Sharon Cheruto Email & Phone Number

I am the co-founder at Redefine Communications. I manage the creative teams, operations and logistical aspects of the business. Redefine Communications, formerly Enigma Images, is a fully fledged production house passionate about producing high quality communication products about Africa.

Nairobi

Key Achievements:I am a co-founder at Enigma Images, which is an SME that provides media services (photography and videography) to conservation bodies and development partners in Kenya and at the heart of our work is storytelling. I am passionate about social strategy, audience engagement, and what it can do to further the campaigns that our client's run across different sectors.My work at Enigma has allowed me to experience storytelling to various audiences. Our stories have been seen in annual reports that have to communicate to a global audience. My experience at Enigma has enabled me to not only be able to identify good stories but align them with the values of our clients and the people it represents and provides high quality imagery to match the incredible work being done. At Enigma, I’ve been managing the creative teams and supervised the creation of audio visual content for communication as well as taking on photography assignments periodically. We have done work for clients like Facebook, USAID, Uber, UNDP Kenya, UN Volunteers East and Southern Africa, Vi Agroforestry, We Effect and others. 7+ years of experience supporting business development and successfully building relationships with clients (sourcing for new clients, writing funding and business proposals) Effectively managing diverse creative teams, including executing several multimedia projects for large international organizations across East AfricaIdentifying all communication and marketing needs and creating visibility for our products and servicesI've routinely project-managed creative strategies from brief to execution to results

Nairobi

My overall role at CICan is to support the team specifically in project communications and participate in developing, planning, implementing and managing activities supporting KEFEP. I also am called upon to provide operational support, specifically in procurement, to CICan for the KEFEP project. I review project documents, partnership narrative reports and work with closely with the M&E team and lastly I provide support to the STA (senior technical advisor), team members and partner institutions so making my role much more of a support role that is versatile in nature. My main achievement at CICan since I joined in November 2017 is increasing the visibility and publicity of the project. This involved enhancing the project website, developing content on a weekly basis for all social media platforms and also developing the first fact sheet specific to the KEFEP. One of my main deliverables for KEFEP is to increase the visibility of the project in the media. So far, I have had 5 articles published in the local newspapers like The Standard and Daily Nation and in an event in Q1 2018, our event was covered on live television. In June 2018 I coordinated over 50 interviews for the KEFEP documentary which highlighted the partnership objectives and strategies both in Kenya and Canada. We covered over 2600 KM! visiting the 10 national polytechnics in order to gather the stories and capture the impact of KEFEP. As a result of this effort, the program was funded for an additional 5 years when I left.As part of programs, I assisted the senior management team on the RFP process to solicit proposals and ultimately enter into contract with a qualified consultant to support the KEFEP procurement process, including the procurement of up to $5,025,000 (CAD) of project-specific equipment for the 10 Kenyan National Polytechnics to support the delivery of new curricula developed. My role was to review the proposals, participate in interviews and evaluate the bids.

Nairobi

KeVET project.(German-Kenyan Vocational Education & Training (VET) Partnership Project - KeVET)Objective: With the participation of private sector stakeholders, the qualification of graduates from selected public VET institutions in exemplary professions has been further adapted to the need of the companies.Partners: KATTI, KFMB, KEPSACurrent focal areas: Scaffolding, Motor Mechanics/Mechatronics, Industrial ElectronicsKey achievements: Developed networks and partnerships with national, regional and international institutions based in KenyaDeveloped relations with key donors in-country and expanding the funding base of the KeVET program by actively seeking and developing new opportunities for business development in Kenya;Provided inputs for the on-going review and development of the country action plan in line with the overall regional strategy, and of individual project objectivesWorked closely with the Head of Programmes to ensure best practice in all aspects of project cycle management from identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluationEnsured contextualization of project to Kenya; Anticipated and dealt with potential bottlenecks, provided innovative solutions to troubleshoot challenges, and balance programmatic emergencies with technical constraintsEnsured partnership agreements and MOUs are properly prepared, monitored and implemented throughout their timeframe for 3 key national industry playersEnsured proper cultural integration Identified relevant TVET initiatives of the private sector (also in other sectors) relevant for the project

As Project Manager I am responsible for providing technical and program oversight support in the implementation of Sauti Yetu and Maskani Ya Taifa initiatives of Inuka Kenya Ni SiSi Ltd. I work to establish and manage systems to ensure efficient implementation and integration of the initiatives including overall responsibility in work-plan development, its execution and commensurate budget management. I also ensure compliance to institutional policies and project based regulations for each initiative. Under the supervision of the CEO, I provide program support on identified and agreed on initiatives.Expanded the Sauti Yetu program has expanded from one county to three during my time (Nairobi - 11 wards, Nakuru - 11 wards, Garissa 4 wards) Achieved 30% improvement in engaging with elected leaders, increased community participation and ownership of the program by over 25% over the period 2012-2015 Trained 8 field program staff on on project cycle management, communication and use of social media Ensured efficient implementation and integration of the Sauti Yetu and Maskani Ya Taifa initiatives Developed implementation methodologies to rein in project costs while meeting key milestones. Coordinated activities with other funding agencies, networking with various government leaders, NGOS, working with 11 project partners Managed budgets and resources, donor relations, responsible for donor reporting Educated teams on the sensitivities involved in a multilingual, multicultural and multi-ethnic communities Ensured timely, comprehensive and complete monthly reporting as per the agreed timelines. Orchestrated projects within strict timeframes and budget constraints by solving complex problems and working closely with senior leaders.

Nairobi (Project Work Based In Eastlands Area)

Successfully ran and completed the pilot program Sauti Yetu in 11 wards in Nairobi, 45 civic education events which led to grant agreement renewal for another 3 years based on the performance of Sauti YetuServed as a liason between political aspirants/elected leaders and the communitiesOrganised community political debates and accountability forums with elected leaders during pre-election and post- election Mobilised communities for debates, civic education and accountability forumsGathered requirements for ongoing projects and organized details for management use.Kept projects on schedule by managing deadlines and adjusting workflows as needed.Communicated with Sauti Yetu team members to keep project on schedule.Collaborated with the team to comply with accounting needs for project maintenance requirements.Maintained project schedules by managing timelines and making proactive adjustments.Supervised eight local coordinators working in the informal settlements Created the Sauti Yetu toolkit for other NGOs, local CBOs and faith based organisations for sustainability Responsible for report writing , budgeting and facilitating payments as needed for all activities.

Garissa, Lodwar, Nairobi, Mwingi, Mombasa And Nairobi

• Establishing contacts and booking all interviews necessary for the documentary• Organising travel arrangements for cast, crew and production executives;• Managing logistics like: booking hotels or organising accommodation for cast and crew;• Managing and distributing schedules, or call sheets;• assisting cast members and at times running errands for them;• running errands between the production office and t he Ministy• Documentary photography of all women’s groups interviewed and all places visited

Certificate

Activities and Societies: AWEC fellowship is a virtual 12-month accelerator empowering women across Africa and the diaspora.

Bachelor'S Degree, International Relations And Affairs, 2Nd Upper Class Honours

Activities and Societies: Leadership Training Institute, Lynchburg VA, Spring 2005 Trained in political campaign work Charter member of Pi.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Volleyball team