Afua Kumi-Takyiwaa has over 12-years of combined professional experience in community development and youth education. She is an energetic and experienced trainer who enjoys working with a diverse population. She brings on board enviable facilitation and operational skills. Afua is skilled in leadership and advocacy, good communication, and interpersonal relationship development. She holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.

She previously worked as the Medical and Dental Program Lead for Global Brigades Ghana, where she served rural communities within the Ekumfi Municipality by facilitating access to mobile health clinics and educational workshops on various health-related issues. Prior to joining Global Brigades, she worked with Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) as an Assistant Project Officer under the United Nations Fund Population Activities (UNFPA) project on Integrated Community-Based SRH for Young People in the Central Region of Ghana. Afua is a member of the British Council and World Bank Institute Debate to Action (DTA) Ghana team of youth leaders who were trained with the relevant skills to promote youth engagement, participation, and mobilization for the attainment of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategies (GPRS).

Afua is currently responsible for the coordination of the operational elements of the STAR-Ghana SMS Voices platform which delivers training sessions and resources via SMS Voices as well as provides mentorship to participants of the STAR-Ghana SMS Voices platform. She also supports the implementation of STAR-Ghana communication strategies, which include branding, Communities of Practice and Learning (CoPL), and provides regular updates of digital platforms including the websites and social media.

Her research interests include social accountability, reproductive health, communications for development, youth engagement and development, global environmental change, and home economics. Afua is presently volunteering some time to the organization outside her regular work hours and there is no conflict of interest as we work during outside of regular business hours.