Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Affiliations
Publications
Training
Research and Consultancies
Specific experience in the African region
Languages
References
Personal Information
Timeline
Hi, I’m

James Sulaiman Fofanah

Freetown

Summary

Development and public health professional with a Master of Science in Development Training and Education and current PhD candidate in Sustainable Development. Over twenty years of experience in Sierra Leone, specializing in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs in youth, gender, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/STIs, and business development. Proven track record of collaboration with governments, NGOs, UN agencies, and donors, including USAID and FCDO, to deliver impactful community empowerment initiatives. Currently serving as an international consultant for Rainbo Initiative in Liberia, enhancing local staff capacity and strengthening strategic planning and governance systems to combat sexual gender-based violence.

Overview

24
years of professional experience
1
Certification

Work History

Rainbo Initiative Liberia

International Consultant (Technical Advisor)
05.2025 - 08.2025

Job overview

  • To provide strategic guidance, technical assistance, and capacity development support to Rainbo Initiative Liberia, focusing on organizational growth, effective fundraising, and the development of sustainable systems. The Consultant will work closely with the Rainbo Initiative Sierra Leone senior management team and Liberia Country Representative
  • Ref: Daniel Kettor daniel.k@rainboinitiative.org

Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Breakthrough ACTION/ USAID

Chief of Party
03.2018 - 04.2025

Job overview

  • Oversee field office staff and operations of the Breakthrough ACTION Sierra Leone project. Provide management and oversight of technical, administrative, and financial aspects. Provide strategic direction and technical assistance for the development, implementation and monitoring of project activities. Represent Breakthrough ACTION to USAID and the GOSL and cultivate open and collaborative management relationships with the management team at the USAID/SL Mission as well as with other Mission-funded GHSA partners. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with GOSL and partners at national, district and community levels. Ensure timely activity implementation in accordance with the work plan. Ensure compliance with USAID, Johns Hopkins University and Breakthrough ACTION processes and regulations
  • Ref: Andrea Brown, Andrea.Brown@jhu.edu

Rainbo Initiative Sierra Leone

Executive Director
01.2017 - 02.2018

Job overview

  • Provide strategic leadership, direction and representation for Rainbo Initiative. The Executive Director will ensure principled compliance to donor and organisational policies plans and procedures with general oversight from the Board of Directors. Lead the funding efforts of the organisation with primary responsibility for fund-raising, building on established relationships and reputation. Provide oversight of the organisation’s performance and delivery, ensuring the achievement of performance and quality indicators. She/he will provide oversight for financial management, strong accountability and value for money and drives a culture of programme innovation, and technical advancement. Provide oversight for the organisation in the development of its programmatic and financial planning. She/he will collaborate with the staff team, the Board of Directors and stakeholders in devising and implementing the organisation’s strategic plan year on year ensuring that financial, human resource, core business and strategic ambitions are achieved. Oversee the running of the Rainbo Initiative’s management team, including fostering collective ownership of key organisational processes. She/he will directly line manage and support the professional development of a GBV Technical Advisor, Finance Manager and Human Resource and Admin Manager in support of high performance against performance objectives. Lead the policy advocacy and have primary responsibility for representation of the organisation in donor and partner meetings.
  • Ref: Olabisi Claudius Cole, olabisiclaudiuscole@gmail.com

Restless Development Sierra Leone

Country Director
12.2014 - 11.2016

Job overview

  • Provide strategic leadership, direction and representation for the Country Program. Ensures effective and strategic risk management and connection to Restless Development’s other country programs and internal units. Lead the unit’s funding strategy and have primary responsibility for in-country fund-raising, building on established relationships and reputation. Ensure the health and cultivation of the unit’s funding, partnership and grant portfolio in line with the unit’s strategic ambitions. Provide oversight of the unit’s performance and delivery, ensuring performance and quality indicators are achieved. Provide oversight for financial management, strong accountability and value for money. Drives a culture of programme innovation, and technical advancement. Provide oversight for the unit in the development of its programmatic and financial planning. Collaborate with the staff team, National Board, International Senior Management Team and unit stakeholders in devising the unit’s strategic plan for the year ahead ensuring that financial, human resource, core business and strategic ambitions are achieved. Oversee the running of the in-country management team, including fostering collective ownership of key organizational processes. Directly line manage and support the professional development of a Deputy, Finance Manager and Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager in support of high performance against performance objectives.
  • Ref: Alfred T.M Navo, llbnavo@gmail.com

Restless Development Sierra Leone

Senior Manager
01.2013 - 11.2014

Job overview

  • The Senior Manager works closely with the Country Director, operating as the number 2 in country to oversee internal performance: monitoring and ensuring performance across all organizational key performance indicators and compliance with organizational policies Provide leadership of the Program Quality directorate: overall responsibility for ensuring effective programme design, implementation and quality. Provide leadership of operations and HR: supporting the Country Director to ensure effective HR and performance management, programme operations and risk management. Contribute to organizational leadership, strategy and direction: work closely with the Country Director to develop and maintain effective organizational strategy & direction. Support organizational fundraising & partnership efforts: represent Restless Development with partners and identified donors and support proposal development. Ensure sound financial management: monitor and ensure sound fiscal management, budgeting and transparency across the programme unit

Restless Development Sierra Leone

Research Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
01.2010 - 12.2012

Job overview

  • Develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems, indicators and tools to enable use of information for decision making within Restless Development Sierra Leone. Oversee the implementation of M&E systems and tools within Restless Development Sierra Leone. Disseminate monitoring and evaluation data and reports internally and externally. Line manage unit staff and build the capacity of Restless Development Sierra Leone staff and peer educators in M&E. Contribute to the leadership and development of Restless Development Sierra Leone. Ensure roll-out of Management for Impact (MFI) systems across the organization. Ensure systems are in place to track program impact throughout Restless Development SL and ensure programme quality is maintained throughout all programs. Develop and oversee the implementation of research relating to the status of youth development in Sierra Leone. Develop and oversee research on best practices in youth engagement. Ensure M&E systems are put in place to measure the sustainability of Restless Development programmes in SL

Charles Jow Memorial Academy-The Gambia

Teacher
09.2001 - 08.2003

Job overview

  • Teach Agricultural Science to students preparing for WAEC Examinations. Set-up examinations and preparing student school records. Managing a School Garden. Setup practical sessions for students. Marking Examination Scripts of Senior Secondary School Students. Assisting the Examination Council to develop questions for the West African Senior School Certificate Exams. Assist in reviewing standards set for drawing examination questions.

Education

University of Wolverhampton

Master of Science from Development Training and Education
06.2005

University Overview

University of Wolverhampton

Postgraduate Diploma from Development Training and Education
06.2004

University Overview

University of Wolverhampton

Postgraduate Certificate from Development Training and Education
06.2004

University Overview

Njala University

Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Agricultural Economics
06.2001

University Overview

University of Makeni

PhD (ABD) from Sustainable Development

University Overview

Skills

  • ITC- Regular user (word, excel, PowerPoint –software includes SPSS, Epi Data and Epi Info, RMarkdown/Rsquare, Kobo Collect)
  • Strategic planning
  • Project management
  • Financial management
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Capacity building
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Fundraising strategy
  • Risk management
  • Policy advocacy
  • Team leadership
  • Effective communication
  • Negotiation skills
  • Organizational development
  • Training and facilitation
  • Strategic advising
  • Public-private partnerships
  • Proposal writing
  • Humanitarian assistance
  • Resource mobilization
  • Sustainable development
  • Research and analysis
  • Media relations
  • Program leadership
  • International business development
  • Partnership management
  • Proposal coordination
  • Business development
  • Performance assessments
  • Project leadership
  • Research and development
  • Technical review
  • Timeline development
  • Integrity and honesty
  • Employee management
  • Goal setting
  • Resource allocation
  • Outcome accountability
  • Public speaking
  • Risk assessment
  • Forecasting and reporting
  • Client engagement
  • Project analysis
  • Budget management
  • Data analysis
  • Business process improvement

Certification

Leadership in Strategic Communication Johns Hopkins University- June 2022

Affiliations

Affiliations
  • Rainbo Initiative Ambassador Group: Provides clinical and psychosocial support services to survivors of Sexual Gender Based Violence though Rainbo Centers.
  • LIFT Sierra Leone Advisory Board: Provides support to Adolescent girls out of school with safe spaces for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.
  • Community of Practice - Violence Against Women and Girls (COP VAWGs) in Sierra Leone.
  • Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations-INGO

Publications

Publications

Co-author- Community engagement in outbreak response from 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. Published BMJ Journals MBJ Global Health, Achieve / Volume 5, Issue 8, August 23, 2020. https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/8/e002145

Training

Training
  • Participant- Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Bi-annual Worldwide Meeting on Leadership and Strategic Communication- Baltimore USA, Aug 7-11, 2023.
  • Participant- Social Behavior Change Summit. Marrakech Morocco Dec 4-9, 2022
  • Presenter – Experiential Capital M&E. The Pollination project- uplifting selfless grassroots voluntarism for a kinder, more compassionate world. Online March 14, 2022
  • Facilitator- Breakthrough ACTION staff training, Gender 101 integrating gender into social, and behavior change programs. Online Feb 28th – March 2, 2022
  • Technical Assistant- Support with the establishment of Rainbo Centers to respond to SGBV in Monrovia Liberia (NGO, Rainbo Initiative) January 2022- 2023.
  • Participant- Taking ACTION to increase Gender Equality: Breakthrough ACTION staff training on integrating gender into social and behavior change programs- Accra Ghana, Feb 11-14, 2020.
  • Participant- Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Breakthrough ACTION Worldwide Meeting on Social and Behavior Change Communication- Baltimore Maryland USA June 2019.
  • Participant- Breakthrough ACTION finance training for Chiefs of Party –Accra Ghana; Feb 20-22, 2019
  • Participant- Restless Development Global Country Directors Conference- Tanzania; Oct 5-16, 2015
  • Participant- Senior Managers Workshop for Restless Development- Zambia: Feb 17-24, 2013
  • Participant- Program Quality Workshop for Restless Development Programs Dar es Salaam Tanzania: Feb 20-24, 2012
  • Trainer- M&E Capacity Building and Support for Staying Alive Foundation (SAF) Grantee Organizations- Dar es Salaam Tanzania: Feb 7-16, 2011.
  • Participant- Developing the Global Strategic Framework and Harmonizing Monitoring and Evaluation Tools and Systems of Restless Development program across nine countries- Jinja Uganda: Nov 14-22, 2010.
  • Presenter- Measuring the Impact of National Youth Service (NYS) Programs on Participants and on the Community- Paris France: Dec 19-22, 2009.
  • Trainer- M&E Capacity Building and Support for Staying Alive Foundation (SAF) Grantee Organizations- London United Kingdom: Oct 19 – 27 2009
  • Participant- Data Management and Reporting for Global Fund HIV/AIDS Projects – Bo Sierra Leone: Feb 4-6, 2009
  • Trainer- M&E Capacity Building for Young African Professionals in East and South Africa working in the HIV and AIDS Sector – Kabwe Zambia: Feb 5-15, 2008.
  • Participant- Developing Monitoring Systems for Program Quality Iringa Uganda: Mar 7-14, 2007
  • Participant- Managing for Impact (MFI) Freetown Sierra Leone: June 26-39, 2006.
  • Participant – Practice in Data Processing and Analysis- Epi Info Data Base Program. Freetown Sierra Leone: Nov 1-9, 2005

Research and Consultancies

Research and Consultancies
  • June 2024- Dec 2025- PhD Candidate Effectiveness of Risk Communication Strategies in Promoting Practice of COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors in Sierra Leone. Ref: Coordinator Doctoral Program: Dr Jess Marah-Jones. University of Makeni, jessjonesunimak@gmail.com
  • Dec 2024-March 2025- Country Consultant, Independent Evaluation Supplier The Fleming Fund, Phase 2 Antimicrobial Resistance Program Ref: Marck Maragno Senior Consultant, marco@anthropologica.consulting
  • July 2022- Co-researcher Environmental and Behavioral Determinants of Lassa Fever A qualitative exploration among communities and health care workers in Tonkolili and Kenema districts, Sierra Leone. Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Ref: Kuor Kumoji, KuorKumoji@jhu.edu
  • January 2022-2023- International Consultant Support the establishment Rainbo Initiative in Liberia to respond to SGBV in Monrovia Liberia
  • June – July 2021- National Consultant Development of toolkit for Oversight Monitoring and Supervision by Sierra Leone Parliamentary Committees
  • Sept –Dec 2020- National Consultant Radio Content Assessment Health Governance, Health Emergency and Education programs COVID-19 Period in Sierra Leone. Ref: Tysha Consultancy UK
  • May 2020- International Consultant online Behavior Change Communication/Messaging for Health Systems in Times of Crisis in Sierra Leone & Uganda. OnFrontiers: booking@onfrontiers.com
  • Nov 2018- National Consultant Development of Local Procedure and Child Safeguarding Policy W.E. Can Lead. Ref: Sharon DeBary Director of Operations, sharon.debary@we-canlead.org
  • Oct 2018-Co-researcher A Literature Review: Understanding the Individual and Social Risk Factors relating to zoonotic diseases in West Africa Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. Ref: Kuor Kumoji, KuorKumoji@jhu.edu
  • Oct 2013- M&E Manager Restless Development Sierra Leone Youth Participation in Local council decision making in Sierra Leone. The Successes and challenges of decentralized participatory governance from a youth perspective
  • June 2012-M&E Manager Restless Development Sierra Leone Baseline Assessment Knowledge Attitudes and Practice: Access to Justice Program –Enhance the capacity of young people to support access to justice and elicit accountability for justice service delivery in relation to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
  • Jan 2011- National Consultant Midterm Review of Building Livelihoods and Community Empowerment Project Sierra Leone Mankind Activities for Development Accreditation Movement Sierra Leone
  • Dec 2008 M&E Manager Restless Development A study on the opportunities to reach out of school children with Life Skill based HIV Prevention Education in Sierra Leone. UNICEF Sierra Leone

Specific experience in the African region

Specific experience in the African region

Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Guinea, Gambia, Zambia, Liberia, Uganda, Ghana, Morocco etc.

Languages

Sierra Leonean
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2

References

References
References available upon request.

Personal Information

Personal Information

Timeline

International Consultant (Technical Advisor)
Rainbo Initiative Liberia
05.2025 - 08.2025
Chief of Party
Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Breakthrough ACTION/ USAID
03.2018 - 04.2025
Executive Director
Rainbo Initiative Sierra Leone
01.2017 - 02.2018
Country Director
Restless Development Sierra Leone
12.2014 - 11.2016
Senior Manager
Restless Development Sierra Leone
01.2013 - 11.2014
Research Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Restless Development Sierra Leone
01.2010 - 12.2012
Teacher
Charles Jow Memorial Academy-The Gambia
09.2001 - 08.2003
University of Wolverhampton
Master of Science from Development Training and Education
University of Wolverhampton
Postgraduate Diploma from Development Training and Education
University of Wolverhampton
Postgraduate Certificate from Development Training and Education
Njala University
Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Agricultural Economics
University of Makeni
PhD (ABD) from Sustainable Development

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James Sulaiman Fofanah