Sandra Zerbo

Graduate Student , SOAS, University of London

London, United Kingdom

Over seven years’ experience launching and managing multi-country programs spanning basic education, health and gender, including partnership development and coordination, grantmaking, and organizing multiple stakeholder convenings. Experienced in program planning, implementation, budget tracking, and monitoring and evaluation coordination for multi-country initiatives in Africa.

Contact Sandra Zerbo
Area of Expertise:
  • Administration, Management, Finance/Accounting, Procurement
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
  • Social, Education, Gender, Youth, Child
Professional Experience:

11/15 – 3/16 Program Design Coordination Consultancy for Oxfam/UN Women’s Post-Ebola Women’s Economic Empowerment Program in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

- Steered a coherent and joined up approach across all stakeholders (Oxfam, UN Women, Governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone, CSOs, INGOs).
- Held regular coordination meetings to ensure work plans were agreed and followed adequately and agreed actions acted upon.
- Held regular one-to-one meetings, documenting decisions and ensuring agreed actions and decisions were followed through.
- Gathered inputs from different levels for the programme document.
- Coordinated finalization of the programme document.
- Analysed and communicated complex information to teams and other audiences, internally and externally.

9/13 – 6/15 Programs Coordinator, TrustAfrica, Dakar, Senegal

- Coordinated the implementation of the Program Strategic Plan (2011-2015).
- Monitored targets and deadlines, including harmonization of program work plans as well as develop recommendations for improvement.
- Maintained an up to date overview of program targets, including legal and compliance issues, planning and reviews.
- Ensured effective coordination and linkages among programs and between program and operations teams for an effective institutional coherence.
- Represented the organization at various internal and external gatherings as required.

1/12 – 6/15 Early Learning Innovations Program Officer, TrustAfrica, Dakar, Senegal.

- Oversaw the coordination of all activities related to the project, and the management of a dozen projects/grants implementing innovations in early reading skills with a strong component in monitoring and evaluation.
- Worked closely with the Programs Director to develop a timeline and milestones for the project, as per the project proposal, particularly for planning and scoping, small grants and technical assistance.
- Worked closely with technical expert(s) and an Advisory Panel to solicit for project proposals and issue grants for early learning innovations as per TrustAfrica’s grant making procedures.
- Organized technical assistance to improve the implementation, effectiveness and networking of partner organizations in the project countries.
- Working with technical expert(s), identified opportunities and recommended innovations and developed criteria for further support and replication.
- Prepared donor reports and coordinated efforts for the program’s next phase.

9/09- 12/11 Enhancing Women’s Dignity (MDG3) Project Coordinator, TrustAfrica, Dakar, Senegal

- Facilitated and managed all project processes under the direction of the Programs Director: grantmaking, budget, donor compliance, reporting, logistics, materials preparation and dissemination, consultancies, monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment.
- Worked closely with technical expert(s) to plan and implement specific program activities including research and technical assistance to partners

Education:

Candidate, MSc. Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, U.K. (completion date: September 2017).

M.A. Women’s Health, Suffolk University, Boston, MA.

M.S. Political Science/International Relations, Suffolk University, Boston, MA.

B.S. Business Administration, Suffolk University, Boston, MA (Summa cum Laude)

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments
  • Job opportunities
  • Being headhunted – make me an offer

Years of Experience:

5-10 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, French

Nationality:

Burkina Faso

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