Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 32 years of experience, the expert is a public health professional specializing in health systems, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and disease control. Key qualifications include health policy dialogue, epidemic preparedness, and health financing. The expert has led both international and local initiatives, collaborating with organizations such as the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, WHO, and UNAIDS. Career highlights include managing SRHR programs in West Africa and supporting health reforms during political turmoil in Mali. Known for comprehensive analysis, integrity, and a practical approach, the expert has excelled in leadership roles.

Project experience and donor exposure

With extensive experience collaborating with international donors, the expert has worked with entities including the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, WHO, UNAIDS, EU-INTPA, UN, and the World Bank. These collaborations involved project implementation, technical assistance, and capacity building in health and SRHR sectors. The expert's work spanned both regional and national levels, focusing on health policy dialogue, epidemic preparedness, and aid effectiveness. Geographic locations of this donor-related work include Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Zambia, Jamaica, Niger, Benin, Burundi, and Switzerland.

Sectors and geographic focus

The expert has worked across key sectors such as public health, gender and human rights, social development, and disaster reduction. Responsibilities have included senior technical advisory positions, program management, and thematic expertise in health and SRHR. With interdisciplinary knowledge in health policy, epidemic preparedness, and gender rights, the expert employs a systems thinking approach. Geographic scope includes regional and country-specific work in Africa and the Caribbean, engaging in health reforms and crisis response initiatives. Extensive geographic experience in Africa and the Caribbean, with significant work in Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Zambia, Jamaica, Niger, Benin, and Burundi, has provided the expert with deep familiarity with local governance and cultural dynamics, particularly in West Africa.

Languages and education

Fluent in English and French, the expert holds a UN language proficiency certificate in French obtained in 2007. Additional language competencies include conversational German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Arabic. These languages have been utilized in diverse international contexts, facilitating effective communication and collaboration in multilingual teams across various countries, including West Africa, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The expert's educational background includes an MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, and both a Medical Degree and an MSc in Theoretical Biology from the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. The academic focus encompasses public health, theoretical biology, and medical studies, with a strong emphasis on health in developing countries.