Leah Gatt Email & Phone Number

• Lead Vital Wave’s Professional Services practice on the design and scale of digital programs and solutions throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America
• Manage client relationships and oversee the successful execution of strategy and implementation engagements
• Staff projects with a mix of US- and non-based employees and contractors and maintain a bench of contractors across multiple countries
• Direct engagement managers, project managers, and analysts to the successful execution of engagements
• Contribute to business development through proposals and scoping efforts with new and existing clients

At Vital Wave, I manage client engagements with foundations, donors, governments, and technical partners. I am responsible for leading research teams and for executing and managing strategy and implementation projects, with a particular focus on how technology can help to overcome systemic challenges in low resource settings.

Greater New York City Area

• Supporting the development of policies and ‘best practices’ for conducting research and analysis
• Maintaining quality of research on projects through communication with various team members
• Codifying, improving, disseminating, and operationalizing existing research tools and templates
• Leading the discovery and adoption of new research and analytical tools
• Performing and contributing to analysis, synthesis, and the development of analytical frameworks
• Contributing to interim and final deliverables, including review of content, structure, and flow

Greater New York City Area

• Conducting desk-based and in-country primary and secondary research
• Performing synthesis, analysis and creating analytical frameworks
• Assisting with project and operational plan creation
• Meeting with key project stakeholders to communicate goals and ensure that deadlines are met
• Preparing and submitting interim and final reports
• Interfacing with client as necessary for presentations and project updates

• Research and write on African political economy and industry to provide readers with up-to-date analysis.
• Work with team of international consultants to research, conduct analysis and write reports for clients globally.
• Provide coordination support for the compilation of Africa-Asia Monitor and Africa Conflict Monitor reports.

Brussels Area, Belgium

• Researched and produced EU publication on risks and opportunities of investment in African agribusiness.
• Utilised excel to analyse large database of trade statistics for use in ongoing EU-Africa negotiations.
• Conducted mapping of private sector involvement in African agribusiness all along value chain.
• Compiled briefings on U.S. 'Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa' and U.S.-African investment.
• Advocated for the inclusion of agriculture in EU-Africa Development Programming during internal negotiations.
• Provided support by coordinating events, corresponding with speakers, making travel arrangements for African participants and responding to requests for information.

Malta

• Worked with small team to design survey being used for an ongoing qualitative study on biogas digesters in Ethiopia.
• Provided research assistance, literature reviews and proof-reading to University lecturer.

Nairobi, Kenya

• Responsible for co-drafting Overseas Development Aid proposal that secured funds for organisation.
• Oversaw implementation of successful community project in Nairobi.
• Produced bi-monthly reports on project progress for donor.
• Supervised local staff and volunteers over a six-month period in Nairobi.
• Organized meetings with potential and current sponsors to secure or renew sponsorships.

Msc African Studies

Activities and Societies: Student Consultant with The Oxford Student Consultancy, MSc Course Representative The Impact of Direct Taxation.

Msc International Relations

Addressing Asymmetry: Southern Africa's Negotiation of Economic Liberalisation with the European Commission

Ba European Studies, Eu Law; Micro & Macro Economics; Eu Politics

Activities and Societies: Participated in a number of Model European Parliament competitions. The EU's Trade and Development Policy in.