Ghana

Baba is an experienced Project management practitioner with specialty in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems development. He has over 7 years of experience in leading and supporting project implementation and measurement of results in Social Cohesion, Nutrition and Food Security, Livelihoods and Women Empowerment, Migration, Youth Development, Gender Equality, Agricultural Market Systems, WASH, Education, Sustainable Agriculture, Advocacy with Local and International Nonprofit Organizations. Baba Kankani is experienced in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, using modern ICT4D tools for research and project management; Proposal development, Data visualization with Power BI, LogAlto, and donor reporting. He also has experience in leading and supervising teams to successfully conduct qualitative and quantitative action research in an emergency context. He has worked with international and local humanitarian organizations, including SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Vibrant Village Foundation (Ghana), Management Systems International (MSI), and Action Aid Ghana where he developed technology-enabled Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems using platforms like CommCare, Survey Monkey, LogAlto, ODK, Kobo Toolbox, IFormBuilder, Magpi, PowerBi, GIS, and ArcGIS Pro. Baba Kankani holds a Masters degree(Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation) and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from the renowned Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Host Organization: Transparency & Accountability Initiative

Role at Host Organization: As a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Fellow, Baba will help implement TAI’s internal MEL system and practices, including data collection and analysis. TAI has an existing MEL system and recurring reflection and learning practices. The Fellow might be requested to consider ways to improve the current MEL approach and assist with the development of any new MEL tools. The Fellow will also support TAI’s learning initiatives, including staff internal reflection sessions, funder member-facing events and/or written products, support to our series of funder dialogues on different aspects of grantmaking practice and light research around TPA-related topics.

Benedicta is a monitoring and evaluation professional with five years of experience in youth advocacy, gender, and rural development in the nonprofit sector. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. While working as the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator at Plan International Ghana, she led in tracking project outcomes and conducting surveys for evidence-based advocacy on the She Leads Project. Over the past three years, Benedicta has advocated for the meaningful engagement of young people in leadership and decision-making by supporting Restless Development Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation to deliver compelling research on Young People’s priorities under the Youth Think Tank project. Benedicta has contributed to the academic research paper \"Making a Living: A Young Employment Agenda\" by Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, and she continues to volunteer as a youth researcher for civil society organizations, including Restless Development USA, Mastercard Foundation, and the ILO. Through these experiences, Benedicta has developed strong skills in youth leadership, data analysis, and communication skills for project management. Benedicta envisions a world where data can be used to make better decisions, improve lives, and make lasting impact for development

Host Organization: Generation

Role at Host Organization: As a Data and Impact Fellow, Benedicta will become comfortable “in the weeds” working with multiple sources of data, thinking through processes to improve data quality, and plugging in on advanced analyses with a Generation country or Generation Center of Excellence. Data is a key step of Generation’s methodology, informing, and validating our approach across the learner lifecycle. The Data and Impact team, with the support of the Fellow, is responsible for end-to-end data management, metrics, impact quantification, and supporting the organization to be data-driven across the board.

Jerome is a consultant with eight years of experience in business development, market research, and consulting in the private sector. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Ghana. For the past five years, Jerome has impacted entrepreneurs and businesses by creating market research reports, identifying business opportunities, and facilitating match-making programs between businesses and investors. Previously, as a senior operations analyst at Asoko Insight, he built and managed a portfolio of about 5000 companies and exposed them to investment and growth opportunities through his market research and business development activities. He also led high-level meetings with executive management of targeted local companies and multinationals, to form partnerships, and assess their need for investment and the possibilities for partnership. Previously, Jerome worked as an agro-business client advisor with Procredit Savings and Loans, where he provided financial services to a portfolio of agricultural enterprises, and disbursed a total of about $100000 in loans over 15 months. As a result of his experiences, he has developed strong business development, market research, and consulting skills. This has led to a strong interest in entrepreneurship and Agriculture, and a focus on achieving tangible social impact by improving access to finance and opportunities for affiliated enterprises.

Host Organization: Generation

Role at Host Organization: As a Global Business Development Fellow, Jerome will help identify potential employer partners and the key stakeholders at those companies, initiate outreach, and pitch to interested organizations. The Fellow will use Salesforce to record and track interactions and analyze their pipeline. The Fellow will also provide account support to current partners to increase retention and grow the relationships.Generation seeks to build and maintain global and regional partnerships with employers to hire our graduates in multiple countries as these types of partnerships will be critical to unlocking the ability of Generation to continue to grow the number of learners we can effectively serve, particularly for our tech programs.

Sandra Adu-Afram is a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist and with seven years of experience. She earned a Postgraduate Degree in chemical pathology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, where she worked on ovulatory Polycystic ovarian syndrome among Ghanaian women. Sandra currently volunteers as a front liner in the COVID-19 pandemic by taking samples of suspected cases in Ejisu municipality. She is a member of the accident and mass casualty team of Ejisu government hospital which responds and attends to emergency incidence. She also volunteers to treat patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Sandra combines this with working as the laboratory manager of Ejisu Government hospital where she provides administrative support, maintains laboratory inventory, and ensures the general day to day running of the laboratory unit. Previously, Sandra was involved in the setting up of an antiretroviral treatment center at a hospital with over 440 clients receiving treatment. Her experience in leadership roles and voluntary work has equipped her with skills in motivating others, handling responsibilities, and problem-solving. Sandra is passionate about medical related fields with special interest in public health and the reproductive health of women. She has a long term plan to pursue a PhD in molecular medicine and expand her knowledge and skills to impact the next generation of scientists while being a role model for young girls with interest in science.

Musah Mohammed Amin is a development practitioner with over 10 years of experience who promotes socio-economic development among impoverished communities in Ghana. Musah currently coordinates Nolbed Foundation’s pre-college gap-year program to bridge the gap between exceptional students and quality higher education. Since 2016, he has led the charge in identifying, recruiting, training, and guiding over 30 students from poor households in Ghana to secure placements and full-ride scholarships into globally renowned universities in the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Musah also helped over 100 pupils from basic public schools secure placement into Class-A high schools through Nolbed’s ancillary program. He volunteers business development support services to over 10 groups of small and medium-sized enterprises and community-based organizations in Ghana. Musah successfully completed his Master of Philosophy and conducted research on local-level social and economic development planning. Musah served as an Assistant District Development Planning Officer during his National Service at Atwima-Kwanwoma District Assembly in Ashanti, Ghana, where he helped prepare an Analytical Development Profile report for the District. Musah is passionate about promoting research-based youth development relative to human capital development initiatives.

Natasha Dadzie has four years of work experience in the nonprofit and education sectors. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. As an Engagement Manager with the New Entrepreneurs Xchange for Transformation: Idea to Impact program, she leads stakeholder engagements across platforms and provides venture development consultancy to entrepreneurs. Natasha is passionate about using business as a force for good: creating businesses that contribute to making social impact as well as generating wealth. She uses her expertise to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by helping young startups in Ghana build structure, create long term value and processes for business development, as well as to make social impact. She is passionate about social development, entrepreneurship, youth development, venture growth and success, girl empowerment, and child rights. She created, developed and managed the Ashesi Venture Incubator COVID Relief Impact Project: a collaborative effort to mitigate the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic in her community. Previously, as a Programs Manager for The BEIGE Foundation, she managed fifteen projects promoting and advocating for education, youth development, entrepreneurship, gender issues, financial literacy, and environmental sustainability. The BEIGE Foundation celebrated Natasha with the Youth Excellence League Award for her exceptional contribution to her organization and community in 2018. She has developed a lifelong urge to work on the fringes of social development, gaining leadership skills and exceptional expertise to run projects from inception to completion. She is a change agent, driving change in Africa.

Elijah has seven years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Renewable Natural Resources Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. Passionate about driving positive social change, Elijah is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of community-based nonprofit organization- Help Change Ghana which works to empower communities to take proactive actions to reduce litter, indiscriminate dumping of waste and undertake beautification projects such as tree planting. His most significant professional accomplishment with this organization is the design and launch of the Community Litter Prevention initiative which trained and developed skills of 300 volunteers through a train the trainer model in 2014. The initiative has since reached over 30,000 individuals in nine communities with information on litter prevention techniques. Additionally, he coordinated conservation education programs in community schools which increased formation of Eco-clubs to ninety-six as at March 2019. Elijah’s efforts have been tremendous in rekindling grassroots support in keeping clean communities and conserving nature. Previously, he worked with the National Disaster Management Organization where he coordinated a team which administered support for flood displaced victims in rural Accra. Also, he volunteered with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly in public cleanup events such as the National Sanitation Initiative. Through these experiences, he has developed skills in project planning and implementation, leadership development, training and capacity building. Elijah has strong desire for leadership development, entrepreneurship and community empowerment.

Host Organization: Keep America Beautiful

Role at Keep America Beautiful: At Keep America Beautiful, Elijah will work with the Programs Director to execute Keep America Beautiful’s signature programs focused on cigarette litter prevention and community beautification. He will execute a grant program, market the programs to their affiliates and a broader audience, help execute an educational campaign and research potential new sponsors.

Yaw has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the Catholic University of Ghana and is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Governance and Sustainable Development at the University of Cape Coast. In 2006, Yaw worked at the Ghana Education Service, where he trained personnel in educational software applications and managed a database of 2,000 students. Additionally, Yaw managed skills training programs in basic computing and auto-diagnostics at Suame Magazine, an industrial cluster of 200,000 artisans engaged in vehicle repair, metal casting, welding and fabrication in Kumasi, while facilitating strategic collaborations among the private sector, academia, and government to strengthen skills and business development initiatives. As SpanAfrica’s Regional Director for Ghana, Yaw coordinates programs to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). Yaw is a member of the Pan-African Competitiveness Forum (PACF), which works to strengthen the competitiveness of African countries through shared best practices and efficient cluster management.rs of experience in the nonprofit sector and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the Catholic University of Ghana and is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Governance and Sustainable Development at the University of Cape Coast. In 2006, Yaw worked at the Ghana Education Service, where he trained personnel in educational software applications and managed a database of 2,000 students. Additionally, Yaw managed skills training programs in basic computing and auto-diagnostics at Suame Magazine, an industrial cluster of 200,000 artisans engaged in vehicle repair, metal casting, welding and fabrication in Kumasi, while facilitating strategic collaborations among the private sector, academia, and government to strengthen skills and business development initiatives. As SpanAfrica’s Regional Director for Ghana, Yaw coordinates programs to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). Yaw is a member of the Pan-African Competitiveness Forum (PACF), which works to strengthen the competitiveness of African countries through shared best practices and efficient cluster management.

Host Organization: CentroNia

Abrefa has three years of professional experience and 12 years voluntary experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. While working as a Monitoring and Evaluation officer with SABRE Trust in Ghana under the DFID and Comic Relief-funded FTTT program, he helped improve the educational outcomes for early primary school children in some selected districts of the Western and Central region of Ghana. Abrefa is the Co-Founder Director of a community-based youth-led organization called Young Achievers Caucus and has since 2012 contributed his effort immensely to help improve the standard of living of children living in deprived communities through community outreach programs, with the main aim of providing sexual and reproductive health education to the youth to help curb the menace of teen pregnancy. Additionally, he runs an initiative (Adolescent Sexual Health Initiative) that focuses on helping teenagers in communities to better understand their sexuality and make informed choices to leave safe, healthy and productive lives. Through these experiences, he has acquired skills in monitoring and evaluation, managing project data and other administrative duties. Abrefa through volunteering and as a co-founder has acquired strong project planning, coordination and implementation skills especially at the grassroots level. Abrefa has a strong passion for community and child development.

Host Organization : World Reader

Role at Host Organization : Abrefa will be responsible for developing monitoring tools, such as surveys, reading assessments and electronic data collection templates; data analysis and visualization; reviewing, editing and providing guidelines for the collection impact stories and lessons learned from the field. He will also ensure that data storage systems, records and files are setup and support training for staff, enumerators and partners as required on data collection and monitoring as required; and support internal & external communication of lessons learnt and best practices.

Donna has over three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She earned a Master of Arts in International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in French and Psychology both from the University of Ghana. Her Masters’ dissertation focused on, “The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1820 on Sexual Violence against Women: Prospects and challenges.” Currently a Program Assistant at the UNESCO Office in Accra, Donna provides support in the implementation of program activities in areas of social science research capacity development; climate change and migration; and youth civic engagement. In partnership with a colleague, she has prepared a background research paper on the nexus between climate change and migration. She has also been engaged in an assignment to map and assess national youth policies in Sub Saharan Africa. While still at UNESCO, Donna worked on a volunteer assignment for UNFPA on engaging men and boys to prevent gender-based violence. Through her work experience, Donna has developed good writing, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation skills. Her areas of particular interest are gender equality and youth development.

Host Organization : PYXERA Global

Cosmos Elorm Godson has five years of work experience in the nonprofit sector and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Finance from Université Mohammed V, Morocco. As a humanitarian worker, he helped New Forest Green to bring education to the youth, skill development for women, gender equality activism and domestic violence prevention in the deprived communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana. He currently works with Strategy Africa as Project Coordinator where he coordinates educational programs for brilliant but needy students and deals with human rights issues. In the past, Cosmos volunteered to teach in a public Senior High School in the Upper West Region of Ghana to help bridge the educational gap between the Northern (where there is acute lack of qualified teachers) and Southern Ghana. As a Rotarian, Cosmos has volunteered and served on many charitable projects of the club. Some of these projects include Rotary Family Health Day. Just to mention a few, this project brings health screening, immunization and distribution of drugs to the deprived communities in Accra; Walk for Polio Eradication, which creates awareness and raises funds to eradicate polio globally; career guidance training in schools; donation of books and learning materials for schools. Additionally, Cosmos contributes to Strategy Africa’s quest to bringing education and human right’s advocacy to marginalized children. Throughout his several volunteering experiences, he gained strong project management and fundraising skills. Cosmos is strongly interested and passionate about learning and achieving goals in youth empowerment and humanitarian microfinance.

Host Organization: Heartland Alliance International

 Role at Host Organization: Cosmos will support the operational aspects of HAI, including but not limited to: subaward, human resources, budget, and finance management and provide translation or interpretation as needed. He will provide back-end support to ensure quality operations that are on par or better than international standards and best practices.