IROKO EDUCATION FUNDERS SEMINAR

IN SEARCH OF BEST PRACTICES IN FUNDING EDUCATION IN AFRICA

March 25, 2010

SPEAKER BIOS

Anthony Bloom, Education Technology Specialist for the United States Agency for International Development Global Education Office

Anthony Bloome works as the education technology specialist in the Global Education offices in USAID Washington, D.C. In this capacity, he provides advice and coordinates the exchange of good practice experiences in the appropriate use of information and communications technology for educationn (ICT4E) to/among HQ, Mission staff and other interested stakeholders. Prior to this, he worked as Peace Corps' global ICT specialist (for three years) and as a distance education specialist at World Bank offices in Washington, D.C.and Zimbabwe (11 years) where he focused on the application of appropriate technologies for education, health and youth livelihoods development. He has an M.A. in international telecommunications with a concentration on distance education for developing countries.

Dr. Joyce Malombe, International Development Specialist

Dr. Joyce Malombe recently served as a Program Officer, Education for ELMA Philanthropies where she designed and managed the education program in 9 southern Africa countries. Previously she served as the Director for Africa and Middle East for the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program where she managed the implementation of the program in 10 countries in Africa and Middle East.  She also coordinated the Leadership for Social Justice Program serving Fellows from 22 countries. The Leadership program sought to create value-based leadership in developing countries.  She has worked as a Senior Social Scientist at the World Bank, Associate Professor at the Southern New Hampshire University, where she also coordinated the International Community Economic Development Program.  For almost two decades she worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nairobi where she did extensive
research and taught infrastructure, environment and human settlements development in Kenya and other African countries. In collaboration with the Wageningen Agricultural University and Center for Urban Studies in Rotterdam, she did research and published two documents on urban environment in developing countries.  She has also been a consultant for the United Nations, Dutch and British Governments as well as for NGOs.  She holds a PhD in urban development from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. Changu Mannathoko, Senior Policy Advisor in Education for UNICEF (formerly Regional Education Advisor in UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Office)

Dr. Changu Mannathoko came to New York from the UNICEF Regional Office of Eastern and Southern Africa in Nairobi, where she worked as the Regional Education Adviser from 2000 to 2006. As regional education advisor, she worked with and travelled to 21 countries in the region, providing technical support in the areas of education, gender and development, gender, sexuality and HIV and AIDS in the education sector. She also worked on life-skills education, rights-based approach to programming, violence in and around schools and early childhood development. She was involved in innovative programmes including Child Friendly Schools for Africa, Delivery of Essential Services for Children especially Care and Support, Gender, Sexuality and HIV and AIDS in Education and the Girls’ Education Movement.

In her current role as Senior Policy Advisor, Dr. Mannathoko provides technical support and expertise to countries in the areas of equity and quality. This means addressing issues that cover gender equity, girls education, child-friendly schools as pathways to quality education, safety and security in schools, HIV and AIDS prevention, life-skills based education, education achievement, capacity development, and United Nations partnerships for girls’ education (UNGEI).

Mr. John Gilles, Vice President and Director of the Global Education Canter, Academy for Educational Development.

Global Education Center at the Academy for Educational Development is non-profit organization that provides technical and management expertise to support education and health systems around the world. Mr. Gillies is also the director of EQUIP2, USAID’s flagship program on education policy, systems, and management. With over 30 programs in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, EQUIP2 is assisting Ministries of Education and civil society organizations to achieve improved education outcomes on a sustainable basis. The EQUIP2 research studies and policy briefs on alternative education models, decentralization, time-on-task, school management, and education system reform have informed USAID and World Bank strategies and have received recognition in forums in the US, Europe, and Africa. Mr. Gillies has worked in international development since 1980, when he served as a USAID officer in Honduras. He has been involved in the design, management, or evaluation of significant education and training initiatives throughout Africa, including in Namibia, Senegal, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi and Mali. Mr. Gillies primary focus in recent years has been on the process of system reform for sustained improvements in student learning.