Joseph Brighton Malekela (30), born and raised in Njombe – Tanzania, has over 10 years of experience in advocating for youth engagement policies in
decision-making, peace, security, and development processes. Currently, Joseph is a member of Youth Sounding Board of European Union in
Tanzania, and serves as Executive Director of The African Leadership Initiatives for Impact (ALII), focusing on empowering youth in leadership,
peace, and development. Joseph is an Alumni of Mandela Washington Fellowship (2024), and UN Youth Champion of the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations in Tanzania. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and ethics and is currently finalising a Master’s degree in Strategic and Peace studies, both at the University of Dar-Es-Salaam in Tanzania. Through the Organization of ALII, Joseph Co-Chairs a large youth network of CSOs working on Youth, Peace and Security called Youth4Peace Agenda Coalition of Tanzania.
Joseph is an alumni of several international Leadership programs and Fellowship, such as, Mandela Washington Fellowship (2024) by Department of State in USA; Young Citizens Forum (YCF) By Friedrick Ebert Stiftung (2024) in Tanzania; Global Peace Pioneers (2023) by Global Peace Foundation in Seoul, South Korea; Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) EAC Regional Leadership Centre Cohort 48 (2023) in Nairobi, Kenya; Gamal Abdel-Nasser Fellowship for International Leadership, Cohort 2 (2021) in Cairo, Egypt; The 12th UNESCO Youth Forum in 2021 as youth representative from Tanzania; and pioneered as Program officer of the 1st Mwalimu Nyerere Pan-AFrican Young Leaders Fellowship (2022) hosted under Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation in Tanzania. Joseph’s exceptional contributions have been duly recognized by renowned institutions and organizations locally and globally. He received UNESCO Global Citizenship Peace Education Prize 2025 provided by UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. He was also honored as the Outstanding Youth in Peace and Security during the Tanzania Emerging Youth Awards Provided by African Youth Transformation and Prime Minister’s Office in Tanzania (2023); Best Volunteer of the Year 2021 by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Tanzania through his works at the Global Peace Foundation Tanzania, and also acknowledged as a Distinguished Human Rights Defender of the month for January 2020 by Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC).
Joseph have convened professional consultancy works with several institutions such as; youth-led Civil Society Organization Capacity Assessment and Development Plan contracted by Save The Children; Developed the Strategic Plans of Youth Partnership Countrywide (YPC), Youth of United Nations Association (YUNA Tanzania) and ElimikaWikiend. He have further prepared technical papers, policy briefs, speeches and research works presented to national and international platforms. As a committed young leader and social change-maker, Joseph has dedicated his time, knowledge, and
skills to raise Champion the 2030 Global Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on Goal number 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. He actively empowers new generation of young leaders in Tanzania and consistently influenceing mechanisms for youth participation and engagement in decision- making processes, peacebuilding initiatives, conflict resolutions, mediation and the prevention of violence, ultimately striving to create peaceful communities. In addition, for over the past 7 years, every year in-line with international day of Peace, Joseph has been convening National Forums on Youth, Peace and Security to foster inter-generational
dialogues, influence policies on youth participation to decision making and peace processes in Tanzania.
