Key skills and expertise

With over 28 years of experience in humanitarian and emergency programming, project management, and resource mobilization, the expert has demonstrated exceptional capability in managing large multi-sector projects with budgets up to 20 million USD. These projects have focused on critical areas such as food security, agriculture, health/nutrition, and education across Africa. Career highlights include serving in senior leadership roles, providing strategic guidance and oversight. The expert's technical skills encompass GIS, GPS, and remote sensing, with significant accomplishments in program quality standards and controls. A strong background in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) and results-based management approaches further underscores their expertise.

Project experience and donor exposure

Bringing extensive experience in collaborating with international donors, the expert has worked with organizations such as ECHO, EU, Sida, USAID, GAC, DANIDA, SDC, WFP, FAO, OFDA, Food for Peace, and DFID. Their involvement has included project implementation, resource mobilization, and program management in sectors like food security, agriculture, health/nutrition, WASH, economic development, and education. The scope of these projects ranges from regional to multi-country initiatives, primarily across West and Central Africa, including countries like Mali, Burundi, and Cote d'Ivoire.

Sectors and geographic focus

Having worked across multiple sectors, the expert's roles have spanned education, food systems and livelihoods, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), disaster reduction and humanitarian relief, agriculture and rural development, and advocacy. Previously held roles such as Country Director and Deputy Country Director involved overseeing strategic planning and program implementation. Their cross-cutting expertise includes integrating digital technologies like GIS and remote sensing into program management. Their work spans regional and country-specific initiatives, particularly in West and Central Africa, addressing complex development challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. The expert has extensive geographic experience in West and Central Africa, with significant roles in countries such as Mali, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Sudan. They have developed a deep understanding of the socio-cultural, geographic, and economic contexts of these regions, contributing to effective project management and strategic decision-making. Their work has involved long-term assignments and recurring involvement, particularly in managing large-scale, multi-sector projects that address regional development challenges.

Languages and education

Fluent in both English and French, the expert possesses full professional proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking. These language skills have been utilized extensively in international roles, contributing to effective communication in multilingual teams and facilitating interactions with diverse stakeholders. The expert's bilingual capabilities have been integral in managing projects across various regions, particularly in West and Central Africa, enhancing collaboration and understanding in complex, multi-country initiatives. With a background in academia, the expert is a current PhD student in the Rural Studies Program at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Canada. Previously, they were a PhD candidate in Geomatics Sciences at the University of Sherbrooke, Canada. They hold a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Buea, Cameroon. Additionally, they obtained a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Sir Sanford Fleming College, Canada.