Key skills and expertise

With 30 years of experience, the expert excels in community development, education, and youth-focused programs. Managing international projects valued at up to USD 25 million, they have successfully developed partnerships exceeding USD 5 million. Key skills include project and contract management, strategic planning, and international stakeholder collaboration. Career highlights include roles such as Team Leader and Director, where they have achieved significant results in institutional capacity building and public-private partnership facilitation. Their work spans organizations like USAID and the World Bank across regions including Djibouti, Afghanistan, and Southern Sudan.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving international donors such as USAID, UNICEF, World Bank, DFID, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Responsibilities have included project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building in education and youth-focused programs. These initiatives have been both regional and national in scope, covering geographic locations like Djibouti, Afghanistan, Zambia, and Southern Sudan. The expert has managed programs ranging from USD 600,000 to USD 25 million, focusing on education system strengthening, youth employment, and public-private partnerships.

Sectors and geographic focus

The expert has worked across sectors including education, community development, and youth employment. Previously held roles such as Team Leader and Director, focusing on program development, implementation, and management. Their cross-cutting expertise includes public-private partnerships and institutional capacity building. They have engaged in international initiatives in regions like Djibouti, Afghanistan, and Southern Sudan, addressing education system strengthening and youth entrepreneurship. Their interdisciplinary knowledge spans workforce development, governance, and technical assistance in both regional and country-specific contexts. Geographic experience includes regions such as Djibouti, Afghanistan, Zambia, Southern Sudan, and Nigeria, with deep familiarity with local governance and cultural dynamics, particularly in Djibouti. Regional expertise extends to countries such as Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Ghana, where they have managed and evaluated education and youth-focused programs.

Languages and education

Bringing over years of experience, the expert is a native speaker of English and Akan and is professionally proficient in French. They have used these language skills in international development contexts, working with multilingual teams and engaging with diverse stakeholders in regions such as Djibouti and Southern Sudan. The expert also possesses basic knowledge of Hausa and very basic knowledge of Arabic, enhancing their ability to communicate in multi-lingual environments. With a background in education, they hold a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota, USA, specializing in Comparative and International Development and Education. They also obtained a Master of Education from the same institution, focusing on Teacher Leadership and International Education Policy. Additionally, the expert earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a minor in French from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.