Professional Experience:
Globally respected evaluation, evidence and development-effectiveness executive with 23+ years of progressive leadership designing, commissioning, managing and institutionalizing independent evaluation functions across complex humanitarian, development, government, and multilateral environments. Cumulative stewardship of donor-funded portfolios exceeding USD 230 million for USAID, FCDO/DFID, the European Union, UN/IFAD, the UK Conflict, Stability & Security Fund (CSSF), and the Malala Fund with senior leadership of nine major flagship evaluation and MEL programs across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Zambia, West Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. A formally trained evaluator (Master of Evaluation) and TC-ILO certification in Impact Evaluation, Kemi blends advanced methodological expertise including impact evaluation, RCTs, quasi-experimental design, mixed methods, contribution analysis, theory-based evaluation, outcome harvesting, value-for-money, and real-time evaluation with executive-level acumen in evaluation governance, quality assurance, organizational learning, evaluation capacity development, and evidence uptake.
Currently builds and institutionalizes a new independent evaluation function at the Royal Commission for AlUla, embedding evaluation governance into national-scale policy and investment cycles. Previously architected enterprise-wide evaluation, performance, and learning systems at NEOM across 16 economic sectors, and led MEL functions for USAID GHSC-PSM, DFID PATHS2 (USD 230M flagship), and UK CSSF West Africa. Trusted partner to Boards, Executive Directors, ministers, and donor principals; recognized contributor to global evaluation discourse through the Global Evidence Summit, European Evaluation Summit, and TAKE conferences.
CORE EXECUTIVE QUALIFICATIONS
Evaluation Function Leadership — Independent evaluation office design • Evaluation governance, policy & standards • Evaluation quality assurance systems • Annual evaluation plans • Corporate thematic evaluations • Recommendation tracking & management response systems • Public disclosure of evaluations
Evaluation Methodologies — Impact Evaluation • Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) • Quasi-Experimental Methods • Mixed Methods • Theory-Based Evaluation • Contribution Analysis • Process Tracing • Outcome Harvesting • Performance Evaluation • Developmental Evaluation • Value-for-Money & Cost-Effectiveness Analysis • Economic Evaluation • Policy Evaluation • Real-Time Evaluation • Causal Inference & Attribution
International Standards & Norms — UNEG Norms & Standards • OECD-DAC Evaluation Criteria• ALNAP Principles • Evaluation Ethics • Evaluation Independence • Humanitarian Evaluation Practice
Organizational Learning & Evidence Use — Evidence uptake & knowledge translation • Adaptive management (CLA) • Recommendation follow-up systems • Institutional learning cycles • Communities of Practice • Evidence-informed decision-making
Evaluation Capacity Development — Mentoring of evaluators • Building MEL teams • National evaluation system strengthening • Government capacity development • Professionalization of the evaluation function
Executive Leadership — Board & ministerial advisory • Multi-country team leadership • Recruitment & talent development • USD 230M+ portfolio stewardship • Donor principal engagement • Inter-agency partnerships
GLOBAL EVALUATION LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
USD 230M+ cumulative donor-funded portfolio stewardship across USAID, FCDO/DFID, EU, UN/IFAD, CSSF and the Malala Fund.
Nine flagship donor-funded programs led or co-led at senior MEL/evaluation level
Established a new independent Economic Evaluation functions embedding evaluation into national policy and investment cycles.
Architected enterprise-wide MEL, KPI and performance governance systems
Led end-line impact evaluations
Pioneered the integration of "Stories of Change" with Theory of Change
Recognized global thought leader