Paula Mwigana

A result driven project management and social work specialist with 10+ years of experience in supporting and overseeing a range of projects within NGOs. I have a history of designing, developing, implementing and managing monitoring and evaluation systems for various activities and projects in diverse conditions. I am equally well versed in supporting projects by coordinating work execution, reporting project status, implementing schedules, and making sure programs are completed in time and within budget. Additionally, I am adept at assessing needs, devising evaluation strategies to monitor performance and determine areas for improvements as well as supervising all staff involved, providing feedback and resolving complex issues.

Programs Officer 

Watoto Wa Lwanga Project, July 2015 to date 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Leading the project strategy, technical approach, and activities to expand monitoring, evaluation, research utilization, and capacity strengthening
• Leading technical and operational management of a large Watoto wa Lwanga funded projects, including fostering partnerships and relationship with other stakeholders
• Providing leadership and foster an ethos of collaboration and complementarity among an expert consortium of multi-disciplinary partners. 
• Leveraging expertise within and outside the project consortium, to set priorities, identify and address evidence gaps, and facilitate alignment and delivery on project strategy
• Incorporating adaptive management throughout project implementation to facilitate continuous quality improvement of project activities and approaches
• Ensuring appropriate staffing and supervision across the project team, including technical and operational staff, to support successful and efficient delivery of project outcomes
• Supervising and supporting the effective management of financial resources and project budgets
• Lobbying and advocacy lead on Child and vulnerable adults’ protection 
• Supporting the development of monitoring and evaluation plans and implementation mechanisms to accurately reflect project goals and objectives

Assistant Coordinator

Mamma Africa Italia Onlus, September 2009 – July 2015

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Coordinating project schedules, resources, equipment and information 
• Liaising with clients to identify and define project requirements, scope and objectives 
• Ensuring that clients’ needs are met as per the project guidelines 
• Coordinate project management activities, resources, equipment and information. 
• Assign tasks to internal teams and assist with schedule management 
• Help prepare budgets 
• Oversee project procurement management 
• Monitor project progress and handle any issues that arise 
• Act as the point of contact and communicate project status to all participants 
• Use tools to monitor working hours, plans, implementation schedules and expenditures 
• Issue all appropriate legal paperwork (e.g. contracts and terms of agreement) 
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation, plans and reports 
• Ensure standards and requirements are met through conducting quality assurance tests

• MBA – Finance, University of Nairobi 09 Sep, 2011 - 05 Dec, 2013 
• BA Sociology, Moi University, 05 May, 2005 - 05 Dec, 2008
• Diploma- Social Work, Government Training Institute, 05 Jan 2001- 02 Dec, 2002