Research Centre, Meru University of Science and Technology. She previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Water Institute (KEWI), where she also worked as a lecturer and researcher. She holds a PhD in Biology, an MSc in Parasitology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Water Resources Management, and a Certificate in Decentralised Wastewater Treatment. Dr. Leunita is passionate about advancing water, sanitation, environmental protection, and public awareness, and has led numerous environmental initiatives, research projects, and capacity-building programmes. Dr. Sumba is also actively engaged in mentoring and coaching young professionals.
Prof. Dr. Khaled AbuZeid- Secretary General, Egypt Water Partnership
Prof. AbuZeid holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from Cairo University and MSc and PhD degrees in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a certified Project Management Professional. He has over 35 years of experience in regional and international water leadership, currently serving as CEDARE Regional Water Director.
His previous roles include Officer-in-Charge of the North African Ministers’ Council on Water Secretariat, Director of Technical Programs at the Arab Water Council, Secretary General of the Egyptian Water Partnership, Chair of GWP-Eastern Africa, Vice-Chair of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development, and member of UN-Water, Arab League, and Union for the Mediterranean advisory bodies.
Prof. AbuZeid has led major regional water assessments, basin-wide decision support systems, and national water strategies, including the Nile Basin, Nubian Aquifer, the Egypt 2050 policy, and integrated urban water planning. His expertise spans irrigation, groundwater, climate impacts, transboundary waters, and sustainability globally.
Eng. Saied Magzoub Saied (MSc), Chair- Sudan Water Partnership
Eng. Saied Magzoub Saied (MSc) is a recognised water sector expert serving as the Chair of the Sudan Water Partnership, a position confirmed within the GWP Eastern Africa steering committee structures. He works alongside Nazik Abdullahi, who serves as the Vice Chair of the partnership. 
Nazik Abdullahi, Vice Chair- Sudan Water Partnership
Ms. Nazik Abdullahi serves as the Vice Chair of the Sudan Water Partnership. She is a member of the Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for the Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa (GWPEA), which oversees water management, planning, and political aspects of water in the region.