Eleonora Aralla
Eleonora possesses over 15 years of experience in the development and humanitarian sectors, with the last 13 years spent in Southern Africa, where she has undertaken various roles across the region.
Currently, she holds the position of Country Representative for Zimbabwe and Eswatini for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), operating from Harare. In this capacity, Eleonora serves as the Chair of the Heads of Agencies of Zimbabwe, a forum that convenes most international and several national organizations engaged in humanitarian efforts within the country. She is also an active member of the Humanitarian Country Team, collaborating with stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of integrity and neutrality in representational functions while promoting transparency and coordination.
Eleonora has developed extensive expertise in assurance and accountability frameworks, providing guidance to local partners and advising humanitarian stakeholders. Her work places a strong emphasis on capacity strengthening in the due diligence processes for local organizations.
In a context characterized by significant political will to localize aid and increasingly constrained financial resources, Eleonora’s efforts are driven by a commitment to achieve core ethical standards of humanitarian action. This dedication ensures both effectiveness and impact while safeguarding affected populations and preserving the sector's credibility.
To foster inter-agency learning and enhance capacity sharing, Eleonora co-founded the Zimbabwe Alliance for Humanitarian Action, a network comprised of nine international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) advocating for improved coordination, aid effectiveness, and the promotion of locally-led humanitarian responses.
I joined the HQAI community as a member of the advisory and complaint board in November 2024.