Fredrick Owuor Odinga
Nairobi
Summary
An experienced evidenced based manager in social accountability, governance, research and policy advocacy who has led and guided successful projects, research activities, advocacy initiatives and community led service delivery monitoring working independently and collectively in a team to drive change.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Residency Programme Development Specialist
Extituto De Politica Abierta
03.2023 - Current
- Guide design and piloting of Youth Interactive Platform in Kenya
- Knowledge documentation and management .
- Participated in team projects, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively.
Program Manager - Governance and Accountability
Africa's Voices Foundation (AVF)
01.2021 - 02.2023
- Strengthen citizen voices in fragile and conflict affected states in Somalia in peace building, stabilization, humanitarian/development sectors
- Promotion of key concepts, frameworks, and theories around community engagement and social accountability to affected populations
- Deployed media-based technology (Radio, SMS and software) to create awareness, spur dialogue with citizens and authorities as well as collate & analyze citizen views to generate quantitative and qualitative insights to drive policy discussion and change
- Oversee and lead participatory social research design, in both qualitative and quantitative methods e.g survey design, questionnaire design, focus group discussions
- Produce analytical outputs (reports, briefs, blogs) for clear policy and social impact among marginalized groups including gender, persons with disabilities and minority clans
- Support project development and funding in areas of disability inclusion, peace-building, governance, humanitarian solutions and resilience
- Promote development communication by developing information and education materials and representing the organizations in forums, donor meetings, learning events, network and academic conferences by presenting different methods, learning and results of implemented projects
- Promote and set standards for project management by developing tools to ensure effective delivery and monitoring of multiple projects simultaneously
- Work with a range of stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental organizations) to identify advocacy problems, provide technical support, build collaboration to influence change
Program Manager - Inclusive Education
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
10.2020 - 12.2020
- Develop programme and advocacy strategies towards education of marginalized children including increasing Access to Quality Education for Children and Adolescent with Disabilities and Youth Engagement in Community Led Monitoring
- Oversight over teacher training on inclusive education to enhance professional development
- Lead, coordinated and represented the organization in network forums including SDG-Kenya Forum, Action for Children with disabilities and Leaving No One Behind
- Collaborated with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to create learning materials such as curriculum design, online content
- Mainstreaming of core approaches including social accountability, social inclusion and gender and resilience in education.
- Provision of strategic direction and top-quality advice on policy based- research
- Documenting knowledge and best practices and convening community of practice to disseminate and enhance learning.
Manager/Acting Global Lead-Social Accountability
Vountary Service Overseas (VSO)
04.2016 - 09.2020
- Successfully designed social accountability flagship programme, training module and tools (online and offline)
- Worked with United Disabled Person in Kenya (UDPL) to train over 500 persons with disabilities as social accountability champions in Kenya
- Successfully coordinated context and policy analysis research including situation analysis on level of citizen engagement and political economic analysis for early Childhood Education
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance
Program Coordinator - Advocacy and Influence
VSO Jitolee
01.2013 - 03.2016
- Led the overall implementation of the increasing access to inclusive education, community empowerment for deaf inclusion and proactive inclusion of person with disabilities in environment and natural resource management projects by establishing inclusive coordination mechanism, governance structure, a shared vision and program approach amongst all partners, and clear procedures for information sharing and learning across all partners and stakeholders.
- Provided strong grant and financial management of all project activities and ensured best use of resources by preparing sound budgets, monitoring project activities and expenses, assured timely completion of all narrative and financial reporting is complete and timely, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and delivering on-time and high-quality program outputs
- Worked with Education Assessment Resource Coordinators, Kenya Society for the Deaf and Association for Physical Disabled in Kenya to support assessment for children with disabilities, access to assistive devices such as hearing aids, wheelchairs and monitor impact in the target population
- Ensured a strong collaborative relationships with partners and collaborators – based on principles of mutual trust and respect, mutual accountability, inclusion and transparency
- In partnership with Kenya Institute for Special Education assessed teachers capacity, developed modules and trained them on deaf children learning methodologies and Kenya Sign Language.
- Supervised project implementation team to deliver on financial and narrative reports, project updates, project-level MEAL, track project finances, and develop project newsletters, info sheets, briefing papers or other knowledge-sharing materials, among other responsibilities.
- Advise, guide, and pro-actively supported research efforts in the organization to ensure strong linkages between research and advocacy priorities, and to assure that research contributes to identified advocacy priorities.
- Guided and supported the process of advocacy planning to ensure change influence at local, national and regional level by fostering well defined advocacy priorities, targets, opportunities and the resources/evidence needed in order to powerfully influence the identified targets.
- Served as a Policy and Advocacy technical resource for project partners and collaborators by providing technical support, knowledge sharing, and strategic guidance to project partners and CSO collaborators
Project Advocacy Officer
Kenya Organization for Environmental Education (KOEE)
04.2010 - 12.2012
- Develop, lead and oversee the implementation of environmental education Advocacy strategy.
- Lead advocacy efforts on identified advocacy priorities by Kenya Organization for Environmental Education.
- Undertake research and analysis including preparing position papers for KOEE on advocacy priorities in consultation with stakeholder
- Produce reports, briefing notes and other materials on advocacy priorities or related issues to the CEO and the Management Board.
- Build and maintain good working relationships and contact with stakeholders, such as National Environment Management Authority, Kenya Institute of Education, donors, the community, NGOs and media to progress KOEE’s role.
- Coordinate and facilitate policy discussions, expert meetings and workshops in progressing KOEE’s advocacy agenda.
- Represent KOEE on various engagements and advocate forums
- Provide timely update and advice to stakeholders and the management team on advocacy issues or other issues that arise.
Project Officer
Eco-Ethics Intenational - Kenya Chapter
08.2009 - 03.2010
- Created and delivered presentations to stakeholders regarding project updates, results and milestones
- Managed internal and public enquiries regarding project matters by phone, email and face to face
- Supported meetings and project updates by collecting, arranging and distributing supporting materials
- Conducted risk analysis on project financial aspects, reporting findings and concerns to project managers through presentations
- Managed team scope, schedule and assignments for duration of project
- Created weekly, monthly and quarterly reports for stakeholders regarding project information including results, budgets, expenditures and analytics
- Managed the event planning and coordination, including diary management and organising logistics for project-wide events
- Communicated arrangements clearly and concisely to confirm all personnel fully understood and could deliver to exceptional standards
- Achieved desired results by monitoring project progress, anticipating potential bottlenecks and implementing preventative action
- Managed project team, coordinating contractor activities to execute projects under-budget and within strict deadlines
- Tracked costs and expenses for analysis against the original budget, strengthening internal cost controls
- Delivered status reports to stakeholders for budgeting and planning purposes.
Environmental Field Officer
Kenya Organization for Environmental Education
08.2008 - 07.2009
- Allocated equipment, personnel and resources effectively to achieve objectives
- Identified security threats during investigations, inspections and patrols, performing corrective actions promptly to minimize further threats
- Liaised with unit members and colleagues through briefings, operational reports and presentations
- Prepared and modified operational strategies and plans to achieve set goals
- Delegated tasks to colleagues based on ability, competence and legal scope of practice
- Assessed effectiveness of training at regular intervals, striving for continuous development and improvement.
Intern
National Environment Management Authority
09.2007 - 07.2008
- Participated in meetings and recorded minutes to maintain proper documentation
- Executed administrative tasks under managerial supervision to optimize workflow
- Segregated and labeled products to maintain organized inventory
- Collaborated with management and team members on end-to-end project needs, organizing materials, facilitating communication and proofreading work
- Handled phone calls and responded to emails on behalf of staff, keeping senior members free to focus on larger issues
- Maintained calendar and scheduled meetings and appointments to streamline operations
- Created presentations and printed important documents to prepare for staff meetings
- Inputted key metrics on spreadsheets to maintain updated information
- Researched latest trends to keep abreast with new products and features
- Sorted and distributed incoming mail to manage communication flow
- Helped formulate expenditure reports to submit to the manager
- Filed physical and digital copies of important documents to maintain accurate and consistent records
- Registered information on database to preserve accurate details.
Education
Master of Arts - Community Development
Daystar University
Nairobi, Kenya11.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Planning And Management
Kenyatta University
Nairobi, Kenya12.2007
Skills
- Policy development and optimization
- Promotional material development
Accomplishments
- Design of development program including VSO’s inclusive education and social accountability flagship programme and Extituto de Política Abierta’s youth interactive platform for democracy
- Guided advocacy initiative to review and amendment of Disability Act for affirmative provision in employment and election, influenced increased capitation for children with disabilities in schools, basic education curriculum, development of education assessment and resource centres standard, review of Environmental Management Coordination Act to include participation and representation of person with disabilities, development of Murang’a County TVET Act.
- Provided leadership I development of VSO and Africa’s Voices Foundation strategic plan.
- Successful delivery and completion of door funded projects
Affiliations
The Institute of Social Accountability, Inclusive Education Professional fellow, Children Agenda Forum, International Alliance for Person with Disabilities, SDG Kenya Forum, Kenya Association of Fundraising Professional (KAFP), Action for Children with Disabilities, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
Certification
Monitoring and evaluation, social accountability, PMD Pro 1, Sign Language and Social Inclusion and Gender
Languages
Dholuo
Native language
English
Proficient
C2
Kiswahili
Proficient
C2
Kenya Sign Language
Beginner
A1
Reference
1. Gilbert Muyumba Global Lead Advisor, Social Accountability VSO Timau Plaza 5th Floor, Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi, Kenya Cell No. +254-721391278 Email: Gilbert.Muyumba@vsoint.org
2. Steadman Uriah Noble Independent Consultant Steadman Noble Consulting Shortthorn Place, Shortthorn Road Stratton Strawless Norwich NR10 5NU Cell No. +447519081502 Email: teddynob@yahoo.com/ steadma@steadmannoble.com
3. George Awalla Country Director VSO Kenya Timau Plaza 5th Floor, Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi, Kenya Cell. No. +254-722961050 Email: George.Awalla@vsoint.org
Timeline
Residency Programme Development Specialist
Extituto De Politica Abierta
03.2023 - Current
Program Manager - Governance and Accountability
Africa's Voices Foundation (AVF)
01.2021 - 02.2023
Program Manager - Inclusive Education
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
10.2020 - 12.2020
Manager/Acting Global Lead-Social Accountability
Vountary Service Overseas (VSO)
04.2016 - 09.2020
Program Coordinator - Advocacy and Influence
VSO Jitolee
01.2013 - 03.2016
Project Advocacy Officer
Kenya Organization for Environmental Education (KOEE)
04.2010 - 12.2012
Project Officer
Eco-Ethics Intenational - Kenya Chapter
08.2009 - 03.2010
Environmental Field Officer
Kenya Organization for Environmental Education
08.2008 - 07.2009
Intern
National Environment Management Authority
09.2007 - 07.2008
Master of Arts - Community Development
Daystar University
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Planning And Management
Kenyatta University