Social change, volunteering, bookie
Loise Sigana
Nairobi
Summary
A proactive and results-oriented Program Specialist with 5+ years of experience supporting the design, coordination, and implementation of cross-country programs across Africa. Skilled in managing project workflows, tracking program performance, and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders to achieve impactful outcomes. Proven ability to support strategic initiatives, monitor budgets and deliverables, and contribute to effective reporting and knowledge management. Adept at ensuring alignment between program goals and operational processes, with a strong commitment to social impact, organizational effectiveness, and program excellence.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Regional Program & Administrative Coordinator
THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
Nairobi, KE
12.2023 - Current
- Coordinated cross-continental program operations, managing schedules, calendars, and communications across multiple African countries to align stakeholders and ensure seamless execution of advocacy initiatives.
- Provided executive-level support on projects tied to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), including preparing briefing materials, drafting reports, and tracking deliverables to strengthen organizational awareness and reporting.
- Organized and facilitated stakeholder engagements, managing invitations, agendas, briefing packs, and follow-ups to support effective collaboration between CSOs, journalists, and advocacy partners on responsible business practices.
- Planned and delivered capacity-building workshops and trainings, handling logistics, participant coordination, materials preparation, and real-time support to ensure smooth delivery and impactful learning experiences.
- Oversaw end-to-end event management for in-person and virtual convenings across Africa, including venue/vendor liaison, travel arrangements, participant communication, and documentation of meeting outputs and commitments.
- Assisted in research and content preparation, compiling background information, drafting communication materials, and supporting thought leadership outputs on ethical governance and responsible business.
- Monitored project impact metrics, consolidating data, feedback, and success stories into reports, ensuring timely submissions for donor and internal reporting requirements.
- Maintained partner and stakeholder databases, supported relationship management, and facilitated consistent communication with grassroots organizations and media outlets to strengthen ongoing collaborations.
- Supported financial and administrative processes, including vendor management, budget tracking, and expense reporting, while collaborating closely with finance, HR, and communications teams to ensure compliance and seamless project execution across departments.
Regional Program & Administrative Consultant
FIRELIGHT FOUNDATION
Nairobi, KE
06.2023 - 09.2024
- Provided high-level executive and administrative support by managing calendars, scheduling meetings across multiple time zones, and preparing comprehensive agendas and briefing materials for virtual and in-person sessions.
- Handled end-to-end financial and logistical processes, including vendor management, expense reporting, reimbursements, and budget tracking, ensuring fiscal accountability and compliance with internal procedures.
- Coordinated international and regional travel arrangements for leadership and program teams, overseeing visa processing, itineraries, accommodations, and multi-leg travel logistics to guarantee seamless experiences.
- Managed organizational communication and correspondence, monitoring shared inboxes, prioritizing urgent items, and drafting professional responses on behalf of executives.
- Created and refined executive materials, including presentations, reports, proposals, and internal documentation, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with brand tone.
- Collaborated with global support teams to organize large-scale events, retreats, and team-building sessions, ensuring smooth execution through effective planning and cross-department coordination.
- Supported onboarding and integration of new team members, sharing key tools and resources to promote smooth team alignment and operational efficiency.
- Led cross-regional coordination of multi-country programs across East and Southern Africa, ensuring operational alignment, consistent program delivery, and adherence to grant-making and donor compliance frameworks.
- Played a pivotal role in grants management, supporting CBO grantee partners through proposal review, due diligence processes, reporting follow-ups, and compliance tracking, which enhanced transparency and accountability in program delivery.
- Facilitated stakeholder engagement between program managers, local partners, and donor representatives by maintaining structured communication channels, synthesizing updates, and contributing to decision-making discussions that strengthened project outcomes.
- Spearheaded capacity-building initiatives by coordinating training programs, workshops, and learning exchanges, ensuring that learning objectives were met and that partners gained practical, sustainable skills in organizational development and program management.
- Contributed to knowledge management and learning efforts, ensuring documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and success stories for organizational reflection and strategic adaptation.
- Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams (finance, communications, M&E) to ensure program activities were well-supported, well-documented, and aligned with Firelight's overarching mission and strategy.
- Provided analytical and coordination support on thematic priorities such as youth empowerment, education, and community resilience, helping translate program learnings into actionable insights and thought leadership outputs.
Administrative and Executive Professional
CROSSBOUNDARY EAST AFRICA LIMITED
Nairobi, KE
07.2021 - 04.2023
- Optimized office operations by overseeing front-desk and reception workflows, ensuring a professional and efficient first point of contact for all internal and external stakeholders.
- Developed and implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to unify administrative practices across departments, strengthening operational consistency and compliance.
- Managed office procurement and inventory systems, overseeing supply requisitions, vendor contracts, shipment tracking, and budget utilization to maintain cost efficiency and accountability.
- Led vendor identification and contract negotiation, ensuring favorable pricing, reliable service delivery, and adherence to project-specific requirements.
- Coordinated high-level corporate events and offsite functions, including retreats, conferences, and staff engagements, ensuring seamless logistics and adherence to organizational standards.
- Monitored administrative and operational budgets, analyzing expenditure trends and providing data-driven input for corporate budget planning and decision-making.
- Maintained financial accuracy by tracking petty cash, processing team expenses through Deltek, and preparing monthly forecasts aligned with financial policies and reporting timelines.
- Delivered comprehensive executive support to senior leadership, managing complex calendars, correspondence, and international travel logistics to ensure strategic time management and operational efficiency.
- Prepared executive-level materials, including briefing documents, presentations, reports, and meeting summaries for board sessions, donor meetings, and stakeholder engagements.
- Oversaw scheduling and meeting logistics, including agenda preparation, minute taking, and post-meeting action tracking, ensuring clarity and accountability across leadership functions.
Program Assistant
ACTION AFRICA HELP INTERNATIONAL
Nairobi, KE
08.2018 - 06.2021
- Supported project implementation, ensuring delivery of quality outputs and achievement of intended results by coordinating end-to-end implementation of donor-funded programs, ensuring activities were executed on schedule, within budget, and aligned with quality and compliance standards.
- Streamlined administrative, financial, and logistical processes, improving workflow efficiency and enabling project teams to meet reporting and implementation deadlines.
- Supported financial and resource management by tracking project expenditures, preparing documentation for audits, and ensuring transparent use of funds in line with donor and institutional policies.
- Led procurement planning and contract management, overseeing the sourcing of goods and services, vetting suppliers, and negotiating favorable terms that achieved measurable cost savings.
- Acted as Secretary to the Procurement Committee, preparing documentation, maintaining vendor records, and ensuring adherence to organizational procurement and approval procedures.
- Developed and maintained project documentation systems, ensuring up-to-date records, contracts, and reporting materials were accessible for audits, evaluations, and donor submissions.
- Coordinated workshops, field visits, and stakeholder meetings, managing logistics, travel arrangements, and materials preparation to facilitate smooth implementation and team collaboration.
- Contributed to strategic planning and M&E processes, supporting the Project Manager in developing work plans, procurement plans, and monitoring frameworks to improve data-driven decision-making.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology & Sociology
The University of Nairobi
Associate of Arts - Public Relations
The University of Nairobi
01.2012 - 08.2014
Master of Arts - Project Management
Catholic University of Eastern Africa
01.2026 - Current
Skills
- Project Management and Problem Solving
- Multitasking and prioritization
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Time management and flexibility
- Vendor management and procurement
- Budgeting and resource allocation
- Event planning and logistical support
- Written and verbal communication
- Record-keeping and documentation management
- Reporting and presentation creation
- Email and correspondence management
- Calendar management and meeting coordination
- Travel and accommodation logistics
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Proficient in Outlook
- Proficient in Slack
- Proficient in Deltek
- Proficient in CRM
- Proficient in Asana
- SharePoint proficient
Timeline
Master of Arts - Project Management
Catholic University of Eastern Africa
01.2026 - Current
Regional Program & Administrative Coordinator
THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
12.2023 - Current
Regional Program & Administrative Consultant
FIRELIGHT FOUNDATION
06.2023 - 09.2024
Administrative and Executive Professional
CROSSBOUNDARY EAST AFRICA LIMITED
07.2021 - 04.2023
Program Assistant
ACTION AFRICA HELP INTERNATIONAL
08.2018 - 06.2021
Associate of Arts - Public Relations
The University of Nairobi
01.2012 - 08.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology & Sociology
The University of Nairobi
Affiliations
- Project Management Institute
Interests
Languages
English
Advanced (C1)
Swahili
Upper intermediate (B2)
French
Intermediate (B1)
Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimePart TimeContract WorkLocation Preference
RemoteHybridImportant To Me
Personal development programsSoftware
Salesforce