A JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES
I have been called a Jack-of-all-Trades - and a master-of-some: researcher, communicator, lecturer, programme manager.Being called a Jack-of-all-Trades is a moniker that few people actually would wear with pride, yet I do: my broad interests and my eagerness to study, absorb and learn (from others) make me truly versatile. My personal attitude of immersing myself in new topics is an asset to any project, programme or organisation.
My 20+ years of experience in the Balkans, Sub-Saharan and North Africa, South-east Asia and South America have given me the knowledge and perspective of various situations, and an understanding of the importance of sustainable development programmes.
And the work provides me with ample opportunities to try on different headdresses ... because to become a Jack-of-all-Trades, you sometimes have to adapt, sit down in the grass, wear sandals or cover up. To learn from the people I interact with. Because to master things, I listen. I look, I study. And I have fun doing it!
RESEARCHER
I love doing research. It is often difficult, hard work. Tedious sometimes,
but never boring. It feeds my curiosity; it allows me to learn, to think about life, about the human condition, about resilience and learning,... As a
result, I find that I am always learning, which is an exciting outcome of my job.
Research is also a two-way street: it changes me too. I am constantly challenged, as I am exposed to new ideas and viewpoints, which has caused me
to see things differently and to change my perspectives! Research helps me to build traits and characteristics like independent thinking, resilience,
communication, and creativity. All things I can bring into other aspects of my work.
My love of research also got me into teaching. For several years I lectured advanced quantitative and qualitative research methodology at
university. I particularly liked teaching as part of a development programme, working with students on ther thesis and finding creative ways to answer socially
relevant questions. What I learned from working with my students, I still use today.
The most challenging - and rewarding - part of social research is the development of questions that will actually measure the opinions, experiences and behaviours of a community.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION EXPERT
For me, monitoring and evaluation are often the real-world application of the research methods
that come from 'pure' research; it is also a touch stone that helps me being a better project manager, because I have been given a chance to look behind the scenes of the
development community and have seen first hand what works, what doesn't, and why.
Measure twice, cut onceThe old carpenter saying does actually capture well how I see M&E: a combination of quantitative and qualitative research before drawing conclusions...But M&E is more than just looking at projects after the facts; I enjoy doing baseline research, needs assessments and the contextual research of countries or regions.
I am also fully versed in the dark art of creating data-collection tools and setting up digital data collection platforms - most often KoboCollect - and the analysis of (statistical) data.
COMMUNICATOR
I don't 'communicate' any longer as a spokesperson like I used to do. I prefer to actually
develop communication strategies and plans, and the occasional brochure or website. Strategic communications - where I believe I can make a difference and can
support other aspects of a project - are my favourite.
I have worked a lot on EU communication and visibility projects and I am currently developing and implementing the communication strategy for a multi-year project around
the Lake Victoria Basin (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi, Rwanda); before that I was the Public Information Officer for the EU in Mali, for the OSCE and the
Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Strategic communication management is the systematic planning and realisation of information flow, communication, media development and image care