Professional Experience:
As Program Manager Media for Development I design, implement and manage projects, with the aim to improve human rights, peace, social change and democracy in (post-) conflict settings. In the centre are capacity development, advocacy, the strength of partners (political movements, grass roots groups, civil society organizations, private/public partnerships) in Africa. Main achievements:
- Design and implementation of projects with African young people in Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and Senegal on political inclusion, social cohesion using capacity development, online and offline debates, conflict sensitive negotiating skills. Objective is to develop and support strong African groups of young people, for economic development, peace building and inclusion.
- For international NGO's I designed, developed and managed (multi-) funded projects, often in challenging situations. Very used to start up programs 'from scratch'; experienced in donor relations (business development, financial and narrative reporting). Human resources experience: managed staff up to 60 people.
- As part of the management team reorganized the Dutch RNW Media as a broadcasting industry into a NGO media for social change, using innovative media tools (online platforms, social media etc.)
- For BBC Media Action in South Sudan managed 3 projects and 45 staff in high security situation; responsible for design and implementing contingency plans; worked together with other international NGO's on evacuation plans, security plans.
- For American NGO Internews developed and implemented and managed projects in Ivory Coast and Central African Republic. Developed new tools and projects and based on successful impact secured new funding in these countries.
Fundraising and business development for new projects and new opportunities: for the British NGO Development Media International 1.5 million US$ in Democratic Republic of Congo (behaviour change communication to reduce child mortality). With the Geneva based NGO International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) I designed a new strategy for diverse and multiple funding of global programs on migrants and host communities. Tasks included relationships with donors e.g. European Union, Open Society Foundation, Ford Foundation, Swiss and Dutch government.
- For ICMC I managed in the Brussels liaison office 3 European Union funded (5 million Euro) programs on migration for young people. I started up the EU funded West Africa Migration and Development Program (Mali, Niger, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso), liaising with international partners, European donors.