Phenny Omondi – Youth Sustainability Action Artwork

Ekasi Podcast

We believe that stories have the power to influence and inspire our university community. Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh, we are seeing the impact on the lives of Scholars but also the wider Edinburgh community and beyond. Thanks to this inspiring community of Scholars, stories have emerged about culture, race, identity, leadership and gender. Through this podcast, we want to use stories of day-to-day life to address these themes and inspire our community to reflect, connect, understand and where needed – challenge one another to make change together.

All Episodes

Ekasi Podcast

Phenny Omondi – Youth Sustainability Action

December 03, 2025 • Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the university of Edinburgh • Season 4 • Episode 2

Send us a text

Phenny Omondi is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar whose academic journey reflects her deep commitment to sustainable agriculture and climate action. She earned a BSc in Agricultural Engineering from EARTH University in Costa Rica, where she developed a strong foundation in agronomy and sustainability, and later pursued an MSc in International Development at the University of Edinburgh. These experiences not only broadened her global perspective but also shaped her vision for resilient food systems and the empowerment of smallholder farmers.

Building on this academic grounding, Phenny has accumulated substantial experience in agricultural development across East Africa and beyond. As a Field Knowledge Specialist with One Acre Fund, she led complex agronomy projects, including pilot initiatives on soil organic matter and lime adoption, and scaled programs on optimised maize seed variety recommendations, remote sensing-based planting date guidance, and social behaviour change communication for planting compliance.

In May 2024, she joined the Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) as the Agricultural Recovery Hub Director based in Kenya, where she helps food banks worldwide enhance and scale agricultural recovery efforts. Her work emphasizes the intersection of agriculture and climate action, with a particular focus on the critical role of smallholder farmers in fostering sustainable and resilient food systems.

Phenny’s leadership and dedication have been recognised internationally, including her selection as a 30under30 Elevating the Voice of Women in Agriculture (EVWA) Changemaker by the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens an honor that highlights her contributions to climate action and food security.