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What have you been up to since you graduated?
Coming from MEAL professional background, since graduation, my work has spanned from designing MEAL frameworks at the same time championing for development of learning agendas and integrating both rigorous research and impact evaluations for evidence based learning and accountability across large-scale agriculture, food security, child protection, and education programmes. While implementing MEAL systems, I have played a role of being an impact evaluation lead and advisor while also supporting programme design and monitoring fidelity of implementation to ensure quality programme delivery.
What was your ambition for your career when you started at UEA? Did you have a specific career path in mind?
Coming to UEA my ambition was double barreled: first, to be at the forefront of producing rigorous research and impact evaluations as a lead author; and/or to champion the application of research and the integration of impact evaluation into decision-making, ensuring that programmes measure what works, what doesn't, and under which circumstances. Since graduation, I have devoted the greater share of my time to the latter-promoting evidence use and embedding learning within programme cycles.
Tell me about your experiences studying at UEA (how did you find out about UEA, what made you choose to study your subject, and what were your best days on the course?
I discovered UEA while searching for a postgraduate programme that combined rigorous econometrics with real-world development applications. I chose the MSc in Impact Evaluation for International Development because it uniquely offered practical training in experimental and quasi-experimental methods to answer the question of what works, for whom, and why.
Some of my best memories were from lively computer lab sessions running Stata with classmates, guest lectures from leading development economists, and the day I completed my dissertation using Propensity Score Matching. Beyond academics, I enjoyed UEA's vibrant campus life, evening discussions at the campus bar, joining international student events, and building a network of peers who have since gone on to influential roles in development. These experiences made my time at UEA both academically rewarding and personally enriching.
In your career what key tasks & skills are involved on a day-to-day basis, and what are/have been the most rewarding/challenging aspects?
I lead the design and implementation of MEAL frameworks, logframes, and digital beneficiary tracking systems for multi-million-dollar programmes. I design and manage impact evaluations using quasi-experimental methods, commission third-party monitoring for independent verification, and support translation of real-time data into dashboards and briefs for adaptive management. My work also involves mentoring MEAL teams, aligning donor reporting, institutionalising feedback mechanisms, and generating evidence that informs programme adjustments, strengthens accountability, and supports senior management in making evidence-based decisions in complex humanitarian contexts.
What I find most rewarding is transforming data into actionable insights - watching programmes adapt in real time based on beneficiary verification and evaluation results. Mentoring and coaching MEAL teams has been especially meaningful to me, leaving behind stronger systems and skilled professionals. I take pride in influencing donor strategies and humanitarian planning through evidence from needs assessments, impact studies, and outcome monitoring that have helped unlock funding, improve targeting, and build accountability to affected populations.
Operating in fragile settings like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Myanmar has been challenging, with security constraints limiting field access and forcing me to rely on remote monitoring and TPM solutions. Balancing statistical rigour with the urgency of humanitarian response is a constant challenge, often requiring credible results under tight timelines. Another complex task is harmonising diverse donor frameworks and partner reporting requirements while ensuring MEAL systems remain lean, actionable, and user-friendly for programme teams and decision-makers.
What personal or professional achievement are you most proud of?:
Over the past decade, I have led the design, institutionalisation, and use of MEAL systems across Kenya, Iraq, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, consistently improving programme quality, donor confidence, and learning.
At Save the Children, I rolled out a country-wide MEAL strategy, developed a master logframe for a USD 120 M humanitarian response, and led multi-sectoral needs assessments (MSNA) - including post-Taliban, gender- and disability-focused studies and child-centred research - producing policy briefs that shaped donor strategy and humanitarian planning. I institutionalised a centralised accountability mechanism (toll-free hotline and mass messaging platform), strengthening community feedback loops.
At Heartland Alliance International, I built a DMEL department from the ground up, delivered high-value evaluative research funded by USAID and the European Commission, and standardised partner capacity assessments. At FAO Afghanistan, I have transformed MEAL into a strategic driver of decision-making: piloting the beneficiary tracking system, embedding data-driven adaptive management, and commissioning rigorous quasi-experimental impact evaluations on wheat, livestock, and women's empowerment interventions. Across all roles, I have mentored and capacitated MEAL teams, leaving a legacy of robust accountability systems, evidence-based programme design, and actionable learning under some of the most complex humanitarian contexts globally.
What were your experiences of Norwich as a city? Is there anything in particular that you miss or have fond memories of?
Miss the bunnies on campus, and catheral archictures, walks to the nearby gym while stayed at Mary Chapman Court, with very great flat mates. As a team we won the cleanest kitchen award by the way
Would you recommend studying at UEA? Why?
Yes, very supportive teaching staff. The approach to knowledge and skills transfer is very simple, practical but very impacful. A very great and relatively cheaper city to live in as a student.
Is there any advice you would give to current students, wishing to follow a similar career path to you?
Take the first step, don't overthink it, and you will never regret your decision.