Samuel Ikani

Head/Director - MERL , Society for Family Health, Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria, Nigeria

A development expert with 14 years of programme management, research, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning experience. I have designed, implemented, and managed funded projects and programmes. I provide a senior-level leadership role in managing organisational strategy, monitoring & evaluation systems & projects. I can work remotely and onsite.

Contact Samuel Ikani
Area of Expertise:
  • Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
  • Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
  • Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
Professional Experience:

With over 14 years of experience working with International and national nongovernmental/non-profit organisations, I worked in various capacities such as implementation, advisory, country management, and senior leadership. I have coordinated project designs, reviews and closeouts and led mid to large-scale research, surveys, assessment, evaluations, and course-correction approaches. I am excellent at using quantitative and qualitative methods to
conduct research, design and oversee knowledge management systems, and facilitate learning and evidence generation. I have experience working on humanitarian, education, livelihood, disability-focused programmes, health, governance, and youth-focused and women’s rights interventions with
extensive knowledge of Nigeria’s socio-economic and political environment and Africa. I have strong knowledge of donor-funded USAID, World Bank, Global Fund, FCDO, DANIDA, NORAD, GCERF, EU, BMGF, McArthur and Ford Foundations projects.

I worked as the Country Manager for Impact Assessment and Shared Learning at Action Aid International, Nigeria. In this role, I designed and operationalised effective and appropriate systems and processes for planning, measuring progress and milestones, outcomes, and impact, improving learning, and reporting across the organisation. I integrated quality controls and assurance measures to ensure that knowledge products met best practices and stakeholders’ expectations. Most importantly, my initiatives improved donor confidence, stakeholders’ satisfaction, and the organisation’s informational efficiency. AAN can now respond to proposals using primary data sources while synthesising secondary sources. Again, I ensured efficient and effective project management and resource control systems using the value-for-money framework.

I was the Head of Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at Nigeria's Centre for Communication & Social Impact (birthed by the John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programme). I provided senior-level technical leadership across various portfolios of programme intervention in
Nigeria. In this capacity, I led an ambitious research team and an agenda to answer key programmatic questions related to SBC interventions. I led in developing CCSI’s technical products, designing and implementing projects, training and mentoring staff, generating knowledge products, and engaging in overall organisation and sector-wide outreach and thought leadership. My portfolio includes 11 research projects on various topics, including family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition and water, sanitation, hygiene governance, elections, education, and agriculture. The current research portfolio is valued at $1 million. It addresses various SBC approaches, including provider behaviour change, social accountability, youth-led social media campaigns, integrated SBC, and gender-sensitive SBC programming.

Currently, I work for the Society for Family Health as the Head of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning, where I provide strategic and operational support for SFH MERL strategies and strengthen the evidence base for programmatic activity. In addition, I oversight the development and implementation of robust monitoring, evaluation and learning, support monitoring of programme implementation, and lead organisation-wide efforts to reflect on
performance and learning to inform continual programme improvements. I promote the results of the programmes, disseminate evidence and results, and identify strategic opportunities to transfer knowledge to multiple stakeholders at project and country levels.

Education:

I have earned an MSc in Business Analytics, MSc in Health Research, Masters in Health Economics and BSc in Business Management with several
exposures to international and local training, workshops and conferences.

Available for:

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

Years of Experience:

10-15 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English

Nationality:

Nigeria