Open To Work
MARGARET SANYA
Nairobi
Summary
Results-driven Programme and Social Inclusion Specialist with a proven history in managing humanitarian initiatives across Africa. Led teams to enhance operational performance and compliance, facilitating over 22,670 refugee departures. Developed educational pathways and monitoring frameworks, fostering partnerships with international agencies to drive inclusion and performance for marginalized populations.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Out-Processing Manager (Regional Program Lead)
Church World Service (CWS)
01.2024 - 03.2025
- Led cross-agency coordination with UNHCR, IOM, USCIS, and government stakeholders to optimize refugee processing systems and minimize operational delays.
- Directed regional refugee processing and resettlement operations across multiple countries, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and programme objectives.
- Managed 50 programme staff and 7 direct reports to enhance operational performance and quality assurance in four country programmes.
- Implemented refugee resettlement and protection programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa, enhancing access to safety and support for vulnerable populations.
- Oversaw cultural orientation and pre-departure training programmes, equipping refugees with skills for successful integration into education and employment abroad.
- Strengthened compliance with international protection standards and donor guidelines, improving operational integrity through enhanced SOPs and quality assurance processes.
- Designed programme monitoring tools and reporting dashboards to facilitate decision-making and improve pipeline forecasting.
Case Processing Program Manager
Church World Service (CWS)
07.2022 - 12.2023
- Led a team of 31 staff to execute multi-country refugee mobility programmes linking refugees to education and employment abroad.
- Processed over 6000 long-stayer refugee cases, expediting pathways to protection and educational opportunities.
- Implemented enhanced workflow systems, contributing to 22,670 refugee departures in FY2023, exceeding donor targets.
- Managed implementation of complementary refugee pathways, enhancing access to education and labour mobility programmes for refugees.
- Facilitated strategic partnerships with UNHCR, IOM, PRM, and international universities to broaden education and sponsorship opportunities for refugees.
- Produced detailed monthly and quarterly donor reports, analyzing programme performance indicators to inform stakeholders.
Learning & Development Specialist
Church World Service (CWS)
05.2020 - 06.2022
- Designed and delivered training programs for 800+ staff across three countries on refugee protection, safeguarding, and programme compliance.
- Developed e-learning modules using iSpring and Learning Management Systems, improving access to training during COVID-19.
- Implemented Train-the-Trainer programme, building institutional capacity for sustainable internal learning and professional development.
- Led capacity building initiatives, enhancing skills and knowledge of regional humanitarian staff.
- Coordinated User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and regional training rollout for START refugee case management system, ensuring effective adoption and utilization.
- International humanitarian organization implementing refugee resettlement and protection programmes across sub-Saharan Africa
Acting Case Processing Manager
Church World Service (CWS)
01.2020 - 04.2020
- Supervised 25 programme staff in refugee travel, medical processing, and assurance systems, ensuring smooth operations and compliance.
- Strengthened operational compliance through enhanced quality assurance processes and SOP revisions.
- Coordinated with IOM medical units and partner agencies to facilitate timely departures for refugees.
- International humanitarian organization implementing refugee resettlement and protection programmes across sub Saharan Africa
Learning & Development Specialist
Church World Service (CWS)
01.2018 - 12.2019
- Developed onboarding curricula and training materials to ensure effective programme implementation and adherence to safeguarding standards.
- Coordinated professional development programmes for 500+ humanitarian staff, enhancing skills and compliance across three country offices.
- International humanitarian organization implementing refugee resettlement and protection programmes across sub Saharan Africa
Gender Project Manager (Consultant)
03.2017 - 12.2017
- Led gender integration and inclusion programming, enhancing participation of marginalized groups across development initiatives.
- Coordinated community engagement activities that strengthened women's empowerment and ensured equitable participation in decision-making processes.
- Conducted gender analysis and facilitated stakeholder training on gender equality and social inclusion methodologies.
- Designed gender-responsive monitoring frameworks with measurable indicators to track inclusion outcomes.
Assistant Project Manager
Innovations for Poverty Action
01.2011 - 01.2015
- Led implementation of youth economic empowerment, WASH, and education programmes, enhancing community access to essential services.
- Supervised field teams, ensuring adherence to donor compliance for multiple development grants, fostering accountability and transparency.
- Developed monitoring systems for cash transfer, vocational training, and savings programmes, improving program effectiveness and stakeholder reporting.
- Development and research organization implementing evidence-based poverty reduction programmes.
Education
Master of Arts - Gender and Development
University of Nairobi
03-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology
University of Nairobi
Certification - Monitoring & Evaluation
Kenya Institute of Management
Skills
- Programme management
- Refugee and migration programming
- Education access and skills development
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEAL)
- Programme design and implementation
- Partnership development
- Donor reporting and compliance
- Resource mobilization
- Policy advisory
- Advocacy
- Capacity building
- Stakeholder engagement and partnerships
- Multi-country programme coordination
- Program performance metrics
- Microsoft Office Suite
- SharePoint
- Case management systems
- Program compliance systems
- Social inclusion and gender mainstreaming
Accomplishments
- Enabled 22,670 refugee departures in FY2023, exceeding donor targets by 670 individuals through improved pipeline management and policy advisory.
- Reactivated a multi-year frozen refugee resettlement pipeline in South Sudan through multi-agency coordination, enabling departures within the first quarter of reopening.
- Led program operations across four countries, managing 50 staff and seven direct reports, ensuring delivery of complex refugee protection programs.
- Designed digital learning systems using I-Spring and LMS for over 800 humanitarian staff, ensuring uninterrupted capacity building during COVID-19 work from home.
- Developed program monitoring dashboards and reporting systems that improved operational efficiency and reduced case processing delays.
Training
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) – Humentum
- Safeguarding & Child Protection
- Prevention of Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (PSEA)
- Train-the-Trainer Facilitation
- USAID Cooperative Agreement Management
- Project Management Fundamentals
References
Available upon request.
Work Preference
Job Search Status
Open to workWork Type
Full TimePart TimeContract WorkGig WorkLocation Preference
On-SiteRemoteHybridSalary Range
Sh120000/yr - Sh200000/yrTimeline
Out-Processing Manager (Regional Program Lead)
Church World Service (CWS)
01.2024 - 03.2025
Case Processing Program Manager
Church World Service (CWS)
07.2022 - 12.2023
Learning & Development Specialist
Church World Service (CWS)
05.2020 - 06.2022
Acting Case Processing Manager
Church World Service (CWS)
01.2020 - 04.2020
Learning & Development Specialist
Church World Service (CWS)
01.2018 - 12.2019
Gender Project Manager (Consultant)
03.2017 - 12.2017
Assistant Project Manager
Innovations for Poverty Action
01.2011 - 01.2015
Master of Arts - Gender and Development
University of Nairobi
Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology
University of Nairobi
Certification - Monitoring & Evaluation
Kenya Institute of Management