Water For People Announces New Regional Directors for Africa and Latin America

DENVER, January 9, 2018 — Water For People, a global nonprofit working to provide access to improved water and sanitation systems and services in nine countries, is pleased to welcome Samson Bekele as Regional Director for Africa and Daniel Oporto as Regional Director for Latin America.

"We are honored to welcome these two accomplished individuals to Water For People," said Eleanor Allen, CEO of Water For People. "Samson and Daniel will lead implementation of our global strategy in Africa and Latin America, respectively. They bring new experiences and knowledge that are synergistic with our highly talented global team. I am looking forward to working with them to increase our impact."

Samson Hailu Bekele has wide-ranging experience in international development, including strategic planning, management (people, programs, finances), fundraising, relationship building, and networking. He has successfully managed multicultural teams and visited and worked in over 20 countries, including living in Malawi for 13 years when he was with Concern Universal. Samson enjoys facilitating successful collaboration initiatives, building effective teams, and mentoring young professionals. He has extensive experience building relationships with large donors including the Australian, Irish, and UK governments, as well as the EU and several trusts and foundations. Samson holds an MBA from Strathclyde University in Scotland, and most recently was CEO of The Pharo Foundation. He is a British citizen and resides in London with his family.

Daniel Oporto is an international development expert with 19 years of experience with consulting firms and NGOs. His experience includes project and operations management, business development, knowledge management, training, financial planning and reporting, communication, monitoring & evaluation, and impact assessments. He has worked with multicultural teams in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, representing the private sector, multilateral and bilateral organizations, aid agencies, NGOs, microfinance institutions, social enterprises, and business associations. Daniel holds an MBA from INCAE Business School in Costa Rica, and has lived and worked in 17 countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. He is Bolivian and resides in La Paz with his wife and two children. 

About Water For People Water For People is global nonprofit dedicated to providing access to improved water and sanitation systems and services in nine countries. For People empowers local governments, community members, and service providers to invest in the long-term solutions and systems that are right for them. This means listening to them and establishing trust from the very beginning. We want every family, clinic, and school to have lasting access to safe water and sanitation for generations to come – we call this impact model Everyone Forever. Learn more at www.waterforpeople.org.