Solomon Mwangi Ngari
Programme Management & External Relations Specialist
Nairobi
Summary
Highly skilled programme management specialist with extensive experience in complex humanitarian, development, and protracted displacement contexts. Strong background in implementing and managing livelihoods, resilience, and natural resource management programs. Over 13 years of experience working with prestigious organizations such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia), Global Affairs Canada (Canada), and the European Union-Community Development Trust Fund (Kenya). Expertise extends across the East and Horn of Africa region, with additional short-term assignments and training in Ghana, India, Tunisia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Israel, France, and the United Kingdom. Successfully managed diverse multi-sectoral portfolios and led large and geographically dispersed teams. Played a pivotal role in Australia's and Canada's engagements with various UN agencies (WFP, FAO, OCHA, UNHCR, UNEP) in humanitarian, resilience, development, and climate change programming. Effectively managed key partnerships with international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in the East and Horn of Africa region. Excels in program quality assurance and management while actively building partnerships and engaging stakeholders at all levels. Foundation as a conservation biologist with a Master of Philosophy in Wildlife Ecology and Management greatly informs work in sustainable humanitarian and development programming.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
External/Donor Relations and Reporting
UNHCR Somalia
Nairobi
09.2022 - Current
- Manages partnerships across the operation specifically on joint programmes/projects between UNHCR Somalia, other UN agencies and International NGOs
- Advances UNHCR's mandate and commitments in Somalia through effective communications (across the social media platforms) and other platforms
- Supports strategic engagements with key donors (Germany, USA, Sweden, Japan, ECHO, Norway, CERF, Private donors), through facilitating and convening missions and meetings with the representative and senior management
- Manages reporting and donor visibility across all the donor funded programmes, by ensuring reports are of high quality (quality assurance) and are delivered on timely basis as per the contractual agreements
- Spearheads resource mobilization, by supporting the programmes section to draft quality proposals and concept notes to various donors, as well as contributing to appeals and visibility products
- Represents UNHCR Somalia in key forums such as UN Communication Group, Regional Bureau Public Information forum among others and providing Somalia programmes analysis
Senior Program Manager, Humanitarian Emergencies, Resilience and Somalia Political
Australian High Commission, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Nairobi , Nairobi Province
10.2011 - 06.2022
- Managed Australia's commitments to humanitarian reform in East and Horn of Africa, including on assistance to affected populations, localization, resilience, and streamlined reporting
- Managed Australia's humanitarian assistance in East and Horn of Africa including monitoring & reporting and partner performance and identifying and resolving constraints with partners
- Provided analysis and reporting on, and recommendations for Australia's assistance to, humanitarian crisis, resilience and refugee issues in East and Horn of Africa
- Managed Australia's relationships and agreements with partners, including liaison with both internal and external stakeholders and representation at high-level donor and Government meetings
- Managed Australia's NGOs Cooperation Program (ANCP), including design, monitoring & reporting and partner performance, and identifying and resolving constraints
- Drafted documents, including agreements, risk matrices, monitoring reports, engagement strategies, diplomatic documents, records of conversations and briefing material for High Commissioner and senior officials
- Contributed to Australia's broader engagement in East and Horn of Africa through close collaboration with other program teams, support for high-level visits and contributing to country and regional analysis and strategy development
Senior Development Officer, Humanitarian, NGO Cooperation and Grants Making/Management
Canadian International Development Agency, Canadian High Commission
Nairobi
01.2008 - 12.2011
- Managed partnerships with the Canadian Mission's Commercial Section, Political Section and Public Relations Section to coordinate aid
- Managed a team of three locally engaged responsive fund coordinators and helped in setting the teams' annual strategic direction
- Managed Canada's humanitarian assistance in East and Horn of Africa with multilateral organizations, including assessing performance, monitoring and reporting on effectiveness and capabilities and identifying and resolving constraints
- Managed Canada's local responsive funds in Kenya, Uganda and Somalia and ensuring compliance with Canadian procedures, including design, monitoring, reporting, and negotiating MoUs
- Managed Canada's INGOs cooperation program in East and Horn of Africa including program design, monitoring and reporting, managing partners' performance and identifying and resolving constraints with key partners
- Provided analysis, identification, development and implementation of official development assistance programs by contributing to design approaches, establishing contacts with governments agencies, contributing to strategy development, preparing analytical reporting and maintaining up to date local context, socioeconomic situation and key government reforms in East and Horn of Africa
- Managed Canada's relationships and agreements with partners including detailed consultation and liaison with both internal and external stakeholders and representation at high-level donor and Government meetings
- Built and managed strong networks and partnerships as well as maintained awareness of broader international and regional responses and initiatives
Technical Officer/Consultant, 'End-2-End' Grants Making and Program Management
European Union-Community Development Trust Fund
Nairobi
01.2005 - 12.2008
- Conceptualized, designed and planned new projects jointly with community and civil society organisations
- Provided technical inputs for development of new project application guidelines and project/programme manuals
- Reviewed beneficiaries' project disbursement requests and providing advice to the Program Manager regarding release of funds to the projects
- Conducted monitoring, evaluation and reporting of supported projects, using appropriate participatory principles and mechanisms
- Identified, assessed capacity needs and subsequently delivered capacity development/building interventions for program beneficiaries to enhance effective and efficient project implementation, monitoring evaluation and sustainability
- Collated, promoted and sensitized communities and other stakeholders on lessons learnt, and best practices, and developed community-based structures to enhance projects' sustainability
Conservation Program Manager, Conservation Management and Development
Nature Kenya-BirdLife International
Nairobi
01.1998 - 12.2005
- Designed, planned, and facilitated implementation and management of community projects
- Provided quality assurance for all fundraising documents (concept notes, proposals) for donor Governments such as United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, Denmark, among others
- Established, developed and managed critical partnerships with governments, non-government entities and local communities
- Drafted program workplans, implementation schedule and terms of reference for program partners, implementation committees and consultants
- Developed, administered and monitored program budgets across all programs and projects
- Mobilized, negotiated with, and organized community partners prior to commencement of the programs
- Conducted monitoring and evaluation of the program and designed course correction schedules and interventions
- Conducted training needs assessments and developed training and capacity building programs for government and local community partners and stakeholders
- Established and developed local constituencies/groups and provided technical support to enable them effectively to participate in conservation programs
- Drafted technical reports and made verbal presentations to a variety of government donors
- Represented Nature Kenya in key regional meetings and conferences including Council of African Parties-BirdLife International partnership, Conference of Parties (biodiversity, wetlands, climate change among others international conferences)
Guest Relations Officer and Head Naturalist, Serena Products Marketing & External Relations
Tourism Promotion Services (Serena Hotels Group)
Nairobi, Nairobi Province
01.1996 - 12.1998
- Facilitated and coordinated corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagements for the Lodge
- Developed and implemented cultural and conservation education programs for the lodge's local and foreign clientele
- Packaged and disseminated the Serena Hotels Group products to Travel Agents and potential clientele
- Organized and Coordinated familiarization and product inspection trips for international and national travel agents
- Planned, organized and conducted guided tours and other outdoor activities for in-house international and domestic guests
- Identified, documented and helped resolve client's complaints on the Serena products and services, in close liaison with the lodge management team
- Coordinated networking events with other like-minded hotels and lodges to maximize on joint initiatives
- Appraised the lodge products and services for optimal performance in conjunction with departmental heads and advised the lodge management team on areas of improvement
Education
Master of Philosophy (MPhil.) - Wildlife Management
University of Eldoret
Eldoret 01.1993 - 01.1995
Bachelor of Science (BSc.) - Wildlife Management
University of Eldoret
Eldoret 01.1989 - 01.1993
Skills
- Managing partnerships
- Interagency coordination
Representation
- Networking
- Managing programs
- Grants management
- Monitoring
- Reporting
- Quality assurance
- Technical advice
- Program improvements
- Communication
- Change management
- Implementation management
- Humanitarian response
- Resilience response
- Team management
- Diverse team management
- Multi-location management
Training
- Security, Enabling deployments to high-risk contexts, 01/01/15
- Risk Management, 01/01/14
- Peace Building and Conflict Management for Practitioners, Coalition for Peace Africa, 01/01/11
- Negotiation for Humanitarian Programmes, UNHCR Somalia, 01/01/11
- Horn of Africa Political Analysis Course, Rift Valley Institute, 01/01/09
- Management and Supervisory Skills, KPMG, 01/01/05
- Monitoring and Evaluation, UNOPS/UNDP, 01/01/00
- Training of Trainer, KPMG, 01/01/98
Ngari@unhcr.org, Mwangi.Ngari34@gmail.com
Photography
A self taught nature, travel and humanitarian photography. Passionate about telling compeling stories of change and hope for the people, environment and biodiversity.
Timeline
External/Donor Relations and Reporting
UNHCR Somalia
09.2022 - Current
Senior Program Manager, Humanitarian Emergencies, Resilience and Somalia Political
Australian High Commission, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
10.2011 - 06.2022
Senior Development Officer, Humanitarian, NGO Cooperation and Grants Making/Management
Canadian International Development Agency, Canadian High Commission
01.2008 - 12.2011
Technical Officer/Consultant, 'End-2-End' Grants Making and Program Management
European Union-Community Development Trust Fund
01.2005 - 12.2008
Conservation Program Manager, Conservation Management and Development
Nature Kenya-BirdLife International
01.1998 - 12.2005
Guest Relations Officer and Head Naturalist, Serena Products Marketing & External Relations
Tourism Promotion Services (Serena Hotels Group)
01.1996 - 12.1998
Master of Philosophy (MPhil.) - Wildlife Management
University of Eldoret
01.1993 - 01.1995
Bachelor of Science (BSc.) - Wildlife Management
University of Eldoret
01.1989 - 01.1993
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