About Martin

Martin Namasaka is a seasoned international development and strategic communications expert with over a decade of experience shaping impactful programs and driving socio-economic change across Africa. His work has spanned Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Somalia — leading teams, crafting strategies, and amplifying voices for transformative development.

A thought leader in regional communications, Martin has been featured among the top 50 communications experts contributing to Africa’s socio-economic rise. He has played a pivotal role in shaping strategic initiatives, including the development of communication strategy, branding and visibility guidelines for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), used across 21 Member States. His expertise has been central to crafting regional communications strategies for high-profile projects such as the 50 Million African Women Speak Project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), and implemented by COMESA, the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in 38 African countries, strengthening economic collaboration across the continent.

Martin’s commitment to innovative and high-impact communications is demonstrated through his leadership in developing campaigns like the #15BillionTrees (#JazaMiti) campaign launched by President William Ruto, and the #LetPeaceWin campaign promoting peaceful elections in Kenya’s 2022 General Elections, which reached over 23 million people. He spearheaded the communication strategy for the HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visit to Kenya, generating 65 media features across global outlets and reaching 108 million people, ultimately contributing to a $4 million funding increase from the Norwegian Government to UNDP.

Academically, Martin brings a wealth of knowledge with a Master of Science degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a professional certificate in Disruptive Strategy from Harvard Business School, and an undergraduate degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Nairobi. He has also completed executive training programs, including the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) course in South Africa and storytelling for advocacy training organized by the Open Society Foundation in Turkey.

He has attended various executive courses including Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) organised by the Springfield Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, Using Storytelling for Advocacy in Turkey organised by the Open Society Foundation. He is certified by the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) in; HIV/AIDS, TB & Human Rights in Africa, Investment in Excellence by the Pacific Institute, and in The Outcome Harvesting Evaluation Methodology.  From his Making Markets for the Poor (M4P) training, he has contributed to  ‘Communications for M4P Handbook’ published by Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa).

 

Professional Experience

Thought Leadership in Regional Strategic Communications

  1. Developed branding and visibility guidelines for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa to be used in COMESA Member States (Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
  2. Developed and implemented a communication strategy for Royals visit to Kenya that guided all global, regional and national communicaton activities during the HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (UNDP Goodwill Ambassador) and HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden(Advocate Emerita for the Global Goals) visit to Kenya from November 21st -25th 2022. As a result, the visit was impactful in highlighting the value and impact on the ground of longstanding support from UNDP Kenya’s #PartnersAtCore.
    • The visit generated 65 media features from Kenya, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, USA, and Switzerland.
    • The total news reach of all publications was 108 million people.UNDP received 260 mentions in publications that featured the Royals’ visit.
    • The top-performing news content reached 6M people.
    • Immediately after the visit, UNDP Norway received an increase of $4 million from the Norwegian Government. This can be attributed to advocacy efforts before the actual visit.
  3. Designed and oversaw the implementation of the #LetPeaceWin Campaign that influenced, fostered greater commitment to peaceful elections and increased youth participation in the 2022 General Elections. The campaign reached 23,389,290 people on TV, radio and social media and was a great moonshot external strategy for UNDP Kenya 2022 communications that ensured stakeholder engagement before, during and after the campaign.
  4. Conceptualized the #15BillionTrees Campaign (#JazaMiti) that was launched by the President William Ruto and is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry with support from UNDP.
  5. In his career path, Mr. Namasaka has had the chance to be part of a team that formulated the regional Ebola Communications and Prevention road map, to prevent the spread of Ebola, for the entire African continent alongside organizations such as the African Union (AU), World Health Organization (WHO), World Council of Churches (WCC), UNICEF, ECOWAS, BBC Media Action, and the International Federation of Red Cross in Dakar Senegal. This experience contributed to his research paper “There is no Ebola Here: Lessons from Uganda and Liberia on the Political Economy of Epidemics” published by the Public Sphere Journal-a journal of international policy studies which aims to address some of today’s most important policy dilemmas via evidence-based research in economics and political science).
  6. Developed a regional communications strategy for the 50 Million African Women Speak Project funded by the African Development Bank and implemented in 38 African countries by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
  7. Developed and implemented the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Regional Communications Strategy for the Local Sourcing for Partnerships Project (LSP). Funded by the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) and USAID, the project was implemented in 6 countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Mala­wi and Zambia).
  8. Developed and implemented Communications and Visibility Strategy for the Regional Approaches for Sustainable Conflict Management and Integration (RASMI). RASMI is a € 3,000,000, 3 year project implemented by Pact World and funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). The project is being implemented in Mandera country, Kenya, Gedo region in Somalia and Dolo in the Somali region of Ethiopia.
  9. Developed and implemented Communications and Visibility Strategy for Selam Ekisil (SEEK). SEEK is a € 3,000,000, 3 year project implemented by Pact World and funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). It is being implemented in Turkana, Marsabit (North Horr), Kenya; South Omo Zone, SNNPR region, Ethiopia.

Speaking Engagements

BBC Africa Debate

Activities

Speaking Engagements

  • During his studies at the LSE, he participated in the 2015 BBC Africa Debate on, “Has Africa Outgrown Development Aid?” (30mins), in London.
  • He has given a master class on ‘Development of PR and Communication Strategies’ at the Strathmore Business School in 2018.
  • In 2018, he also mentored 3rd year Bachelor of Commerce Students at Strathmore University on leadership, his life experiences,  on the job lessons, the kind of leaders he has worked with, what he has learned from them, qualities of leaders he admires, influencing styles he has used to get things, leadership challenges, dilemmas and how to be effective amidst setbacks.
  • In 2019 he gave a master class on ‘Strategic Communications’ at the Somaliland Ministry of Justice in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
  • In 2019, Martin facilitated sessions on promoting sustainable peace through national youth policies in the framework of 2030 Agenda which was convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Government of Kenya and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) convened at the United Nations in Nairobi, Kenya.