Leila Akahloun is an international development professional and serves as Special Advisor to Mrs. Graça Machel. She supports Mrs. Machel in her international advocacy efforts around child health and nutrition, education, women’s economic empowerment, as well as leadership and good governance.

 Ms. Akahloun has over 15 years’ experience in the design of innovative social development programming, creation and implementation of organizational strategy, as well as strategic partnership building and fundraising.

She has acquired extensive experience in design of collaborations with private and public-sector partners as well as venture capital investments in social entrepreneurs.  She possesses expertise in increasing capacity and efficiency of African NGOs through strategic planning and institutional development. 

 Ms. Akahloun consults as a strategic advisor to the Kuhluka Movement. She is a Board Member of Ashoka Southern Africa. She served as an Advisory Board Member for Phelps Stokes Fund’s Africa Programs, as well as Board Secretary of the Open Disclosure Foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Politics from Georgetown University and a Masters in International Relations from the University of Chicago. Having lived and worked in numerous countries in South America, Africa and Asia, she speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin Chinese. Ms. Akahloun is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

We are proud of her achievement and we name her Most Influential 100 Class of 2018 Humanitarian and Religious category.