Janice da Silva

IOPD Africa | Dakar, Senegal

Janice da Silva is an humanitarian, global goodwill ambassador and social worker, with 21 years of professional experience in development and international management, mainly within the United Nations system (UN-Habitat, UNODC, UNDP, UNFPA, UN-AIDS and GIZ).

She has an educational background in diplomatic studies, international cooperation and social services. Currently, Janice is program officer at IOPD (International Observatory for Participatory Democracy) Africa and a member of the global technical team for the Index on Participatory Democracy.

Janice speaks Caboverdean Crioulo, Portuguese, English, French and Spanish and is also a poet. A motivational speaker and development coach, she is a retro dress designer with her own brand, “Minina Retro.” Janice founded the global program ODOS (One Dress, One Smile) to empower women slum dwellers through fashion and capacity development for small business management. She is member of the Voluntary Consecrated Lay Women.