BEATRICE MASIKA: I am one of the pioneer staff of the Accounting/Finance function at AFENET

I have been privileged to work with AFENET most of my youthful life since 2010. Working with AFENET has been more than just a job, it has been a journey of career growth, connections and impact. I started my journey with AFENET as an Accountant and over the years, I have moved into different positions including acting as Head Finance and now a Senior Finance Officer. I am one of the pioneer staff of the Accounting/Finance function at AFENET from being outsourced. We were only three staff then at the Secretariat, and I am so proud that I have been part of the growth of the department with now over 11 staff at Secretariat and so many across the network.

Working with colleagues from diverse African cultures, different donors and stakeholders across the global has broadened not just my professional skills, but my worldview, I have gained a lot of expertise from this exposure.  AFENET has given me a platform to express myself freely. 

Some of my fondest memories go beyond work to my wedding in 2012 where AFENET team supported me financially, and some made it Kasese, a journey of over 350 kilometers from Kampala. It is such friendships that make AFENET feel like home, knowing that you have colleagues ready to support you.

As we move forward, with the great collaborations through partnerships and building on the gains over the past 20 years, I see AFENET achieving more and contributing towards a healthier Africa. A continued culture of collaborations, accountability, creativity and adaptability towards technological developments such as AI and open communication is very key to AFENET’s continuity.