On January 14th (4pm SAST) the SVRI, co-funded by the Australian Volunteers Program (AVP), hosted the second edition of the Virtual Launch series of the SVRI Forum 2026.

The session shared the latest Forum updates, highlighting emerging themes shaping the programme, while offering a space for partners, practitioners, and researchers across all regions to ask questions and connect as we continue our journey together toward Bangkok!

Opening and SVRI Forum overview

Dr Claudia Garcia-Moreno
SVRI Forum Chair and LC Founding Member

Elizabeth Dartnall
SVRI Executive Director

Moderator

Panelists

Alessandra Guedes: Gender and Development Manager at UNICEF Innocenti and co-chair of SVRI’s Leadership Council.

Dr Nambusi Kyegombe: Associate Professor at LSHTM and Head of the Social Determinants of Health portfolio at the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. Repeat Forum Presenter, Reviewer and Partner.

Iris Nxumalo-De Smidt: Founder of Lorha Nakambe Consulting, and former SVRI Young Professional Programme bursary recipient and Award Winner. 

Mariam Gagoshashvili: Program Officer with the Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice International team at the Ford Foundation – SVRI Forum Funder.