Simon Cohen Email & Phone Number

The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

Supporting WASH SMEs in achieving sustainability, scalability, and investment readiness by delivering expert guidance on safe water enterprises, market-based sanitation approaches, and financial mobilisation. I translate a clear vision of the WASH market and sector into actionable strategies that drive and scale market-based solutions for WASH service delivery. As a senior adviser, I provide coaching, mentorship, and knowledge sharing, offering motivation and direction to the team to foster… Show more Supporting WASH SMEs in achieving sustainability, scalability, and investment readiness by delivering expert guidance on safe water enterprises, market-based sanitation approaches, and financial mobilisation. I translate a clear vision of the WASH market and sector into actionable strategies that drive and scale market-based solutions for WASH service delivery. As a senior adviser, I provide coaching, mentorship, and knowledge sharing, offering motivation and direction to the team to foster professional growth and maximise effectiveness. Show less

The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

Arnhem, Netherlands

Providing strategic direction, technical assistance, and mentoring to both headquarters and field staff in the implementation of the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) portfolio. Notable projects include providing expert guidance for the rehabilitation of piped water systems in Nepal, leading the construction of water points and enhancing hygiene practices in South Sudan, and developing tools, guidelines, evaluations, and technical support documents for piped water systems in Mozambique and… Show more Providing strategic direction, technical assistance, and mentoring to both headquarters and field staff in the implementation of the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) portfolio. Notable projects include providing expert guidance for the rehabilitation of piped water systems in Nepal, leading the construction of water points and enhancing hygiene practices in South Sudan, and developing tools, guidelines, evaluations, and technical support documents for piped water systems in Mozambique and Kenya. Show less

Lilongwe, Malawi

Founder and Director of an NGO dedicated to empowering rural Malawian communities to meet their water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs. Successfully secured multi-year funding from key organisations, including DFID and the Waterloo Foundation. Spearheaded both the programmatic and operational aspects of the organisation, including the development of financial management software that significantly enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of grant management. Established robust monitoring and… Show more Founder and Director of an NGO dedicated to empowering rural Malawian communities to meet their water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs. Successfully secured multi-year funding from key organisations, including DFID and the Waterloo Foundation. Spearheaded both the programmatic and operational aspects of the organisation, including the development of financial management software that significantly enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of grant management. Established robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including log frames and a Management Information System (MIS) that effectively tracked project outputs and outcomes against key indicators. Fostered collaborative partnerships with Malawian NGOs and the Ministry of Health, delivering Training of Trainers (ToT) programs to Ministry health workers. Show less

Hatay, Turkey

Led the project Emergency Support to Conflict-Affected Internally Displaced and Host Communities in Idlib, Hama, Aleppo and Lattakia Governorates, Syria, Funded by DFID, USAID, NCA, UNICEF and ECHO. The project was the largest cross border WASH programme in Northern Syria that increased the number of people connected to piped water networks and provided with solid waste management services from 200,000 to over 500,000. Managed a large multidisciplinary team of 38 GOAL staff members and 500… Show more Led the project Emergency Support to Conflict-Affected Internally Displaced and Host Communities in Idlib, Hama, Aleppo and Lattakia Governorates, Syria, Funded by DFID, USAID, NCA, UNICEF and ECHO. The project was the largest cross border WASH programme in Northern Syria that increased the number of people connected to piped water networks and provided with solid waste management services from 200,000 to over 500,000. Managed a large multidisciplinary team of 38 GOAL staff members and 500 partner staff . Developed remote management systems that increased programme effectiveness by improving the tracking of project progress and water network efficiency. Developed asset, procurement and financial management software that enabled effective control of multi-million pound budgets from several donors Show less

Nampula, Mozambique

Led multiple projects to promote and secure peoples rights and access to water in rural Mozambique. Provided leadership to the WaterAid programme and finance teams, government and national NGO partners in the delivery of multiple projects across five districts; including the installation and reparation of water points, construction of household and school latrines and the provision of hygiene awareness programmes. Senior management team member that guided the strategic direction of the country… Show more Led multiple projects to promote and secure peoples rights and access to water in rural Mozambique. Provided leadership to the WaterAid programme and finance teams, government and national NGO partners in the delivery of multiple projects across five districts; including the installation and reparation of water points, construction of household and school latrines and the provision of hygiene awareness programmes. Senior management team member that guided the strategic direction of the country programme; supported the development of countrywide plans and reports; and represented the Mozambique team within the Southern African region. Developed multi-year plans and budgets of USD16 million to deliver the country programmes, partner development strategy, advocacy campaigns and staff development policy Show less

Darfur, Sudan

Led several projects including Emergency Facilities and Access to Markets in Central Darfur, Funded by Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Led the ACTED programme team and national NGO partner teams to deliver projects within internally displaced people (IDP) camps and rural areas of central Darfur which benefited over 100,000 people. This included the construction and rehabilitation of hand pumps, water networks, drainage channels, latrines and roads. Improved the quality of the… Show more Led several projects including Emergency Facilities and Access to Markets in Central Darfur, Funded by Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Led the ACTED programme team and national NGO partner teams to deliver projects within internally displaced people (IDP) camps and rural areas of central Darfur which benefited over 100,000 people. This included the construction and rehabilitation of hand pumps, water networks, drainage channels, latrines and roads. Improved the quality of the hygiene programme by developing materials and providing ToT training to the ACTED and national partner NGO hygiene teams. Developed budgeting, planning & monitoring software that enabled the creation of accurate budgets, facilitated remote management & improved project efficiency. Show less

Angola

Led UNICEF funded projects that mobilised communities and schools in rural Angola to meet their Sanitation and Hygiene needs. Led a programme team of nine and 180 community activists to deliver projects across three regions covering over 160 communities. Improved monitoring and evaluation by adapting a geographic information system (GIS) mapping system to measure project key performance indicators (KPIs). Provided training to UNICEF and government partners for the adoption of the system across… Show more Led UNICEF funded projects that mobilised communities and schools in rural Angola to meet their Sanitation and Hygiene needs. Led a programme team of nine and 180 community activists to deliver projects across three regions covering over 160 communities. Improved monitoring and evaluation by adapting a geographic information system (GIS) mapping system to measure project key performance indicators (KPIs). Provided training to UNICEF and government partners for the adoption of the system across Angola. Organised workshops to advocate, influence and provide training to government policy makers for the scaling up of CLTS across Angola Show less

Malawi

Founder of a NGO that runs community led water, sanitation and hygiene projects in rural Malawi. Secured funding from the Waterloo Foundation and University of Edinburgh. Established partnerships with the University of Edinburgh, Mzuzu University and Malawian artisans to design innovative and sustainable hand pumps that can be funded, built and maintained by rural communities using locally available materials.

Master Of Arts, Development Studies

Award: Credit with a High Distinction for a thesis entitled ‘Sustainable Water Resources for sub-Saharan Africa: A Matter of Appropriate.

Masters Of Engineering With Honours, Civil And Environmental Engineering

Award: Second Class, Division One with a First Class for a thesis entitled ‘The Impact of Underground Smouldering Peat Fires on Climate.