Lucky Chambers Umezulike (Ph.D. ABD)
Abuja,Abuja
Summary
- I am a monitoring and evaluation expert, programme manager, research specialist, and international development consultant with 11 years of experience supporting large-scale development and nonprofit programmes across Africa and the United Kingdom.
- I have led third-party monitoring and evaluation for the World Bank’s $500 million AGILE project in Nigeria (2022–2025), served as a Programme Officer at the British Council Nigeria on the EU-funded Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT) programme, and worked as Senior Programmes Manager at Connected Development (CODE), where I managed nearly $1 million in donor-funded projects supported by the MacArthur Foundation, OSIWA, Luminate, and Oxfam, among others.
- I have also consulted for the World Bank, International Labour Organization, Public Services International, Cloneshouse LLC, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation and multiple Nigerian government ministries and nonprofits on programme management, monitoring and evaluation, and development research.
- I hold a PhD (ABD) in Public Administration and Public Policy from Auburn University, United States and a Master’s in International Studies (Development Economics) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
- I am proficient in R, SPSS, Tableau, KoBoToolbox, and Google Forms.
- A 2019 Obama Foundation Africa Leader, I am a member of IDEAS and the Nigerian Association of Evaluators.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Doctoral Research Fellow
Global Development Solutions Lab-Auburn University
Auburn, AL
08.2022 - Current
- Reviewed literature at the commencement of research projects: aid localization, participatory development, professionalization of the nonprofit sector, nonprofit accountability, field experiments on voting in Africa
- Assisted in the design and implementation of research projects including developing a Civic & Voter Education Training Manual (treatment intervention) for a political participation experimental study
- Coordinated research projects (diaspora philanthropy, locally-led development papers) and oversaw research partnerships (with Donate.ng Nigeria, Hope Alliance Academic Liberia)
- Assisted in the design and execution of study abroad programs: Liberia and Ghana, October 2023
- Desk research & data mining, developed data collection tools, coordinated data collection exercises, and analyzed data using various research methodologies and statistical techniques
- Assisted in the development of research papers, grant proposals (including IGC, ARNOVA TEG and PAS-ZAF grant applications), and presentations
Instructor of Record
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
01.2025 - 12.2025
- Fall 2025: POLI 5350 Nonprofit Law and Governance (Undergraduate Course)
- Spring 2025: POLI 5370 & 6370 Nonprofit Management (Undergraduate and MPA Course)
- In both semesters, I developed syllabi, mounted the courses on the learning management system - Canvas, taught students weekly, advised students, proctored exams, and graded students' assignments, projects and exams
Team Lead and Technical Consultant, Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project
The World Bank and Federal Ministry of Education
Abuja, Nigeria
04.2022 - 09.2025
- Successfully managed a 19-person team that provided third-party monitoring and evaluation services to the World Bank’s $500 million "Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment" Project
- Monitored and ensured compliance with contract delivery requirements and deliverables as evident in the TPM TOR.
- Provided strategic leadership and day-to-day supervision and management of TPM project staff, including development of scopes of work, selection, and performance monitoring, for the overall implementation of TPM contract and services.
- Developed and finalized TPM inception report and monitoring & verification tools for both the NPCU and World Bank.
- Directly responsible for ensuring that TPM processes are executed in accordance with established protocols and guidelines.
- Provided technical oversight in the design and implementation of AGILE TPM monitoring and verification systems, including proposing appropriate TPM implementation strategy, and update periodically.
- Directly responsible for the detailed planning of all key TPM work processes from pre-deployment, through data collection and field work to post-deployment and reporting.
- Developed and consistently updated TPM monitoring and verification checklists and data collection tools and oversee the revision of the tools on KoboCollect to improve measurements and objectivity in field visits.
- Developed TPM monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual monitoring and verification reports, as well as the project completion report.
- Remotely attended key meetings at the NPCU and World Bank and made technical presentations on TPM strategy, methodology and findings.
- Provided technical support and built the capacity of state teams on TPM approaches, strategies and on data collection.
- Provided oversight for the optimal performance of the Monitoring Information System (MIS).
- Federal Ministry of Education (Nigeria), and the World Bank
Evaluation Specialist, Ascend Investment Readiness Programme
Jezreel Consultancy Limited
, United Kingdom
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Successfully managed the team that evaluated the Ascend Investment Readiness Program of Foundervine CIC, a £1m program funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
- Conducted review and analysis of relevant project documents including the logic model and RFP.
- Development of interview guide, scheduling of interviews and conducting interviews with programme implementation partners and participants.
- Data Analysis
- Produced a draft and final evaluation report for cohorts 1 and 2 participants.
- Developed a PowerPoint that features the evaluation findings for onward presentation to the client.
- Foundervine CIC, United Kingdom
Impact Evaluation Specialist, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project
Biodoc International
Ibadan, Nigeria
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Successfully served as the impact evaluation expert in the impact evaluation of the $164.3 million Urban Flood Management Project at Ibadan, Nigeria – a program financed through a World Bank credit.
- Developed the inception report including the evaluation design for the assignment.
- Developed the data collection tools and supervised data collection and management of enumerators.
- Developed the evaluation report: Evaluated the performance indicators against the targets in the results framework.
- Assessed the extent to which project interventions have improved communities’ resilience and response to natural disasters.
- Identified challenges experienced during implementations and recommendations to mitigate the challenges as suggested by the various stakeholders.
- Isolated key lessons learned and Best Practices that can be used in future programming of the project components.
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Foundervine CIC
, United Kingdom
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Successfully developed a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Organizational Impact Report for Foundervine CIC.
- Conducted review and analysis of relevant project documents including the MEL framework (where available) or any equivalent MEL document; organisational governance framework; strategy roadmap template; Charter document template; Impact/Annual/Project reports etc.
- Produced an inception report that provides the finalised methodology and workplan- dates etc.
- Created a new and consolidated MEL Framework with indicator framework and measurement plan, data collection tool, management and reporting tools and templates and propose an organizational MEL structure for Foundervine.
- Developed a PowerPoint that features key elements of the MEL framework and present same to internal stakeholders for validation.
- Produced post deployment report that includes tailored recommendations for operationalising the new M&E framework.
- Produced a draft and final organisational impact report - word document only.
- Attended relevant meetings as might be necessary with the client such as kickoff meeting, project end meeting, M&E framework validation meeting etc.
Evaluation Specialist, M&E Support for the Delivery of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) Program
Cloneshouse LLC
Abuja, Nigeria
01.2022 - 12.2023
- Reviewed in entirety the existing M and E system, designed a sustainable M and E system that can support continuous Monitoring and Evaluation of the NYIF; and evaluated the 2023 performance of the NYIF programme.
- Reviewed the existing NYIF results chains and adapt new developments.
- Reviewed existing processes at the output and outcome levels in line with current realities and update the accompanying measurement plan to serve as a guide for the collection of data from NYIF beneficiaries.
- Worked with the NYIF Secretariat to develop appropriate data collection tools; reviewed existing tools currently in use by the Secretariat.
- Worked with the NYIF Secretariat to identify and adapt a multi-pronged approach to data collection, which includes various data tools to collect quantitative and qualitative data.
- Ensured that the NYIF data collection tools correspond with impact and outcome indicators on the results chains.
- Interpreted and analyzed collected data on the NYIF and developed a report that highlights the successes and challenges on implementation of the NYIF.
- The report highlighted the activities and achievements over the course of implementation of the NYIF and provided key learnings that can guide the formulation of similar programmes at the sub-national levels and possible in other countries.
- Periodically capacitated the NYIF Secretariat team on development of the NYIF M and E system during the period of the assignment.
- Provided guidance and advised and where possible linkages to further support from Non-Government partners on Monitoring and Evaluation of the NYIF.
- Designed and developed quarterly and or annual reporting templates in accordance with the M&E Framework developed.
- Provided technical guidance to other team members involved in the project.
- Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Abuja
Evaluation Consultant, Mid-Term Evaluation of the Next Economy Programme
Cloneshouse LLC
Abuja, Nigeria
01.2022 - 12.2022
- Successfully provided technical expertise and knowledge to the midterm evaluation of The Next Economy Programme, a project implemented by SOS Children’s Villages and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DMFA).
- Provided support to the design and development of an inception report for midterm evaluation of The Next Economy.
- Reviewed and quality assured the design of data collection instruments for evaluating the TNE mid-term evaluation project.
- Prepared and carried out online and in-person surveys with beneficiaries of the TNE program in Nigeria.
- Carried out online and in-person KIIs, Interviews and FGDs as allocated within the context of the mid-term evaluation.
- Provided support to the design and development of the final report to be submitted to SOS Kinderdorpen.
- Provided technical guidance to the delivery of other products meant for this service.
- SOS Children’s Villages, Abuja
Program Officer, Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation Programme
British Council
Abuja, Nigeria
08.2019 - 09.2022
- Provided programmatic and managerial support to the European Union Agents for Citizen Transformation (ACT) Program component 2 activities & interventions including the development and monitoring of annual work plans & budgets for the component, management of grantees, facilitating high-bandwidth governmental engagements, managing consultants & their deliverables, supporting program reporting, and providing M&E Support to the M&E expert.
- In liaison with the NPM and component 2 manager, provided programmatic managerial support to ACT component 2 activities including the development and monitoring of annual work plans and budgets for the component.
- Planned, organized and facilitated ACT component 2’s in-person, virtual & hybrid events, meetings, consultations and workshops.
- Supported grantmaking to component 2 partner CSOs including developing grant justification forms for approval, conducting eligibility check & due diligence on partners, reviewing grant proposals & budgets, and grant’s programmatic management at implementation.
- Co-facilitated the component’s technical support provision and collaboration with NASS relevant committees, SCUML, CAC, PENCOM and FIRS including MOU and work plans management.
- Managed/facilitated the activities of the Working Group and Steering Committee on Civil Society Regulatory Environment as evident in their respective action plan and road map of action.
- Provided support to the operations manager and finance team: including developing cash forecasts, overseeing the preparation of budgets for planned events, liaising with the resources team to manage events, liaising with partners, facilitating retirement of expenditures, and monitoring expenditure against set budgets.
- Consultants’ management: provided administrative and logistical support to consultants who deliver on the ACT programme component 2; and supported with monitoring/reviewing of consultants’ deliverables against Terms of Reference/contracts/work plans to ensure agreed outputs and outcomes are delivered.
- Provided support to knowledge management and M&E advisers.
M&E Specialist, Development of Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy and Implementation Roadmap for the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP)
Ministry of Youth Development and Cloneshouse LLC
Abuja, Nigeria
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Designed and developed a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the NiYEAP.
- Designed data collection templates for monitoring and evaluating the NiYEAP.
- Designed and developed quarterly and or annual reporting templates in accordance with the M&E Framework developed.
- Provided technical guidance to other team members involved in this project.
- Attended meetings with the ILO when the need arises.
- Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Abuja
Senior Programmes Manager
Connected Development
Abuja, Nigeria
10.2016 - 07.2019
- Successfully managed circa $1 million worth of grants and projects from donors such as The MacArthur Foundation, OSIWA, Luminate Group and Oxfam Nigeria.
- Under my programmatic leadership, the organization won the 2019 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals’ Mobilizer Award and Council of Europe Democracy Award.
- Managed donor grants and programmes/projects ecosystem from programme design - risk analysis - composing teams and developing TORs - budget/financial management - developing MEL logical frameworks and action plans - programme execution supervision - managing assumptions - managing correspondences with donors.
- Implemented programme/project M&E processes including developing M&E plans for grants and projects; developing key indicators to monitor results; planning for improvements; evaluating grant projects; and disseminating learnings to critical stakeholders.
- Developed quarterly and annual progress reports for CODE and donors on project implementation and milestones.
- Designed capacity building and partnership plans for both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders over Follow The Money projects.
- Managed partnerships and collaborations with diverse actors including community governance structures; federal MDAs such as UBEC, Ministry of Education, NPHCDA, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water Resources; several state MDAs such as SUBEB, RUWASSA, SPHCDA; development partners such as the EU, World Bank, USAID; CBA/Os; and the media.
- Coordinated the activities of 2 programme officers, 5 assistants and interns, 6 state chapter leads and volunteers across the country on CODE and Follow The Money Projects, and ensured they were well supported, set clear objectives as well as offering constructive feedback on their work performance to successfully achieve project outcomes.
- Provided technical assistance and routine capacity building to Follow The Money local and international chapters, chapter members and volunteers.
- Led on capacity building activities for MDAs (SUBEB, SPHCDA and RUWASSA) on data management and M&E, as well as for community governance structures on social accountability and active citizenry.
M&E Quality Assurance Supervisor, Field Based Monitoring (FBM) services for the Feed The Future Project implemented by Catholic Relief Services
Enyenaweh Consultancy Limited
Abuja, Nigeria
01.2018 - 12.2018
- Led the outputs verification and validation of information exercise of the Catholic Relief Services Report, following their implementation of a Feed The Future Livelihoods Economic Growth and Empowerment Project in Borno State through the sponsorship of USAID.
- Built the capacity of monitors on the project especially how to administer the data collection tools, conduct discussion with farmers and extension, identify the type of crops within the demonstration plots, follow up with farmers and extension agents regarding the benefits of the Livelihoods' Activity, as well as follow up with them on using the agric-tech tools.
- Performed quality assurance on the collected data involving data quality and prepared the site visit reports across the visited sites using the USAID site visit reporting templates.
Education
Ph.D. - Public Administration and Public Policy
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama05-2026
Master of Arts - International Studies
University of Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya12-2016
B.SC. - Computer Science
University of Nigeria
Nsukka, Nigeria01.2010
Skills
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Programme management
- Research methodology and procedures including experimental design
- Advanced data analysis including statistical modelling
- Mentoring
- Team leadership
- Stakeholder engagement
- Training and capacity building
- Strategic planning
- Competent in R, SPSS, Tableau, MS Excel, Kobo Tool Box, Google Forms and Google WorkSpace/Drive System
Certification
Advanced Project Evaluation Management, Cloneshouse LLC, 2024
Research Consultancies
- Dissertation Fieldwork in Nigeria, Principal Investigator, 07/2025 - 09/2025, International IDEA, $7,000
- Galvanizing Mass Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano State (GMAA - K) Project End Learning and Impact Assessment Study, Principal Investigator, 02/2023, Connected Development, Abuja, Nigeria, $2,000
- Baseline Research on the Implementation of the National Youth Policy 2021, Lead Researcher, 07/2022 - 08/2022, Youth Alive Foundation, Abuja, Nigeria, $6,000
- Covid-19 Transparency and Accountability Project: Nigeria Health Sector Accountability Research Study, Principal Investigator, 03/2022 - 04/2022, BudgIT Foundation & Connected Development, Abuja, Nigeria, $3,000
- Mappings of Civil Society, International Financial Institutions, Private Sector Players and Actors, and Survey on Public Perception of Privatization in Nigeria, Research Consultant, 03/2021, Public Services International (PSI), $2,304
Professional Associations
- International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS)
- The European Union SEE Expert Panel on Civil Society Enabling Environment in Nigeria
- Nigerian Association of Evaluators
Peer-Reviewed and Professional Publications
- Capacity Building and Localization: Insights From Liberia, Weber, P., Krawczyk, K. A., Umezulike, L. C., Branyon, B., Ezeonu, B., Roversi, E., ... & Quato, B., Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/nml.70005
- A comparative analysis of economic development in Nigeria and Singapore, Umezulike, L. C., Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (Oman Chapter), 2016, 6, 3, 45-62
- International Military Humanitarian Intervention as a Solution for International Conflict Management, Umezulike, L.C. & Gatuiku, P., International Affairs and Global Strategy Journal, IISTE, 2016, 46, 8, http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/IAGS/article/view/31705/32577
- Galvanizing Mass Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano State, Nigeria (GMAA - K) Project End Learning and Impact Assessment Study, Umezulike, L. C., Connected Development, 2023, https://www.connecteddevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CODE-GMAAK-report.pdf
- Nigeria’s Health Sector Accountability Report, Umezulike, L. C. & Osasona, T., BudgIT Foundation & Connected Development, 2022, https://covidfund.africa/country_publications/nigerias-health-sector-accountability-report/
- Mappings of Civil Society, International Financial Institutions, Private Sector Players and Actors, and Survey on Public Perception of Privatization in Nigeria, Umezulike, L. C., Public Services International (PSI), 2021, https://publicservices.international/resources/publications/mappings-of-civil-society-ifis-private-sector-players-and-actors-and-survey-on-public-perception-of-privatization-in-nigeria?id=12100&lang=en
- Ethnicity, Ethnic Crises and National Security in Nigeria: Implications and Management Strategies, Umezulike, L. C., Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Foundation, 2021, https://pscc.fes.de/fileadmin/user_upload/images/publications/Pub_Ethnicity_Ethnic_Crisis_and_National_Security_in_Nigeria.pdf
- Connected Development Impact Report 2019, Miachi, O. & Umezulike, L. C., Connected Development, 2019, https://www.connecteddevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-Impact-Report-Upload-2.pdf
Country Experience
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- The Gambia
- United Kingdom
- United States
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Accomplishments
Auburn University Department of Political Science Morris Fund for Excellence Travel Grant. $750
Media Mentions
- 5/3/2024. For a better world: Auburn doctoral student bridges research, experience in global development. https://cla.auburn.edu/news/articles/umezulike-bridges-research-and-experience-in-global-development/
- 14/06/2019. Meet the Nigerians Selected for 2019 Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Program, https://www.bellanaija.com/2019/06/meet-the-nigerians-selected-for-2019-obama-foundation-leaders-africa-programme/
- 2017. Guest Speaker on Youth Unemployment and Empowerment, African Independent Television, Nigeria, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxubMjsHaqs
- 2021. Interview on Nigeria's Unemployment Crisis, Job Creation & Growth, The Open Minds Young Voices of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Nigeria, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WMOuLdCjrw
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Instructor of Record
Auburn University
01.2025 - 12.2025
Evaluation Specialist, Ascend Investment Readiness Programme
Jezreel Consultancy Limited
01.2024 - 12.2024
Impact Evaluation Specialist, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project
Biodoc International
01.2024 - 12.2024
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Foundervine CIC
01.2024 - 12.2024
Doctoral Research Fellow
Global Development Solutions Lab-Auburn University
08.2022 - Current
Team Lead and Technical Consultant, Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project
The World Bank and Federal Ministry of Education
04.2022 - 09.2025
Evaluation Specialist, M&E Support for the Delivery of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) Program
Cloneshouse LLC
01.2022 - 12.2023
Evaluation Consultant, Mid-Term Evaluation of the Next Economy Programme
Cloneshouse LLC
01.2022 - 12.2022
M&E Specialist, Development of Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy and Implementation Roadmap for the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP)
Ministry of Youth Development and Cloneshouse LLC
01.2021 - 12.2021
Program Officer, Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation Programme
British Council
08.2019 - 09.2022
M&E Quality Assurance Supervisor, Field Based Monitoring (FBM) services for the Feed The Future Project implemented by Catholic Relief Services
Enyenaweh Consultancy Limited
01.2018 - 12.2018
Senior Programmes Manager
Connected Development
10.2016 - 07.2019
Ph.D. - Public Administration and Public Policy
Auburn University
Master of Arts - International Studies
University of Nairobi
B.SC. - Computer Science
University of Nigeria