Janet Afolabi

With a track record of effecting positive change worldwide, I collaborate with governments, development partners, and civil society to conceptualize, analyze, and advocate for policies that enhance citizen empowerment, foster equity, and encourage accountability. Proficient in program management, public project tracking, research, and data analysis, I translate insights into actionable policy recommendations tailored to diverse audiences. My expertise spans institutional development, stakeholder relationship management, facilitating policy dialogues, and promoting efficient resource allocation. I am deeply committed to leveraging my skills to foster collaborative reforms, champion social justice, uphold accountability, and empower institutions and communities.

● Provided strategic support to the senior management team in developing long-term growth initiatives.

● Developed and implemented Africa engagement strategies.

● Pioneered the international expansion blueprint for the BudgIT Foundation, successfully launching offices across the United States, Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Senegal, which catalyzed a 150% growth in global visibility and impact.

● Collaborated with team of 40 in the development of program strategies for public budgets access initiatives,

establishing budgets, metrics, and KPIs.

● Successfully led resource mobilization efforts resulting in increased funding of $1.5 million in grants from organizations such as the Hewlett, and MacArthur Foundations.

● Reported program updates to the Global Director and Board, ensuring clear communication between management, country leads, and project teams.

● Led offline and online campaigns to drive civic engagement, reaching 5 million citizens across the focus countries.

● Prepared, reviewed, and submitted creative documents, including press releases, articles, and project reports.

● Executed project management tasks using Asana, Trello, and Teamwork, resulting in a 25% reduction in project timelines and a 15% increase in team productivity, driving successful project implementation.

● Developed an annual simplified analysis of government budgets for Liberia, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and the City of Chicago.

• Initiated a students' global citizenship program and developed a comprehensive learning curriculum

● Oversaw the Open Society-funded Ebola Fund Watch project, meticulously tracking the utilization and management of emergency resources allocated to combat the global spread of EVD in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

● Conducted research in both English and French on the utilization of Ebola relief funds. Drafted and managed grant-winning proposals/programs for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ($1 million), Open Society for West Africa ($500,000), and MacArthur Foundation ($250,000). Created donor narrative reports and program evaluations.

● Facilitated public policy dialogues and roundtables with government officials and decision-makers, providing support for grant applications, reporting, evaluation, and learning processes.

• 2024: Fostering Democracy Across the World
• 2023: The Impact of Liberia's Open Budget Initiative
• Analysis of the Chicago 2023 Budget
• 2017: Examining Effective Budget Communications for Citizens in Nigeria
• 2016: 2016 Federal Constituency Projects
• 2016: Ebola Fund Watch: Tracking Funds for Ebola Crisis in West Africa.
• 2015 Federal Constituency Projects
• 2014: Plugging The Leaks: A case for public sector efficiency

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Certified through the Project Management Institute (PMI)