Resume CV (download pdf/print version)

Jindra Monique Cekan, Ph.D.
CEKAN CONSULTING LLC

323 11th St., N.E., Washington DC 20002 Suite 100
Email: jindra@cekanconsulting.com
www.cekanconsulting.com
Cell phone: 202-375-3119
Fax: 1-857-559-5404

EXPERTISE:

Political Economist. 20 years of international development experience and 4 years in academia. Main focus has been food security/ agriculture and gendered program design with NGOs and knowledge management including strategic monitoring and evaluation.  Worked mainly with international development agency programs and projects covering 24 countries.

REGIONAL SPECIALIZATIONS:

• Africa: Anglophone: Ethiopia, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zambia.  Francophone: Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal.
• Latin America/ Caribbean: Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Peru
• Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Czech Rep., Kosovo, Macedonia, UK

EDUCATION:

• Ph.D. / M.A.L.D.  The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, 1994, 1990. Thesis: ‘Listening to One's Clients' a Political Analysis of Mali's Famine Early Warning Systems"
• B.A. Gettysburg College: Economics and Political Science, 1983
• e-Certified Knowledge Professional certificate from Knowledge Management Institute, 2011

Knowledge and use of Web 2.0-3.0 sharing mechanisms, including Social networks, Cloud-based sites and Crowd-sourcing, as well as platforms such as Sharepoint. Regular Participant in Communities of Practice on: KM (KM4Dev and on Twitter) and Evaluation (MandE, AFREA, Xeval), and Food Security (Food Security& Nutrition Network, OVCs and Microlinks) and Gender (Gender in Evaluation).
Languages:  Bilingual English and Czech (FSI 5), proficient French (FSI 3), basic Spanish (FS1)
Dual Citizenship: USA and Czech Republic (EU)

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (Best Practices, Strategic Analysis, Monitoring & Evaluation)

World Vision Strategic Planning Consultant (Food Security & Livelihoods) 2011

• Designed and facilitated strategic planning retreat for merged team. Used Appreciative Inquiry process.

The Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa (Africa) 2011

• Drafted section on Feed the Future’s measurement criteria and USAID’s learning prospects for a white paper for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Also provided edits to this evaluative prognosis.

OIC International Food Security Strategic Planning Consultant (Africa) 2010-11

• Assisted OIC with strategic planning around their food security, agriculture/ livelihoods and vocational training portfolio in Africa. Surveyed field programs, met with senior management and staff to revise materials, focus sectoral programming, including special needs of female youth. Recommended knowledge sharing process with donors and foundations. Drafted two concept papers for Africa.

Johns Hopkins University Knowledge for Health M&E Consultant (Worldwide) 2010

• Created and headed team to research and review existing eLearning practices for public health, analyze existing data from 35 international public health eLearning courses, survey a subset of 15,000 eLearning users. Developed a comprehensive strategy for evaluating eLearning moving forward with a special focus on African health eLearners.

InterMedia AudienceScapes M&E Consultant (Africa)  2010

• Analyzed and revised a questionnaire, two field reports and wrote an interview protocol to assist InterMedia to know how high-level policy makers in Ghana, Kenya and Zambia access, learn from and disseminate policy-relevant information. Integrated gender issues into questionnaire and report for the Gates Foundation.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Sanitation & Hygiene Advocacy Researcher (World)  2009

• Created and lead team of seven to research and evaluate advocacy around sanitation and hygiene in 10 countries in Africa and Asia, Europe and the US. Our team interviewed 103 public, non-profit and private key informants to inform Foundation and partners' priorities. Wrote report with recommendations and did presentation to key staff with G. McAuliffe (Data Harvest).

World Vision SP&NK ICB Evaluation & Assessment Consultant (World) 2008

• Evaluated impact of the Specialized Programming and New Knowledge training and work-plan process including staff's knowledge of many sectors of food security programming and how well the SP&NK project supported staff's international cross fertilization and sharing of promising best practices. This covered 26 participants from 10 programs worldwide plus HQ staff.

Congressional Hunger Center Part-time Training Advisor (World) 2007-2009

• Training Advisor for Leland class of 2007-09, providing fellows mentoring and information on key food security issues and training.  Led two 10-day Leland International Hunger Fellow trainings on anti-hunger programming and policy, identified speakers and coordinated trainers.

WISHH Global Development Alliance Project Evaluation Consultant (Honduras, Kenya)  2008

• Evaluated World Initiative for Soy in Human Health's (WISHH) USAID-funded four-year soy market promotion and humanitarian assistance project. This project evaluated grant and training success with Honduran and Kenyan for-profit meat and bread companies. Final report recommendation included perspectives from 30 partner companies, staff and consultants. Included special focus on women's nutrition.

Save the Children USA Consultant/Principal Interviewer and Evaluator (Africa)  2005-2006

• Facilitated the Integration of Food Security and HIV/AIDS provided technical assistance in East and Southern Africa on integrating HIV/AIDS care & support with food aid.  Reviewed 20 USAID and private projects, interviewed staff about project integration of food aid, HIV/AIDS, wrote up findings on how to best disseminate knowledge and create joint learning across countries and programs.



FOOD SECURITY/ LIVELIHOODS (Program Design and Evaluation)

Women Thrive Worldwide Food Security/ Gender Policy Consultant (World) 2011

• Consultant and acting Director for food security/ agriculture and gender policy advice, including input to the US government on gender monitoring and evaluation for food security in Africa's CAADP/ Feed the Future, writing policy briefs, representing WTW at Capitol Hill briefings.

Mercy Corps Proposal Writer and Technical Reviewer  (Africa) 2008, 2009

• Reviewed and rewrote two successful Food For Peace MYAP proposals with IMC for Uganda and Congo (>$10 mil) and reviewed Malawi's proposal with Land O'Lakes (approved), and Liberia.

ACDI VOCA Field Researcher and Proposal Writer (Sierra Leone)  2009

• Researched, drafted and field-program vetted a Food For Peace MYAP proposal in Africa for food assisted livelihood programming in agriculture, income generation and health (approved).

CARE Concept paper Technical Reviewer  (Haiti) 2009

• Reviewed and revised successful concept paper for USAID/ Haiti.

Geneva Global Grant Writer (Ethiopia and Ivory Coast) 2006

• Wrote two successful PEPFAR HIV/AIDS New Partner's Initiative grant proposals for capacity building and prevention/ care with US and African staff totaling $12 million. 

Aga Khan Foundation Food Aid Consultant (Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Mali) 2006-2008

• Managed three USDA food aid monetization grants totaling $30 million for milk and development programming in Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Mali.  Oversaw monetization of 19,500 mt of food for milk distribution to schools. Streamlined and improved project design and reporting best practices guidance.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Participatory Rural Appraisal M&E Consultant (Niger)  2006-2008

• Created, conducted community-based participatory M&E system assessment and evaluation for Gates Foundation-funded drought relief for 4,000 women's pastoralists on sheep restocking, wells, fodder and transhumance. Trained local staff in PRA process in French and wrote up RRA recommendations. Special focus on impact of program on women and gender equity.

North American Miller's Association (NAMA) Food Aid Consultant (Ethiopia, Kenya) 2006

• With manufacturer's representative, arranged visits with 12 PVO offices in East Africa, discussing how to improve commodity management and food aid quality, especially in light of HIV/AIDS.

SUSTAIN Researcher/Consultant (World) 2004-2006

• Assessed the quality, expectations and preferences for different kinds of food aid for those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS, malnourished mothers/children and refugees.
• Designed and sent out survey to over 30 NGO and UN field programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America and analyzed results. Coordinated with USAID/USDA, food industry and scientific experts.

Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance (FANTA)/ AED Consultant (World) 2003–2004

• Provided "Programming Food Aid for HIV/AIDS Mitigation" project data from 40 interviews internationally on design and monitoring of food for HIV/AIDS infected/affected with best practices.

American Red Cross, International Services Head of Food Security Unit (World) 1999-2003

• Created first 'food security strategy' for ARC within Technical Assistance, Planning and Evaluation section of International Development with sectoral foci: agricultural recovery, health/nutrition, water/sanitation and safety nets.  Built field staff capacity through trainings, created communities of practice by sectoral email groups, including building national Red Cross/ Red Crescent capacity.
• Created Red-Cross-wide tools/systems for food security project design, relief to development proposals as well as food aid commodity management. Trained over 80 national and international staff and hired two regional staff to disseminate best practices including gender integration.
• Field tools: "ARC Food Security Proposal Review Checklists and Tools", "Food Ration Calculation Exercise", "White Paper". 2001, "Food Security Workshop: Developing Best Practices for Design and Implementation of Food Security Programs" and Emergency Assessment tools: http://www.foodsecuritynetwork.org/resources/program_management/assessments.html Published best practices papers on Food security and HIV/AIDS, Safety Nets and Rapid Rural Appraisal. Commissioned studies on Micronutrient costs and benefits and Agricultural recovery. http://www.foodaid.org/food3.htm. Included special focus on women’s needs in food security.
• Identified the need for and commissioned entire food aid commodity management system aligned with standards of the International Federation of the Red Cross worldwide.
• Member of several international (virtual) working groups on industry best practices on food security.
• Provided ongoing project technical assistance to eight field programs, including participatory M&E during technical assistance/ project design and evaluation in Kenya and Armenia "Armenia Food Security Assessment", Food Aid Management Food Forum newsletter, IV Q, 2001. Wash., DC.
• Managed ARC’s first ISA $500,000 grant from USAID to improve global food security best practices. As leader or member of grant writing teams, won over $5 million in US Government (USAID, USDA, CDC) and Red Cross Federation/International Committee for the Red Cross. 
• Recurrently seconded to ICRC in Kosovo for setting up refugee food program (1999-2000).

Catholic Relief Services Head of Food Security Unit (World) 1995–1999, 2005

• Created first conceptual food security framework covering the health, agriculture, micro-enterprise, safety net, education and emergency sectors.  Included special focus on female-headed households in safety net programming. Provided technical assistance to field offices using food aid in 14 counties and trained over 200 international staff.
• Furthered best practices through conceiving of and editing PRA/RRA Manual including writing "Food security" chapter in CRS PRA/RRA Manual, Spring 1999. Baltimore, MD. Still being used today: http://www.crsprogramquality.org/2009/10/rrapra/. Also published best practices papers on Food Security in Poverty Lending and Food Security in Monetization.
• Co-managed $4 million of USAID ISA grant to CRS worldwide food security programming.
• Evaluated homes/clinics serving the disabled, aged and destitute with food aid. Devised system to assess institutions' self-reliance. Kept US Government ‘safety net' funding from being eliminated.
• Co-led grant-writing team that won grants totaling over $30 million in US government grants, and collaborated with European agencies/ private donors.

CARE Consultant, Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (Mali) 1995

• Assessed impact on community development of agriculture, soil/water conservation, forestry and women. Recommend action on data collection, targeting, impact indicators and partnerships. 

University of Cambridge Research Associate (UK) and Pew Charitable Trust Fellow    1992-1995

• FEWS (Famine Early Warning System)/Systeme d'Alerte Precoce (Mali). Researcher/Analyst, African Studies Centre 1990-1992. PhD research in Famine Early Warning systems and relief and famine prevention for rural Malian agro-pastoralists. 

Price Waterhouse Coopers Strategy Consultant and Intern (Czech Republic, USA) 1991, 1988

• Analyzed privatization options and prospects for a Czech distribution enterprise with 19 branches, including debt/asset overviews.  Presented report to Czech and US management.
• Consulted to two international Strategic Management Services clients in banking and high-tech.

The Ilorin Diocese Social Development Coordinator/Grant-writer (Nigeria) 1987

• First grant writer for Diocese. Got 8:12 grants funded, up to $25,000 for economic development, health, disabled services and women's projects. Created grant application packet and process.

Salomon Brothers Inc Financial Analyst, Corporate Finance (USA) 1984-88

• Designed databases, researched and presented data on foreign exchange, mergers and acquisitions, insurance and forest products. Acting head of Graphics & Data analysis team.
• Organized Corp Finance analyst recruiting and supervised analyst regional trainings.


UNIVERSITY TEACHING:

The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University (USA)
Adjunct Asst Prof of Politics 1994

• Created and taught graduate-level seminar, "The Politics of Change in Central Europe".

Harvard University (USA)
Head Teaching Assistant, Faculty of Arts & Sci. Fall 1992-94, Spring 92  1992-1994

• Fall: "History of Modern Africa-1850 to the Present" (undergraduates).  Led discussion sections, graded papers, examinations. Coordinated more than 100 students and three Teaching Assistants.
• Spring: "The Emergence of African Capitalism" (undergraduate). Same as above, 40 students.


PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS/ BOARD MEMBERSHIPS:

• KUSARD (Kenya Relief and Development NGO) Board of Advisors  2004-present
• Principal North South Group 2007-present
• American Evaluation Association Member 2007-present
• Appreciative Inquiry DC Member and Presenter 2007- present
• Consulting Women (Washington DC) Member 2005- present
• Washington (Buddhist) Mindfulness Community Board of Directors/Advisor 1998-present
• Two Rivers Public Charter School working groups  2007-2009
• Who's Who in the Czech Republic 2003-08; Who's Who of American Women in the 1980s


HONORS, SELECTED KEY PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:

• “Improving International Food Security” in LBX Journal http://www.lbxjournal.com/articles/improving-international-food-security/260280
• "One Chance to Get it Right: Seven Key Pillars for Achieving Food Security" for Women Thrive Worldwide (2011) http://www.womenthrive.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=654&Itemid=174
• Presented to the Knowledge Management Group of the Society of International Development on the "Power of the (Appreciative) Question" (2009) http://www.microlinks.org/multimedia/SID_AI/player.html 
• Published "A Wealth of Knowledge: Case Studies in Learning from a PVO's Most Precious Assets" article in Monday Developments with McAuliffe http://www.scribd.com/doc/17003730/MDDec2008
• African Studies Review and Parallax Press- manuscript reviewer (2008, 2009)
• Quoted in "The Parentpreneur Edge" by Julie L. Kirk on parenting while an entrepreneur (2007).
• Represented Catholic Relief Services at World Food Summit in Rome, Italy (1998)
• Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences (based on student evaluations, in top 5% of Harvard's 1,000 Teaching Assistants 1993-94)
• Doctoral Scholarships: Pew Charitable Trust (1990-92), African Studies Centre, University of Cambridge, UK (1990-91) and The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy (1990, 1993-94)

 

Additional proposals/ presentations/ publications in separate document. References also available.