Dr. Ellen Mkondya Senkoro

Member of the Board of Trustees of ZMBF

Dr. Ellen is a renowned leader in the public health, with over 28 years of experience working in the United Republic of Tanzania. She boasts of a three-dimension understanding of the Tanzania’s health sector with a rare blend of experiences from working with the Government of United Republic of Tanzania, multilateral organization, and Non-Government Organization (NGO). Currently works as the founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation. Dr. Ellen is a Medical Doctor by profession with a master’s degree in public health and an award recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Science D.Sc ( Honoris Causa) bestowed upon by The Hubert Kairuki Memorial University of Tanzania due to the massive wide-ranging contribution and success in the health sector. She has also been recognized as one of the 100 changemakers of Tanzania in year 2023. Under her abled leadership and as a founding CEO, Dr. Ellen nurtured the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation (BMF), named after its Founder, His Excellency (Late) Benjamin William Mkapa, Former President of Tanzania from its establishment in 2006 to date. In its 18 years, the Foundation has impacted over 25 million lives in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar with upstream and downstream health interventions including having BMF as co- chair of both the National Human Resource for Health Technical Working Group and also the Community Health Workforce Task force. In addition, she spearheaded construction of over 500 health infrastructure facilities and created employment of more than 13,000 health workers at the hospitals/health facilities and community levels. She has been instrumental in co-facilitating formulations and reviews of national policies and strategic frameworks based on evidence, particularly promoting primary health care systems by advancing programs such as Human Resources for Health; Community Health Workers; Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases prevention and treatment, including being in fore front in national preparedness and response to emerging diseases such as COVID-19. As for Zanzibar, the Foundation provided sound technical advise and policy engagement on the Health Sector reforms including assessing the entire PHC structure resulting into recategorization, conducting HRH Mapping and supporting the President Delivery Bureau and MOH of Zanzibar in defining and rolling out HRH development plans. Dr. Ellen’s other achievement includes leading BMF to become a credible and sustainable indigenous Institution financially supported by more than 12 donor partners annually and having strategic partnerships with several Private sector entities. In ensuring sustainability of the Foundation going concern, under her capacity, an Endowment Fund of the Mkapa Foundation was established and a Special Purpose vehicle, namely Imara Horizon Company was created for designing and implementing for--profit health business solutions. In honoring the life and legacy of His Excellency Late Benjamin William Mkapa, the Former 3rd President of United Republic of Tanzania who passed away in July 2020, she successfully spearheaded the 1st,2nd and 3rd high level Mkapa Legacy Symposium/Summit in July 2021, 2022 and 2024 respectively, which were both graced by Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of United Republic of Tanzania, accompanied by His Excellency Dr. Hussein Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and other high national and global dignitaries. Under technical advisory capacity, Ellen has been part of the country’s delegation to several global level meetings/forums, that were led by the Head of States, Former Heads of State, Ministers, and others. She has been engaged in several boards as either Chair, Vice Chair and/or full board member of different entities, including being a Presidential appointee as the current Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the topmost super-specialized hospital of 1500-bed capacity in Tanzania (Muhimbili National Hospital). She is also a board member of the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation, which was established by the First Lady of Zanzibar, Her Excellency Mariam Mwinyi. Through Dr. Ellens visionary leadership, a coalition of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in Health Sector was adopted with the Mkapa Foundation leading as the secretariat, at the same time the Foundation assuming chair’s role of NSA Health Group until 2022. She has represented the Non-State Actors in various policy and strategic in-country and international health-sector related dialogues with the Governments, Development Partners and Private Sector. Prior to working with Mkapa Foundation, Dr. Ellen worked as a clinician before ascending to the District Medical Officer (DMO) of two very dynamic Municipal Councils of Temeke and then Kinondoni located within the largest populated city of Tanzania Dar Es Salaam. Working at the facility and district levels provided her with first-hand experience, which was well augmented by her follow-on experience of working as the Program Manager with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), where she got exposed to policy, interface of national and international health agenda and the governance of health programs. Under the different portfolios within the global health space, she has executed sound leadership, management, technical and policy advice to national wide health and development programs as well as formulations and reviews of national policies and strategic frameworks. Her experience has enabled effective interaction with social, political & administrative structures from global, national to the subnational levels-that are all geared towards harmonized development assistance to the social sector, particularly Health. She is familiar and has been actively engaged in the national reforms of the Health sector, Local Government and Public Sector in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.