Laurence Dessein Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Washington Dc

In this role, lead cross functional teams to implement impactful MERL activities across the organization, nurturing a culture of continuous learning and data-driven decision-making. • Provide strategic support to teams, enabling them to make data-driven decisions that enhanced program effectiveness.• Manage comprehensive research and evaluation initiatives that pinpointed critical evidence gaps, deepening the organization’s understanding of its impact.• Organize and lead regular group learning and reflection sessions, fostering discussions around evaluation results and translating insights into actionable improvements.• Effectively communicate key findings and lessons learned to executive leadership and stakeholders, ensuring transparency and promoting informed decision-making.

Global

Selected Experience:• UNESCO: Designed and executed a stocktaking evaluation of a global education program enabling evidence-based decisions for the program’s next phase. • USAID: Led a multi-country stocktaking evaluation of USAID’s research agenda, providing insights that shaped USAID’s learning activities globally.• Social Solutions International, Inc.: Created an impact measurement strategy for a $40M grant program with 40 partners across 15 countries.• Institute for Development Impact: Developed an impact measurement framework for a $4M girls’ leadership program in Mali, ensuring measurable outcomes aligned with strategic goals

Drove impactful measurement strategies for USAID programs globally, focusing on education, gender equality, and youth development:▪ Provided research and evaluation expertise to 21 USAID offices, empowering them to leverage data and insights and make evidenced-based programmatic decisions. ▪ Led the development of innovative measurement strategies in youth employment and gender-based violence, improving data collection and analysis practices.▪ Led a team of 10 to design and execute a stocktaking evaluation of grassroots development practices and challenges, strengthening USAID's locally led development strategy.▪ Developed tools and products to help partners measure progress and manage programs adaptively.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

▪ Collaborated with the executive leadership team to drive the expansion of IMPAQ’s International Development Division, securing $2 million in new business through strategic partnerships.▪ As Principal Investigator, successfully managed five evaluations of multimillion-dollar social programs. ▪ Advised clients on research and learning strategies, enhancing their ability to leverage data for program improvements and impact assessment.▪ Directed the development of innovative tools and products for program improvement, with several recognized by clients as benchmarks in reporting and communication.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Ghana

▪ Facilitated 10 strategy and learning workshops with government and program stakeholders to identify program challenges and generate innovate solutions, leading to improved programmatic strategies.▪ Developed quality assurance tools, collected and analyzed complex data, and prepared monthly progress reports that addressed data needs and informed program improvements. ▪ Developed training modules in impact measurement and trained 200 teachers and community leaders.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

▪ Led three multimillion-dollar programs in education and health, ensuring contractual and budgetary compliance and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders to drive impact.▪ Coordinated the evaluation of UNICEF’s Children Friendly School program, managing data collection in six countries and producing reports that informed improvements in educational and gender equity.

▪ Conducted needs assessments in 12 rural villages to identify girls’ and women’s educational priorities. ▪ Taught life skills and gender equity in high-needs schools for 240 middle and high school students.▪ Secured funds and implemented a mentoring center for adolescent girls serving 200 underserved girls.▪ Planned and executed five large events, including a 10-day income generating activity for 35 at-risk female students; two camps for vulnerable children mobilizing 140 children, eight NGOs, and 28 volunteers; and two workshops on HIV/AIDS reaching 1,500 people.

M.Ed., International Education Policy (Focus: Program Evaluation And Econometrics), Honors: Impact Award

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), International Development (Minor: Gender), Honors: Magna Cum Laude, Dean'S List

Study Abroad Program - Mali, Gender And Development