Rukia Männikkö

Rukia Männikkö is an experienced international professional and business development player with over 16 years demonstrated history of working in development cooperation in lower, middle- and upper-income countries. She is currently with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, where she works as Community, Rights and Gender Advisor for Africa and Middle East Department. She previously held the role of coordinating the adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) workstream across the Global Fund Secretariat. Prior to joining The Global Fund, she was Project Manager for a health financing program on gender-based violence response (part of a broader maternal health program) co-financed by German KfW Development Bank and Kenya's Ministry of Health. Rukia is skilled in managing and negotiating complex government to government, public-private and donor to government multi-stakeholder innovative partnerships. She is highly experienced in technical and financial resource mobilization and grant management; concept and project development and management as well as provision of technical assistance and advice towards program quality, policy and legal reforms. Rukia graduated with a first-class honors in International Relations & Psychology and holds a Masters’ degree in Gender & Development Studies. Rukia is a strong champion for young women and girls’ and especially, their meaningful engagement in decision-making across development policies and programs and leadership.