Margaret Richards Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il

I help institutions both teach others (through trainings, learning networks, curriculum development, e-learning design, etc.) and learn about internal processes and programs (research, strategic planning, goal setting, monitoring & evaluation). Much of my work is at the intersection of these two specialities: helping others learn from and produce better data and more useful research. I have worked with small and large non-profit organizations, donor organizations and consulting firms on projects domestically and abroad. With the bulk of my experience in the international development field, I have worked across numerous development sectors including financial services / microfinance, poverty alleviation and outreach, education and youth development, health, mental health and clean energy. Principles of equity, diversity & inclusion are foundational in all I do.

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

Lead design and delivery of content for data trainings for all USAID staff and partners. Collaborate with and co-facilitate inter-agency working groups; contribute to data-related policy development.

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

Led curriculum development and training activities for in-person and online learning initiatives for domestic health leadership and community health support programs centered on principles of equity, diversity & inclusion. Curriculum & learning strategy, instructional design, assessment. SME: systems change, research & evaluation. E-learning designer and content developer for online course on equity, diversity & inclusion.

Conducting literature review/ research and supporting qualitative research on adolescent and youth savings groups (AYSGs) for vulnerable children, particularly those affected/ infected by HIV/AIDS. Will lead workshop and develop manual on implementing and supporting AYSGs for this population.

Developing online learning curricula and materials focused on public engagement for Canada-wide international development network. Developing e-learning strategy, LMS, content, and design.

Advising on curricula and learning materials for 4-country maternal / newborn health data collection & analysis initiative. Developing master courses, instructional videos, and other materials. Providing expertise in teaching & learning as well as subject-matter expertise on data analysis and interpretation.

Greater Chicago Area

Served as Research Director for the Microfinance Impact Genome Project. Responsible for designing and managing research & analysis processes and protocols and leading data analysis. Oversaw team of analysts, bibliographers and advisors.

Designing and implementing pilot test for poverty measurement tools in Uganda and Tanzania. Designing materials for and leading enumerator training. Advising on survey design and indicator appropriateness. Writing user guide on topics including survey translation, sampling, implementation planning, interviewing, and data entry, analysis and application.

Member of team designing and implementing training on economic strengthening and savings groups for orphans and vulnerable children through USAID ASPIRES project. Using participatory methods to design training to meet practitioner needs (S. Africa).

Co-facilitator of the STEP UP Initiative (Strengthening The Economic Potenetial of the Ultra Poor), a group of microenterprise professionals focused on improving outreach and effectiveness of financial products and services for the ultra-poor. We emphasize the need for strong cross-and intra-sector collaboration and have hosted a number of online and live learning events about these and other topics. We are developing an online resource and learning center dedicated to helping practitioners access information about improving outreach to destitute populations and designing programs that meet the needs and capabilities of the poorest.

Facilitating working group of USAID staff tasked with writing new Agency policy on extreme poverty. Designing and leading learning events, managing online community and offering technical support.

Assessed and synthesized learning from client outcomes research of eight large microfinance institutions. Provided guidance on survey design and indicator selection.

Designing online courses in assessment and management of mental health conditions for medical practitioners in the Middle East.

LIFT Project: Designed and facilitated trainings on household economic strengthening for health practitioners in Nigeria working with orphans and vulnerable children. Advised related emerging community of practice. Previously, provided technical support and designed online learning tools for USAID Poverty Assessment Tools (PAT) project.

Washington, Dc

Developing online courses in early reading and youth development policy. Research, selection and customization of Learning Management System (moodle).

Washington, Dc

Edited manual on economic strengthening (ES) for vulnerable children for development practitioners in Nigeria with no prior ES experience. Emphasized adult learning principles and managing technical language for a non-technical audience.

New Jersey

Developing online learning platforms (moodle and wiki-based) for dissemination of knowledge related to developing small renewable energy businesses around the world. Creating method for digitally capturing seven-day field visit in India for energy entrepreneurs.

Developing and applying a monitoring and evaluation system for a website offering free, online college courses.

Home Based

Conducting research on donor trends in ICT solutions for youth workforce development and post-primary education. Advising staff on grant and report writing; editing, holding one-on-one webinars to discuss content / grammar.

USAID POVERTY ASSESSMENT TOOLS PROJECTLead e-learning developer and instructional designer for a course in the use of USAID Poverty Assessment Tools. Develop and update training materials in a variety of formats on topics such as, team organization, statistical sampling, and data analysis. Provide usability feedback to tool developers and develop program evaluations. Conduct training-of-trainers in US and Ethiopia as well as user feedback trip in Malawi. WORLD BANK: COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SOFTWARE PROGRAMS FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED PERSONAL INTERVIEW (CAPI)Team Leader of assessment project. Organize and manage team, develop assessment criteria, assist analysts in prototype development, formulate recommendations and write reports. USAID STRENGTHENING EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF POVERTY AND CONFLICT/FRAGILITY INTERVENTIONS PROJECTDevelop tools to measure alignment of institutional time horizons within the education system in Liberia and will adapt them to be used across sectors.CONSULTANT, The SEEP NetworkSee full description in profile.TANZANIAN EDUCATION PROJECTMade technical and policy recommendations and facilitated multi-party discussions with delegation from Tanzania Ministry of Education on development of nation-wide e-learning system.

Taught survey mathematics courses to adult undergraduate. Developed and maintained extensive course website.

Designed and developed content for an e-learning portal that engages teenagers in career and college preparation. Wrote curricula for integrating career development into 8th-10th grade public school classes. Developed and implemented qualitative program evaluation materials. Participated in organizational strategic planning and data analysis.

Trainer for seminars on cultural and linguistic competence for early childhood educators and caregivers.

Co-author a goal-focused ‘life planner’ for teen women. Developed, administered and analyzed evaluations (youth development/ pregnancy prevention programs). Wrote curricula on teen health, nutrition and career / college planning and spoke with groups of teen women on same topics.

Federated States Of Micronesia

Managed all aspects of new program in FSM, including volunteer orientation, teacher training (English), financial management and other logistical issues. Developed training curricula and all training materials. Collaborated with State DoE and other international organizations; negotiated new programs with the Kosrae State DoE and a local university. Taught Algebra II.

ESL Teachers - ages 3-14, varying ability levels. Organized school events, created student placement exams, designed school website.

Ba, Mathematical Sciences And Writing Seminars

Activities and Societies: Varsity Swimming, Student Government, Theater, Mock Trial

Edm, International Education Policy

Education record