Simon Richards Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Australia

Provision of expertise in all aspects of International Development with particular experience in peace, conflict and governance. Clients include:Pax PopulusFeinstein International Center - Tufts UniversityWorld BankUSAIDDfid (UKAID)United States Institute for PeaceSave the ChildrenSaferworldPlan InternationalIBTCIMatrix ConsultingACT AllianceDanish Refugee Council Minority Rights InternationalPact IncSave the Children US

Melbourne, Australia

Organizational summary: Pax Populus is an Australian Social Advisory organization that specializes in provision of services concerning dispute resolution and peace-building, stakeholder engagement and communication, social impact and community development, and corporate social performance. www.paxpopulus. Provide Strategic advice as well as undertake assignments, around community engagement, community consultations, conflict programming, political analysis and assessments globally.

Melbourne, Australia

Organizational summary: Save the Children is a global development NGO focusing on child rights and issues in both emergency relief as well as long term development. Save the Children Australia manages and implements programs in Australia, Africa, Asia and the Pacific with an annual budget of ca Aus$55 million.Responsibilities: This included a 5 month period as International Programs Director. Provide input, oversight and technical support and advice to develop strategic programs… Show more Organizational summary: Save the Children is a global development NGO focusing on child rights and issues in both emergency relief as well as long term development. Save the Children Australia manages and implements programs in Australia, Africa, Asia and the Pacific with an annual budget of ca Aus$55 million.Responsibilities: This included a 5 month period as International Programs Director. Provide input, oversight and technical support and advice to develop strategic programs across the organizational portfolio including Australia and PNG. Develop programs, with particular emphasis on the Horn of Africa, as well as develop relationships with the Corporate Community and the extractive industries. Assist in identifying strategic linkages, useful lessons and program experiences across and within the institution. Show less

Nairobi And Melbourne Australia

Responsibilities: Member of Pact’s Africa regional senior management team, lead the development of strategy for Pact in Peace and Conflict; provide senior oversight and technical support to Horn of Africa regional conflict reduction and peace building efforts as well as development of the Corporate Community Engagement sector. Assist in identifying strategic linkages, useful lessons and program experiences across the region and within the institution. Main achievements:  Designed… Show more Responsibilities: Member of Pact’s Africa regional senior management team, lead the development of strategy for Pact in Peace and Conflict; provide senior oversight and technical support to Horn of Africa regional conflict reduction and peace building efforts as well as development of the Corporate Community Engagement sector. Assist in identifying strategic linkages, useful lessons and program experiences across the region and within the institution. Main achievements:  Designed and developed a successful regional USAID funded US$ 10 million Regional Conflict Prevention and Mitigation (PEACE II) Program addressing cross-border conflict in the Horn of Africa (border areas or Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya and Uganda).  Senior Technical Director on the USAID funded Regional Enhanced Livelihoods Program - Conflict Prevention and Mitigation (CPMR) Activity in the Horn of Africa. Oversaw and implemented the development of a set of practical conflict sensitive service delivery tools and workshops to assist local and international livelihoods organisations consider and mitigate the implications for conflict as a result of their programs Developed a regional strategic direction for expansion into West Africa – focusing on the mining and peace and conflict sectors particularly considering Liberia, Nigeria and Ghana. Organised the first Pact ‘Peace Platform’ meeting bringing practitioners together to consider organisational policy and praxis.  Design and ongoing technical input into regional conflict programs including the USAID - CMM funded cross-border initiatives Sudan – Ethiopia (Gambella region), NRM and extractive industries in DRC (Ituri), and some initiatives jointly funded between USAID and DFID on cross-border trade and conflict in DRC Show less

Nairobi

Member of the global senior management team. Direct strategic oversight and management of Pact’s Africa portfolio of 16 Country Directors and programs, including Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, with a combined budget portfolio of ca. US$250+ million. Management of the Regional Support Unit: a team of 10 technical resource personnel (governance advisers, HIV/AIDS, and specialist grant managers). Trouble-shooting on all programs, and support to program… Show more Member of the global senior management team. Direct strategic oversight and management of Pact’s Africa portfolio of 16 Country Directors and programs, including Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, with a combined budget portfolio of ca. US$250+ million. Management of the Regional Support Unit: a team of 10 technical resource personnel (governance advisers, HIV/AIDS, and specialist grant managers). Trouble-shooting on all programs, and support to program managers to ensure contract deliverables achieved. Donors included USAID, Dfid, World Bank and a multitude of European donors.Main Achievements: Initiated, lead and managed the first Pact Africa Regional Strategy formulation effort, leading to an approved Strategy 2006-2011 and the development of regional programs as well as country programs; Designed and developed a number of strategic cross- border regional programs addressing conflict and stability in the Horn of Africa and in Central Africa.  Facilitated and implemented organizational change processes, including decentralization of support functions and their development in the region;  Supported the development, growth and sustainability of 4 new strategic ventures in the areas of: local governance (a barometer index to consider changes in and development of improved local governance in a variety of sectors) corporate social responsibility; learning and innovation; and women’s empowerment and livelihood improvement (USAID funded).  Oversaw the expansion of Pact’s presence and programming in Africa in three new countries, diversified support to partner new donors including the corporate sector and aside from strengthening traditional relationships. Developed the regional unit to enhance quality programming and management practices. including; introduction of cross-country program peer monitoring and reviews, a monitoring and evaluation community of practice, and an internal Africa Leadership program, Show less

Nairobi

The SSTI project funded by the Office of Transition Initiatives US$12 million initiative focusing on supporting the transition in South Sudan from the endemic culture of war to one of increased peace, stability and governance aimed at assisting in the emergence of an empowered and active civil society.Overall program Director providing strategic direction and direct supervision of all program activitiesMain Achievements:• In conjunction with the Sudan Peace Fund, a total of 323… Show more The SSTI project funded by the Office of Transition Initiatives US$12 million initiative focusing on supporting the transition in South Sudan from the endemic culture of war to one of increased peace, stability and governance aimed at assisting in the emergence of an empowered and active civil society.Overall program Director providing strategic direction and direct supervision of all program activitiesMain Achievements:• In conjunction with the Sudan Peace Fund, a total of 323 sub-grants awarded to over 150 organisations (>90% Sudanese) • Mentored, provided training and support to at least 73 civil society organizations across South Sudan resulting in their improved management of projects. Activities varied from peace-building, peace dividends, innovative new governance mechanisms, livelihood projects, a national dissemination of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement using civil society actors, support to various media, direct support to civil society conferences, strategy-making and advocacy efforts as well as Chambers of commerce.• Addressed 33 Separate conflicts across the Sudan with more than 35,000 participants in over 200 peace conferences and dialogues, resulting in over 50 Community Peace Resolutions and Agreements Signed as well as new civil institutions and actors able to assist in the peace processes such as peace committees, early warning mechanisms, the strengthening of the Government Peace Commission.• Directed particularly politically sensitive activities involving liaison with the most senior SPLM/A commanders and civil society (eg the return of ca 25,000 Bor Dinka and their ca 1 million cattle out of Equatoria, the mobile courts, cross-line conferences eg the Nuba, support to the SPLM). • Ensured that the majority of activities empowered communities to hold their leaders accountable while simultaneously supporting leaders (when appropriate) to make good their commitments to improved behaviours. Show less

Nairobi

Responsibilities: Provide senior management, programmatic and strategic advice to the Pact Sudan Country program. Member of Senior management team (3 persons) overseeing a program with an annual budget of ca US$30 million with components covering the whole of South Sudan and the transition areas include Peace-Building and Conflict Mitigation, Water provision within a conflict framework, Civil Society strengthening, good governance, support to the media, water provision, and support to… Show more Responsibilities: Provide senior management, programmatic and strategic advice to the Pact Sudan Country program. Member of Senior management team (3 persons) overseeing a program with an annual budget of ca US$30 million with components covering the whole of South Sudan and the transition areas include Peace-Building and Conflict Mitigation, Water provision within a conflict framework, Civil Society strengthening, good governance, support to the media, water provision, and support to returning IDPs. (The main donor for the program was USAID funded) Provide technical and program input into partner grants.Main Achievements: • Initiated and chaired the overall Sudan Country Program grant-making committee; evaluating, critiquing and ensuring that the activities were aligned with both project, regional and strategic objectives and of a sufficiently high quality intervention with achievable goals.• Lead and mentored the Eastern Equatoria team that resulted in some of the most successful and innovative interventions of the program addressing conflict in pastoralist areas• Initiated and chaired the Sudan wide joint donor-NGO governance group• Successfully diversified and increased the level of donor support to the program which included USAID, OTI/USAID, OFDA/USAID, CMM/USAID, DFID, UNDP, Norway MFA, UNHCR, Italian MFA, and other donors.• Assisted in the design and initiation of two cross-border programs in the Horn of Africa to augment peace-building in the Sudan: Sudan-Ethiopia- cross-border trade and conflict program (Gambella-Upper Nile) as well as Sudan-Ethiopia community peace program (within Gambella). Show less

Nairobi

Responsibilities: Direct oversight over Christian Aid’s Eastern Africa programs in South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Responsible for: Strategic direction, management and security, advocacy campaigns, response to emergencies. Overseeing a team of 15 and managing an annual budget of ca Aus$4 million. Program sectors included civil society strengthening, good governance, peace-building and conflict mitigation particularly in the pastoralist areas of the Horn of Africa, HIV/AIDS and… Show more Responsibilities: Direct oversight over Christian Aid’s Eastern Africa programs in South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Responsible for: Strategic direction, management and security, advocacy campaigns, response to emergencies. Overseeing a team of 15 and managing an annual budget of ca Aus$4 million. Program sectors included civil society strengthening, good governance, peace-building and conflict mitigation particularly in the pastoralist areas of the Horn of Africa, HIV/AIDS and livelihoods as well as Emergency Response programs. Donors for CA programs in the region included USAID, OFDA and Dfid.Main Achievements:  Initiated and managed the first East Africa Regional Strategy formulation effort and individual country strategies  Facilitated and implemented organizational change processes, including decentralization of support functions and their development in the region;  Restructured the region, staffing and relationships with London, reviewed all partners and streamlined and harmonized strategy with partnerships, sectors and objectives Set up cross-regional partner meetings and learning opportunities Show less

Herat, Afghanistan

Responsibilities: Direct oversight over Christian Aid’s Afghanistan program including strategic direction, management, security, program quality and capacity building of partners. Representation and negotiator with Donors, the Taliban, governments, authorities, warlords and the press. Managed a team of 12 and annual budget of ca Aus$3.3 million. Main program sectors included Civil Society Strengthening, Credit, Capacity Building, Mines Awareness and Peace-building Livelihoods, Women’s Health… Show more Responsibilities: Direct oversight over Christian Aid’s Afghanistan program including strategic direction, management, security, program quality and capacity building of partners. Representation and negotiator with Donors, the Taliban, governments, authorities, warlords and the press. Managed a team of 12 and annual budget of ca Aus$3.3 million. Main program sectors included Civil Society Strengthening, Credit, Capacity Building, Mines Awareness and Peace-building Livelihoods, Women’s Health, and Emergency Response.Main Achievements: • Developed and expanded (doubled) a multi-sectoral program portfolio including both long term development and emergency relief projects implemented by 12 local and international partners in Afghanistan during the Taliban ‘era’. • Initiated and lead a country-wide Capacity Building sectoral support group to improve the coordination and cohesion of approaches to the capacity building efforts of national Afghan organisations in partnership with the international community. • Lead the support to improve the quality of administration and management of partners’ programs with development of new standards and manuals such that three local organisations ‘graduated’ to receiving direct funding from Dfid and other major donors.• Initiated coordination group in security, credit, and emergency response sectors in the western region including leading the preparation of agreed common drought assessment and monitoring standards. • Lead the coordinated response to the West Afghanistan drought • Diversified and increased donor support to the program including new donors such as EU, the Irish government, ECHO, the Jersey Government and a number of smaller donors Show less

Peshawar

Organizational summary: Merlin is a British NGO specializing in improving health in fragile states with a long term approach, and addressing emergency relief, strengthening health care systems, and addressing global health threats and influencing policy. It works in 17 countries and has an annual budget of ca Aus$62million in 17 countries. www.merlin.org.ukResponsibilities: Direct responsibility for the implementation of MERLIN primary health projects in Afghanistan (in 3 provinces).… Show more Organizational summary: Merlin is a British NGO specializing in improving health in fragile states with a long term approach, and addressing emergency relief, strengthening health care systems, and addressing global health threats and influencing policy. It works in 17 countries and has an annual budget of ca Aus$62million in 17 countries. www.merlin.org.ukResponsibilities: Direct responsibility for the implementation of MERLIN primary health projects in Afghanistan (in 3 provinces). Managed a team of ca 7 expatriate and 100 national staff with an annual budget of ca Aus$3.2 million. Main Achievements:  Negotiated continued operations at national and provincial level for the programs with the Taliban during a period where the majority of NGOs were thrown out of the country Maintained programs from afar with limited access (from Peshawar)  Oversaw the evacuation (and return) of the majority of program staff during the ‘missile crisis’ of 1999 Closed the major program in Badakhshan under very difficult circumstances Show less