Safianu Chakilia
Tamale
Summary
Research, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist with 4+ years of experience in USAID- and EU-funded programs, combining strong MEL system design with proven communications expertise. Skilled in translating complex data into clear, engaging reports, policy briefs, and knowledge products for diverse audiences. Proficient in MELIA frameworks, outcome harvesting, Theory of Change, and statistical tools (STATA, SPSS, Power BI). Adept at stakeholder engagement, training, and producing actionable insights that strengthen decision-making and program impact.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Officer
Aid for Socio-Economic and Rural Development
Tamale
10.2024 - Current
- Conducted 5+ bi-weekly field monitoring visits, analyzing project performance data to inform adaptive and future programming.
- Developed a grant database and regularly tracked records for calls for expressions of interest (EOI) by donors.
- Designed and operationalized outcome harvesting framework (MEL system) to effectively track and measure the USAID/OTI-ASERD GHANA program impact.
- Developed and facilitated MEL capacity-building training for staff, enhancing data collection and reporting accuracy for the grant database.
- Drafted 6 biweekly outcome harvesting reports and documentation for all project activities, ensuring accuracy for compliance and reporting.
- Identified and pursued funding opportunities and successfully contributed to winning proposals through data-driven initiatives justifications.
- Planned and coordinated community visits and logistics, resulting in 4 successful workshops held to develop a Conflict Deescalation Strategy.
- Mobilized project beneficiaries and arranged logistics for project activities, ensuring successful implementation of USAID-funded initiatives.
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Asdev Foundation LBG
10.2023 - 09.2024
- Developed performance monitoring frameworks (log frames) and indicators (KPIs) for grant proposals for donor-funded projects.
- Conducted large-scale data collection and analysis, employing mixed-methods approaches for robust project evaluations.
- Led workshops on evidence-based decision-making for program staff, strengthening institutional learning culture.
Research & Evaluation Assistant
Asdev Consult Ltd.
01.2021 - 09.2024
- Reviewed project evaluation terms of reference (TOR) and provided technical backstopping in developing 10+ technical and financial proposals, 6+ survey reports, and 3+ research publications.
- Oversaw the daily operations of research projects, including logistics, office administration, and compliance with project evaluation TOR.
- Led the design of research and evaluation instruments & methodologies for impact assessment studies, resulting in the successful execution of 6 evaluations across Ghana.
- Provided training and support to enumerators on survey administration and data quality control for project evaluations.
- Successfully coordinated travel arrangements for field enumerators and supervisors; Led and supervised teams of field enumerators, ensuring accurate and timely data collection.
- Summarize survey findings of project impacts for presentation to project implementers and donors.
- Conducted over 100 key informant interviews, 40 focus group discussions, and 500 household surveys across five districts to collect high-quality, representative data for baseline and impact evaluations.
- Analyzed research and evaluation surveys and authored high-quality donor reports detailing project progress, lessons learned, and impact assessments.
Membership Director (Remote)
Big Sam Innovation Hub
03.2022 - 02.2023
- Managed a database of 30+ members' records with 100% accuracy and timely updates.
- Coordinated meetings and events of the hub by scheduling appointments and preparing agendas for the induction of new members.
- Drafted and submitted 3+ detailed quarterly reports on membership welfare, capacity development and increments strategies.
- Responded to an average of 50+ queries weekly via phone and email, improving response time by 30%.
- Conducted periodic evaluations resulting in a 15% improvement in membership effectiveness in hub activities.
Business Development Officer
Global Shea Alliance (GSA)
07.2022 - 09.2022
- Trained 6000 shea cooperative members in bookkeeping and budgeting, business planning and development, resulting in enhanced entrepreneurial skills.
- Developed a comprehensive business plan for the Shea cooperative and submitted a detailed report of embedment with the cooperative.
- Educated cooperative leaders on their roles and responsibilities.
- Led training of the cooperative in quality shea processing methods and sustainability practices to conserve shea stocks.
Field & Administrative Assistant
Department of Agriculture (MoFA)
07.2021 - 08.2021
- Gathering product and input prices, ensuring accuracy for policy recommendations.
- Participated in demonstrations at SARI farms in Tumu resulting in workflow operational enhancement for research in crop species.
Education
BSc. - Agribusiness Management and Finance
University for Development Studies
07.2023
Certificate in Leadership Skills and Team Management - undefined
07.2022
Skills
- Computational Skills
- Statistical Skills
- EXCEL
- STATA
- Power BI
- SPSS
- R
- NVivo
- Microsoft Office
- Google Suits
- Project Design
- Evaluation
- Donor Reporting
- Compliance Guidelines
- Soft Skills
- Team Leadership
- Project Monitoring
- Research
- Proposal Development
- Fundraising
- MEL Frameworks
- Project Impact Assessment
- Quantitative Research Methodologies
- Qualitative Research Methodologies
- Econometric Modeling
- Data Collection
- Data Analysis
- Data Visualization
- Capacity Building
- Knowledge Management
- Project Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Gender Inclusion
- Social Inclusion
Research And Project Evaluation Experience
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, Tamale, Ghana, Presby Agric - End-line Study Sustaining the Income of Women Shea Project, 2024-08-01, Travelled to Guno, Gushei, Kpanshegu and Tantuyani in northern Ghana and administered surveys developed to gain insights into the project impact., Assisted with the preparation of the final draft report for the endline study.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, AGRA: Review of Agricultural mechanization and the Greenhouse Technology Villages Module, 2024-07-01, Assisted with the review of Agricultural mechanization and the Greenhouse Technology Villages module of the PFJ Phase 1., Administered surveys to 82 AMSEC beneficiaries and conducted interviews with 7 AMSEC input dealers, 7 community leaders and 7 MoFA directors in Northern and North East regions of Ghana.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, Rainforest Alliance: Baseline Study for Ghana Agroforestry for Impact (GAIM) Project, 2024-06-01, Prepared training materials and trained 4 field enumerators about the study and their role., Participated in writing a report which led to the successful completion of the baseline study for the GAIM project.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, Livelihood fund: Women in Shea project midline study, 2024-05-01, Successfully reviewed the literature on Anker methodology to estimate the living income (LI) of women shea producers and compared estimated LI to LI benchmarks., Cleaned, processed and analyzed data using economic tools like STATA., Studied adoption intensity of improved shea practices and observed that adoption intensity was high among the participants.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, SNV: GreeN project end-line study, 2024-03-01, Participated in writing end-line assessment report, which led to the successful completion of SNV end-line evaluation.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, Farm Radio International: Formative Research and Baseline Study, 2024-02-01, Contributed to report preparation, typically writing the initial draft of the conclusion, executive summary, acknowledgement and discussions of the analyzed results.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, Fairtrade Africa: Baseline Study: Sankofa 2.0 Project in Ghana, 2023-10-01, Supervised field data collection on Dynamic agroforestry, Food Agroforestry System, and DAF Island, across 31 cocoa communities, ensuring quality and ethical compliance., Assessed household vulnerability, education access, and income diversification as basis to keep track of the project progress., Trained and managed field teams on safeguarding protocols and mobile data tools for accurate and ethical reporting.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, Plan International: Midline Evaluation of WISE Project (Northern, Ahafo, Bono, and Bono East Regions of Ghana), 2023-01-01, 2023-04-30, Supervised the collection, management, and storage of data to ensure its quality and integrity for the WISE project., Conducted comprehensive desk reviews and stakeholder mapping specific to the WISE project regions., Communicated findings, lessons learned, and recommendations to inform program improvements for the WISE project.
- Research Associate, Asdev Consult, Solidaridad West Africa: Baseline Study Solidaridad Reclaim Sustainability Programme, 2021-08-01, 2021-10-31, Oversee data collection, management, and storage ensuring quality and integrity for baseline studies in Sierra Leone's cocoa and oil palm sectors., Summarized findings and recommendations in PowerPoint ensuring successfully validation of the evaluation.
- Undergraduate Researcher, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, Studied the effects of financial and marketing services on shea butter production, 2023-08-01, Compiled results and concluded that financial and marketing services have a positive influence on shea output., Presented results to 5 boards of assessors and 60 colleagues.
- Research Associate, University for Development Studies, Third Trimester Field Practical Program (TTFPP), 2021-07-01, 2021-09-30, Led a team of 10 to develop surveys, distribute and analyze, which led to a successful review of the community profile of Asekye., Presented findings as part of a group of 10 to 2 assessors and community members.
Policy Briefs
- Awakening a Sleeping Giant: Ghana's Shea Industry and the Potential for Socioeconomic Development, Azumah SB., Mahama A., Chakilia, S., Yabang TM., 2024
- Beyond the talk: How Agricultural Mechanization Services Can Drive Employment in Ghana, Azumah SB., Mahama A., Lawrence AA., Chakilia, S., Yabang TM., 2024
- Ghana's Coconut Industry: A Preview of the Challenges, Prospects and the Wayforward for a Functioning Sector, Azumah SB., Mahama A., Chakilia, S., Yabang TM., 2024
- Harnessing Greenhouse Technology Villages for Youth Employment in Ghana, Azumah SB., Mahama A., Lawrence AA., Chakilia, S., Yabang TM., 2024
Technical Reports
- Exploring the Challenges and Prospects of the Asekye Community in the Nkoranza North District of Ghana, Safianu Chakilia et al., 2021, Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP), University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, 2021-09-01
- Proposal for Intervention on the Construction of Agricultural Mechanization Service Center in Asekye Community of the Nkronza North District of Bono East Region, Safianu Chakilia et al., 2022, Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP), University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, 2022-10-01
- The Community Profile of Kuroboi in the Sissala East Municipality of Upper West Region, Safianu Chakilia, 2019, Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP), University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, 2019-09-01
Publications
- The role of financial and marketing services on rural shea-producing women, Chakilia, S., Ahado, H. E., 2024, International Journal of Financial, Accounting, and Management, 6, 1, 93-104, https://doi.org/10.35912/ijfam.v6i1.2032
- Analysis of drivers of adoption of improved shea processing practices among rural women shea producers in the Savannah region of Ghana, Azumah SB., Mahama A., Lawrence AA., Chakilia, S., Yabang TM., Surazu MA., Zakari J., 2024, in peer-reviewed journal
- What drives the adoption of agricultural technologies among rural women shea processors? Insights from the East Gonja District of Ghana, Azumah SB., Mahama A., Lawrence AA., Chakilia, S., Yabang TM., Surazu MA., Zakari J., 2024, in peer-reviewed journal
- An evaluation of smallholder farmers' knowledge, attitude and practice of integrated soil fertility management practices in the upper east region of Ghana, Azumah SB., Mahama A., Lawrence AA., Chakilia, S., Yabang TM., Surazu MA., Zakari J., 2024, in peer review journal
Timeline
Project Officer
Aid for Socio-Economic and Rural Development
10.2024 - Current
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Asdev Foundation LBG
10.2023 - 09.2024
Business Development Officer
Global Shea Alliance (GSA)
07.2022 - 09.2022
Membership Director (Remote)
Big Sam Innovation Hub
03.2022 - 02.2023
Field & Administrative Assistant
Department of Agriculture (MoFA)
07.2021 - 08.2021
Research & Evaluation Assistant
Asdev Consult Ltd.
01.2021 - 09.2024
BSc. - Agribusiness Management and Finance
University for Development Studies
Certificate in Leadership Skills and Team Management - undefined
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