From Raw Passion to Structured Impact: Ewube Egbe on Mentoring Across Africa's Water Sector

Ewube Kelly Laure Egbe is based in Buea, in Cameroon’s Southwest Region. She is the founder and coordinator of One Green Africa, a women-led, youth-driven organisation focused on climate adaptation, circular economy solutions, and community resilience. Professionally, she works at the intersection of water policy, disaster risk reduction, and green livelihoods, empowering displaced populations and youth to drive local environmental action.

Ewube takes part in the Women in WASH & RWSN mentorship programme as both a mentor and a mentee.

As a Mentor: Passing Forward the Guidance She Received

Ewube’s motivation to mentor centers on amplifying the work of young women leading climate and water initiatives across Africa. “I was inspired to become a mentor to pass forward the guidance I received and to amplify young women leading climate and water initiatives across Africa.”

What she finds most rewarding is watching ideas take structured form. “The most rewarding aspect is watching my mentee transform ambitious ideas into structured, high-impact community solutions with confidence and clarity.”

A Mentorship That Strengthened Grassroots Leadership

Ewube points to her work with Humaira Bala Na’iya, founder and executive chairperson of WY-ICARE in Nigeria, as a standout experience. “Guiding her through refining strategic governance and integrating climate-smart WASH solutions for vulnerable women and youth affirmed how targeted mentorship directly strengthens grassroots leadership.” She adds that the relationship extended into broader guidance as well. “Also, providing her with ideas on career and personal development for proper maturity and alignment.”

How Mentoring Has Shaped Her

Ewube describes mentoring as sharpening several skills at once. “Mentoring refined my active listening, strategic coaching, and cross-border leadership skills. Supporting my mentee’s vision challenged me to stay sharp on emerging WASH innovations, reinforcing my conviction that mutual learning is the foundation of effective professional development.”

Her Advice to First-Time Mentors

Ewube encourages new mentors to trust what they already bring to the relationship. “Step forward without hesitation. You do not need to know everything; your lived experience, constructive feedback, and willingness to listen are invaluable. Mentorship is a transformative two-way relationship that enriches your professional journey just as much as your mentee’s.”

Why She Believes Mentorship Matters

For Ewube, mentorship addresses structural barriers directly. “Mentorship breaks systemic barriers, especially for women in technical sectors like WASH. It bridges knowledge gaps, accelerates leadership development, and builds a supportive network necessary for tackling complex, interlinked climate and water security challenges across Africa.”

As a Mentee: Sharpening Strategy and Governance

Ewube sought her own mentor to strengthen a specific set of skills. “I sought a mentor to sharpen my strategic expertise in monitoring, evaluation, and water governance. I wanted structured guidance from an experienced professional to elevate One Green Africa’s operational design and align our local WASH initiatives with international standards.”

Learning to Structure Impact

Working with her mentor, Nges Appolinaire Abang, an experienced monitoring and evaluation practitioner from Cameroon, Ewube learned to build systematic project monitoring frameworks. “His insights enabled me to measure community-level WASH impacts more effectively and strengthen our evidence-based policy advocacy.”

What Having a Mentor Has Given Her

Ewube describes her mentor’s role as an objective sounding board. “My mentor provided an objective sounding board, encouraging me to think critically about program sustainability and leadership resilience. His guidance boosted my confidence to navigate complex policy environments and position our grassroots work effectively on global platforms.”

Her Advice to Anyone Considering Becoming a Mentee

Ewube emphasises initiative as much as openness. “Be intentional, open-minded, and proactive. Come to your sessions with clear goals and a willingness to accept constructive feedback. A mentor can unlock doors and offer perspective, but your initiative determines how far that guidance takes you.”

When asked what mentorship has meant to her, Ewube describes it as “the bridge that turns raw passion into structured, transformative impact.”

What She Recommends

When asked for a book, tool or resource recommendation, Ewube points to two frameworks she considers complementary. “I highly recommend the RWSN Sustainable Groundwater Development Toolkits alongside the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change framework. Together, they bridge practical technical standards for rural water supply with essential climate mobility policies, ensuring inclusive, climate-resilient WASH access.”