RISPER AKEYO ODIRA
Nairobi
Summary
Results-orientated and high-energy project manager with a talent for leading by example and inspiring peak performance. Recognized for assessing operational needs and developing solutions to save costs and resources by creating agile tracking tools. Resourceful and well-organized with excellent leadership and team-building record. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Special Projects Manager
Church World Service Africa
Nairobi
09.2021 - Current
- Lead and motivate talented project teams, achieving targets within stipulated deadlines.
- Conduct technical and partner meetings, set strategic directions for all activities relevant to acquisition and strengthening stakeholder relationships.
- Collaborating with broad range of internal and external stakeholders to draft strategic, realistic project schedules and plans by sharing information on these collaborations among stakeholders.
- Define donor Key Performance Indicators, project scope, milestones, and task allocation to establish and maintain clear progress plans insight into delivery using Strategic Frameworks and tracking tools
- Establish internal working relationships with key internal staff and external partners like UHNCR, IOM, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and Refugee Processing Center (RPC)
- Analyze Program performance trends to identify process improvements and service delivery to vulnerable and marginalized communities.
- Developed analytics tools to track project progress and impact, and Submit performance feedback to stakeholders
- Upheld quality excellence by monitoring and correcting work and delivering projects on time and to meticulous standards
- Tracked and communicated project status, timelines, and action items from inception to delivery
- Managed scopes and deadlines using different project management methods
- Led meetings with department executives to review project status and draft action plans to deliver proposed changes.
- Delivered exceptional service to executive teams, partners, and funders, maintaining relationships for future collaboration opportunities
Senior Cultural Orientation Trainer
Church World Service Africa
Nairobi
05.2019 - 09.2021
- Responsible for leading teams of CO trainers to big missions in delivering in-person and virtual CO training throughout Sub-Saharan Africa for approved and eligible refugees departing to the United States
- Delivered instruction across various topics, integrating audio-visual presentations and training materials
- Developed practical training manuals, modules, and teaching aids
Cultural Orientation Trainer
Church World Service Africa
11.2015 - 04.2018
- Conducted Cultural Orientation in Sub-Saharan Africa for approved and eligible refugees departing for United States
- Achievements
- Conducted successful Solo field missions in locations less frequented by CWS Africa
- Increased client retention by implementing successful, person-centered training strategies
- Achieved high-quality work while observing program guidelines
- Collaborated with CWS Africa Interpreter Unit and field partners, identified 12 new childminders, trained them, and updated their contacts that increased database pool.
Case Processing Assistant
Church World Service Africa, CWS Africa
Nairobi
04.2015 - 10.2017
- Managed and coordinated between multiple teams, with ability to multi-task, manage time, keep with tight deadlines, and thrive in high-pressure environment.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Worked well in team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Increased productivity goals through swift, precise data entry by 15%
- Created refugee case profiles in WRAPS and processed their case files for departures through quality assurance checks.
Assistant Project Officer
Tanzania Natural Resource Forum
09.2013 - 11.2014
- Resolved technical issues affecting cross-functional communication and project deliverables
- Monitored project schedules and deadlines for each project task while reporting potential delays to project manager.
- Collaborated with project managers to review project progress and plan new business development initiatives.
- Kept project and team on schedule by monitoring deadlines, milestones, and performance
- Worked with stakeholders with relevance and interest in sustainable development to design, plan, and analyze community needs to implement projects in food security, economic development, and livelihood improvements
- Defined project scope, milestones, and task allocation to establish and maintain clear progress plans
- Conducted technical and customer meetings, increasing communication and strengthening stakeholder relationships
- Developed analytics tools to track project progress and impact
- Designed project presentations and reports for executive teams.
Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Aga Khan Foundation Coastal
Mtwara
10.2012 - 08.2013
- Used standardized assessment to evaluate gender-specific Monitoring and Evaluation indicators to inform program needs
- Designed analytical methodologies to track and measure women's participation impact in leadership positions in food security
- Investigated issues affecting group operations, prepared reports, and helped correct problems
- Developed specific monitoring and evaluation tools to match program activities
- Gathered and reviewed performance data to produce accurate analyses and reports.
- Designed surveys and other evaluation tools to collect meaningful, actionable data.
- Recommended adjustments to monitoring, measuring and analysis strategies to effectively assess progress toward program goals.
- Led team of 12 to collect, enter, update databases and analyze data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
Field Assistant
World Food Program (WFP)
Nairobi
11.2006 - 05.2009
- Generated weekly reports detailing findings and advising recommendations for strategic decision-making in School Feeding Program
- Collected and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data on School feeding program
Education
Master of Arts - Rural Sociology, and Community Development
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
Nairobi 05.2009 - 12.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
Egerton University
Nakuru 08.2001 - 10.2006
Skills
Teamwork & Collaboration
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with a team of 11 staff in the developed a Covid-19 Vaccination Working group that conducted voluntary vaccinations to over 1000 CWS staff, 1000+ vendors and contractors, and over 3000 refugees within one year
- Decreased obstacles and improve work efficiency by 10% within a quarter by training over 200 Programs staff on the use of Monday.com as a tracking tool to increase work efficiency
- Achieved 10% increase in work efficiency by training over 200 program staff on th use of Monday.com as a work tracking tool for performance progress
- Used Microsoft SharePoint 365 platform to create work repository, for real collaborations and work distribution
- Collaborated and supervised multi-teams across Programs Division to complete special projects supporting the US Refugee Admission Processing
- Recognized and appreciated for outstanding performance, contribution, and hard work by Cultural Orientation (CO) Senior Management
- Conducted a Webinar presentation on a Cultural Orientation Hygiene topic recorded on the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE) website as trainers' tips
- Selected to represent CWS Africa in the Overseas CO Providers Workshop held in the United States, and later built the capacity of 37 CO trainers and four Program Assistants on understanding the domestic and overseas processing
- Led teams of trainers to provide a new CO virtual approach through telephonic training during the Covid-19 pandemic period, increasing the training percentage from 85% to 97% in that quarter
- In a work-from-home posture, I successfully organized and guided teams Oof trainers to train more than 300 refugee participants within three weeks despite challenges with technology, mode of instruction, and language barrier
Timeline
Special Projects Manager
Church World Service Africa
09.2021 - Current
Senior Cultural Orientation Trainer
Church World Service Africa
05.2019 - 09.2021
Cultural Orientation Trainer
Church World Service Africa
11.2015 - 04.2018
Case Processing Assistant
Church World Service Africa, CWS Africa
04.2015 - 10.2017
Assistant Project Officer
Tanzania Natural Resource Forum
09.2013 - 11.2014
Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Aga Khan Foundation Coastal
10.2012 - 08.2013
Master of Arts - Rural Sociology, and Community Development
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
05.2009 - 12.2014
Field Assistant
World Food Program (WFP)
11.2006 - 05.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
Egerton University
08.2001 - 10.2006
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