This curriculum vitae outlines the professional experience of Sofa C.A. Ali-Akpajiak, who has over 30 years of experience in social and organizational development, policy design and advocacy, social development programming, monitoring and evaluation, and operational research. Some of Ali-Akpajiak's roles and responsibilities have included institutional assessments, strategic planning, policy analysis, community mobilization, project management, evaluation, and training. Currently, Ali-Akpajiak works as an associate/managing director at Health Partners Ghana and leads qualitative research on immunization in Nigeria.

1. CURRICULUM VITAE
SOFO C.A. ALI-AKPAJIAK
Specialised in Social and Organisational Development/ Management
Strengthening
1. Personal Data
Family name, / First name: Ali-Akpajiak SOFO C.A.
Year of birth: 1957
Civil status: Married
Number of Children: 2
Nationality: Ghanaian
Country of Permanent Residence: Ghana
Email: s.aliakpajiak@gmail.com
Contact Address:
P. O. Box DC 88, Dansoman
Accra, Ghana.
Tel: +233-21-310548 (Home)
+233-26-2336002 (Mobile)
+233-20-3321586 (Mobile)
2. Professional experience
• Institutional Strengthening and Organisational Development
I have been involved with institutional strengthening and organisational development initiatives for the past 30
years. I have over the years undertaken institutional assessments of both public and not-for-profit organisations. I
have also used the information generated to guide and mentor organisations and institutions in designing
strategic plans and frameworks. For instance, my work in the Ministry of Finance from 1988 -1993 involved
support to the structural reforms within some Ministries in Ghana. I also used the knowledge and skills to help
transform 8 NGOs in Ghana transform themselves into functional organisations with established management
systems. I also worked with coalitions of NGOs such as the Coalition of NGOs in Poverty Reduction in Nigeria
and the NGOs in the Oil and Gas Platform to reform their operations. Currently, am involved with organisational
assessments and strengthening of planning and management systems in the health sector in Nigeria and South
Sudan. I have also undertaken similar assignments in other sectors, particularly water and sanitation, education
and environment. The work I have done in this area includes working with community-based institutions and
supporting them to improve their operations. To enhance my work in the area of organisational strengthening, I
enrolled with the OD professional network in Ghana. I am trained as an OD Professional and hold a certificate
issued by the Institute of Organisational Development (IOD), USA.
• Policy Design, Review & Advocacy
As a civil servant, I was trained to understand the policy process and engaged in different aspects in the policy
formulation process. This included undertaking contextual analysis and review of operational environments of
sector ministries. It also involved participating in the processes related to prioritisation of key policy issues and
setting of targets. These skills were firmed up during the roundtable discussions on the structural adjustment and
design of social interventions in Ghana. As a manager leading in NGO advocacy in the water and sanitation
sector in Ghana, I used these skills. For instance, the restructuring of the water and sanitation sector and setting
of priorities, created opportunities to participate effectively in the discussions. I also led in undertaking operational
research on issues such as “willingness and ability of rural communities to pay for water” and used the
information to guide and highlight the negative effects on the policy to make communities pay for water. I used
my skills and expertise in undertaking formative research, to lead in this work. I have used this effectively over the
past 10 years to help organisations such as OXFAM GB to strategise on how to engage the government of
Nigeria in the extractive industries sector. I have trained NGOs and other advocacy institutions on how to engage
in the policy process. My work as an evaluator has also involved review of the policy environment. During the
evaluation of the Girl-Child Education project managed by ISODEC and the Climate Change Adaption project
managed by UNDP Nigeria, I had to undertake extensive review of the policy and institutional frameworks. The
training I had on governance systems analysis, during my graduate studies, further broadened my perspectives
of policy analysis and institutional reviews.
• Social Development and Programme Management
My core training as a socio-economist and my work in the rural sector, particularly at the district level, helped to
expose me to social development work. I therefore have skills and expertise in undertaking community level
assessments, baseline surveys and working with community-based institutions in defining their priorities. I also
developed the skills in community mobilisation and organisation during the years I worked with NGOs, using
participatory approaches. I supported the design of community-based monitoring and evaluation system for rural
road projects funded by Partners for Development, an American NGO, in Nigeria. The years I worked as a civil
servant also helped to sharpen my skills as I had monitoring responsibility for a number of rural livelihood
projects. These included an artisanal fisheries project, cottage industries and agro-forestry projects in various
parts of Ghana. I also developed skills in baseline surveys, project design and appraisal as well as monitoring
and evaluation. I later trained in programme planning and management and the exposure helped me to improve

2. programming within WaterAid Ghana and Nigeria, where I worked as Country Representative. Within the health
sector, I have been supporting health management systems strengthening, with particular focus on leadership
training, development of planning and budgeting systems and strengthening of supervision systems.
My involvement with programs such as the Partnership for Revival of Routine Immunisation in Northern Nigeria-
Maternal and Neonatal Child Health (PRRINN-MNCH, 2007 – 2011) and funded by DFID, helped to sharpen my
knowledge of the health systems. It also exposed me to the inner workings of DFID, the main funding institution.
Since 2010, I have been involved with the Malaria Action Program in States, a USAID funded project
implemented in 9 states in Nigeria. This engagement also exposed me to some of the operational modalities of
USAID. I participated in project review meetings and annual planning processes. Currently, I am the Public
Health Expert, leading the design and implementation of a qualitative research into factors accounting for
increased immunisation uptake and those affecting or inhibiting low immunisation uptake by caregivers and
mothers in 7 states of Nigeria. The work is supported and funded by EU programme – Support to Immunisation
Governance in Nigeria (EU-SIGN).
• M&E and Operational Research
One of the key areas of work in which I have created a niche for myself, is in the area of monitoring and
evaluation of development interventions. I have performed roles and responsibilities related to project design,
appraisal, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. For instance, while in the civil service, I was part of the
UN System agency committee responsible for project approval. This involved looking critically at project logic in
relationship to the development goals. My work as a manager within the NGO sector, also sharpened my ability to
apply my skills in project planning and management. I instituted measures that ensured NGOs developed
proposals with clearly defined indicators for measuring progress. As a consultant, I have been involved with a
number of evaluation exercises. These include the Output to Purpose Review (OPR) of the Monitoring and
Evaluation Systems designed for the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS), funded by DFID; ISODEC’s
Rights Based Approach Programme III funded by NOVIB and the Pfizer/Clinton Foundation funded Mobilise
Against Malaria (MAM) project. In 2013, I led the evaluation of the UNDP funded Climate Change Adaptation
project funded by JICA in Nigeria. In addition, I have used the knowledge and skills to train NGOs on participatory
monitoring and evaluation for advocacy. My capacity to do desk research resulted in my participation in the
OXFAM GB funded desk study on the poverty situation in Nigeria. The result was the publication of a Working
Paper by OXFAM titled: Measuring Poverty in Nigeria. I also led the design and development of a knowledge
management strategy for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in Nigeria. I have
skills in the use of both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methodologies and currently coordinating a
qualitative research on factors influencing uptake and those inhibiting uptake of routine immunisation services in 7
states in Nigeria.
Employment History
Employer’s company
/name:
Service
(from/to
month/year):
Position/responsibility with the company:
Health Partners Ghana,
Associate
Partner/Managing
Director, Ghana
Sept 2005 – Date
(Part-time)
Social and Management Systems Development Specialist –
Responsible for
i) Programme design and development with particular focus on
systems design, social and institutional development.
ii) Undertaking of baseline surveys, design and implementation of
monitoring and evaluation systems, assessment of and support
for strengthening institutional and organisational capacities;
iii) Facilitation of training on planning and management targeted at
managers of public and not-for profit organisations/institutions
iv) Participation in strategic thinking processes within the
organisation as well as support to management development.
v) Liaison with other organisations, particularly with government
and NGOs and building relationships for the promotion of
synergy
Executive Director
/Owner, Development
and Learning Centre
(DLC), Nigeria
Sept 2001 –
March 2005
As Executive Director,
i) Co-ordinated and managed the activities of DLC related to
institutional support to CSOs, private sector and government,
project planning and management, participatory monitoring and
evaluation, undertaking participatory action research and
documentation, human resources development as well as the
establishment of a resource and reference centre.
ii) Coordinated the team of external and in-house consultants,
promoted a good image with the donor and INGO community,
and ensuring quality control in services delivered to our clients.
iii) Planning and budgeting the activities of DLC as well as
reporting to the Board of Directors.

3. Programme
Development Consultant
Partners for
Development, Benue
State, Nigeria
Oct 2000 – Sept.
2001
Responsibilities included:
i) Provision of assistance to local NGO partners in proposal
writing, assessment of institutional needs and training in
monitoring and evaluation techniques.
ii) Establishment of systems for routine monitoring and evaluation
at both community and institutional levels.
iii) Assisting Partners to prepare work programmes and developing
internal review mechanisms and
iv) Provision of advisory and technical support services to the
project management team.
Country Representative,
WaterAid, Ghana/Nigeria
April 1993- June
2000
Responsibility for:
i) Managing the programme, including both financial and human
resources, developing a comprehensive plan for programme
implementation
ii) Assisting Staff to design mechanisms for field work, assisting
them to identify and provide support to staff of the implementing
partners, (NGOs and Local Government) – supervised the
development of strategic plans for partners
iii) Initiated processes that helped the Partner NGOs develop
administrative, financial, and internal monitoring procedures -
Initiated what was termed “Management Audit” of Partner
NGOs.
iv) Support project design and planning, review financial requests
and approving budgets before funds are transferred.
v) Initiate surveys for enhancing WaterAid’s work – led a a survey
on the Willingness and Ability of Communities to pay for rural
water
Economic Planning
Officer -Ministry of
Finance, Ghana
April 1988 – Feb
1993
Responsible for:
i) Assisting in the management of the Government of Ghana’s
external inflows as well as debt repayment
ii) Work included project appraisal, reviews, monitoring and
evaluation of UNDP funded projects in in various sectors,
iii) Preparation of project briefs and updates based on
information gathered during monitoring and periodic reviews
iv) Backstopping and review project activities including the
institutional support projects in the Ministries of Health, Trade,
Agriculture and Local Government and Rural Development.
v) Trained on the use of project planning and management tools
used by UN System agencies
4. Education
Institution (university, etc.), city and country: Year/Period Years and degree/diploma obtained:
University of Cape Coast 2005 – 2006 M.A. Dev. Studies (Governance and Human
Rights Law)
University of Cape Coast, Ghana 1980 – 1985 BA (Hons) Social Science (Economics and
Sociology)
University of Cape Coast, Ghana 1980 – 1985 Diploma in Education
Institute of Organisation Development, USA 2013 Certificate in OD Theory and Practice
Ghana Institute of Journalism 2011 Certificate in Advanced Communication
ILO Training Institute, Turin, Italy 1990 Certificate in Project Planning and Management
5. Language skills of relevance to the assignment
Language Formal education: Speaking skills: Reading skills: Writing Skills:
English Very Good Very Good Very Good
Twi Very Good Very Good Very Good
Buli Very Good Very Good Very Good
Hausa Good NIL Nil
6. Direct Consultancy Experience
Year Input in
Months
Name of project/assignment Country Area of
responsibility
Name of Client
2015 July Development of training manual on
undertaking supportive supervision for training
of SMOH and County Health Department staff
South
Sudan
Appraisal and
Planning
Consultant
HPI/Crown
Agents/DFID

4. 2015 June - July Support to SMOH to improve the quality of
planning and budgeting capabilities of County
Health Departments in 6 states
South
Sudan
Appraisal and
Planning
Consultant
HPI/Crown
Agents/DFID
2015 April -
November
Desk review and design of processes for
undertaking a community assessment study
on factors affecting uptake of routine
immunisation services in 23 states in Nigeria
Nigeria Senior
Technical
Expert in Public
Health
HPI/Conseil
Sante/EU/NPHCD
A
2015 Jan – Feb. Strengthening capacity of SMOH, County
Health Departments and NGOs to undertake a
review of annual operational plans and
budgets as part of the wider process of
performance assessment
South
Sudan
Appraisal and
Planning
Consultant
HPI/Crown
Agents/DFID
2014 Oct - Nov Review of existing supervision systems in
South Sudan MOH and design of a supportive
supervision process for 6 states
South
Sudan
Appraisal and
Planning
Consultant
HPI/Crown
Agents/DFID
2014 May - June Strengthening the institutional capacity of the
County Health Department to undertake sector
reviews and development of annual
operational plan
South
Sudan
Appraisal and
Planning
Consultant
HPI/Crown
Agents/DFID
2014 March -
August
Institutional Strengthening and management
support to USAID funded Malaria Action
Programme in 9 States
Nigeria Technical
Adviser/Region
al Consultant
Health Partners
International (HPI)
2014 February Institutional assessment of capacity to
manage, coordinate and support the control of
Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Federal
Ministry of Health (FMOH)
Nigeria Regional
Consultant
Health Partners
International/
Sight Savers/DFID
2013 April Evaluation of community-based malaria project
in Pru and Sene Districts, Brong Ahafo Region
Ghana Lead Evaluator GSK/FHI 360
2013 Feb – May Design and development of process for
assessing the functionality of health systems in
6 States in South Sudan
South
Sudan
Appraisal and
Planning
Consultant
Health Pool
Fund/DFD
2013 January Evaluation of Africa Adaptation Programme
(AAP) on Promoting an Integrated Approach to
Climate Change Adaptation in Nigeria
Nigeria Lead
Consultant
UNDP/Govt. of
Japan/Federal
Ministry of
Environment
2012 May Assessment of the institutional capacity of
NGO members of the Civil Society Platform on
Oil and Gas to engage in policy dialogue and
advocacy
Ghana Consultant Publish What You
Pay/Hewlett
Foundation
2012 February Evaluation of the Non-state Actor Capacity
building project on regional integration in
Ghana
Ghana Consultant ISODEC/EU/ECO
WAS Commission
2011/1
2
Sep/Oct –
January 12
Development of management capacity to
design, implement a health systems
supervisory process and to feed information
generated into the health sector’s performance
assessment process
Nigeria Team Leader MAPS
Project/USAID
2011 Jul/Aug Assessment of capacity to manage and
implement malaria-related interventions using
health systems approach in 3 States of Nigeria
Nigeria Team Leader MAPS
Project/USAID
2011 March Identification of gaps in the implementation of
Nutrition Advocacy activities, development of
the revised nutrition strategy and training
manual for the Ghana Health Service in
selected regions in Ghana
Ghana Consultant Health Partners
Ghana/Ghana
Health Service
2011 Feb Design of tools and evaluation of the Mobilise
Against Malaria (MAM) Project funded by
Pfizer in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Ghana Consultant Health Partners
Ghana/PFIZER
2011 January Rapid Assessment of management capacity
for malaria control activities in Cross River and
Zamfara States
Nigeria Consultant MAPS/USAID
2010 November Supporting the National Primary Health
Development Agency (NPHCDA) to develop a
Knowledge Management Strategy
Nigeria Consultant PATHS2/DFID
2010 Sept. – Oct. Strengthening the skills of State Ministries of
Health in Yobe and Jigawa State in the
Nigeria Team Leader PRRINN-MNCH

5. preparation of Annual Operational Plans and
budgets
2010 May -
August
Consolidating and supporting State Ministries
of Health and LGAs to take ownership in
undertaking situational analysis that feed into
annual planning processes
Nigeria Team Leader PRRINN-MNCH
2010 February Development of tools and assessment of
perceptions, attitudes and knowledge in the
management of malaria in Pru and Sene
Districts of the Brong Ahafo Region
Ghana Team
Leader/Consult
ant
FHI-Ghana
2010 January Design, development of tools and procedures
for the collection of information on the
mechanisms used to create a District Health
System in Jigawa State of Northern Nigeria.
The output was the document, Telling the
Gunduma Story
Nigeria Team Leader HPI/PRRINN-
MNCH
2009 November -
December
Evaluation of ISODEC’s Rights Based
Approach (Phase III) to CSO capacity building
and advocacy programme in Ghana
Ghana Team Member ISODEC/NOVIB
2009 August -
September
Review of 2008 – 2012 Strategic Plan and
2009 Operational Plan, training State Planning
and Budgeting Teams on planning and design
of 2010 – 2015 Strategic Plans for the State
Ministries of Health in Jigawa and Yobe States
Nigeria Regional
Consultant/
Team Leader
Health Partners
International/DFID
PRRINN-MNCH
Programme
2009 March -
July
Support the institutionalisation of Integrated
Supportive Systems (ISS) and annual
appraisal process using Peer Participatory
Rapid Health Appraisal for Action (PPRHAA)
methodology in Yobe and Jigawa States of
Nigeria
Nigeria Regional
Consultant/
Team Leader
Health Partners
International/DFID
PRRINN-MNCH
Programme
2008 Aug - Sep Design of Health Sector Planning Training
Manual and Training of 17 LGAs in Yobe State
on the preparation of evidence-based annual
budgets and plans.
Nigeria Regional
Consultant/
Team Leader
Health Partners
International/DFID
PRRINN-MNCH
Programme
2008 Jan – May Review of effectiveness of health sector
supervision systems/design of participatory
integrated supportive supervision (ISS)
processes, building of capacity in undertaking
supportive supervision and use of the
information as well as training in planning and
management techniques
Nigeria Regional
Consultant/
Team Leader
Health Partners
International/DFID
PRRINN-MNCH
Programme
2007 May – Dec Design of participatory tools for undertaking
baseline survey and assessment of
effectiveness of management systems in
primary health care delivery in four States in
Northern Nigeria
Nigeria Regional
Consultant
Health Partners
International
/DFID
2006 Aug - Nov Building capacity of health personnel in
transformational leadership techniques and
project management approaches as tools for
improving analytical skills of the personnel in
the Ministry of Health in Ekiti State
Nigeria Regional
Consultant
Health Partners
International DFID
2006 February Thematic Group on M&E for the Development
of Benue State Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS
Response workshop.
Nigeria Facilitator/Team
Leader
UNAIDS
2005 November Baseline Survey to Assess Access to Health,
Education and Agricultural Services in the
Niger Delta Region as part of the EITI
Programme
Nigeria Consultant Oxfam / British
High Commission
2005 October Consultancy for undertaking Output to
Purpose Review (OPR) of DFID support to the
Government of Ghana/NDPC in the
development of Monitoring and Evaluation
Plan for the Ghana Poverty Reduction
Strategy (GPRS)
Ghana Team Member DFID
2005 May Documentation of ISODEC’s experiences in
the implementation of the Girl-Child Education
Consultant ISODEC/
NOVIB

6. Project (GCEP) under the title “It is Possible”
2005 March Evaluation of ISODEC/NOVIB Girl-Child
Education Project (GCEP) in Ashanti, Brong
Ahafo, Northern and Upper East Regions of
Ghana
Ghana Team Leader ISODEC/
NOVIB
2005 January Design and Development of Water and
Sanitation Policy for the Ministry of Water
Resources and Environment of the Benue
State Government
Nigeria Consultant SLGP/State Govt
2004 November Design of Strategic Framework for the delivery
of Health Services by Christian Health delivery
institutions in Benue State, Nigeria under
PATHS
Nigeria Team Member Health Partners
International DFID
2004 September Preparation of Strategic Plan for Civil Society
Organisations on Poverty Eradication
(CISCOPE) in Nigeria
Nigeria Consultant OXFAM GB
2004 September Workshop on Participatory Monitoring and
Evaluation for Advocacy, organised for Civil
Society Organisations in Nasarawa State
Nigeria Facilitator Common-wealth
Education Fund /
ActionAid
2004 May Design and preparation of Partners for
Development (PFD)’s Nigeria Country
Programme Strategy 2004 – 2007
Nigeria Team Member PFD
2004 April Review of Nigeria Agriculture Policy to assess
pro-poor nature of the policy and level of
participation of small scale agricultural
producers in the policy process
Nigeria Team Leader OXFAM GB
2004 January Macro level Contextual Review and Situation
Analysis survey in Bauchi, Benue and
Nasarawa States to determine policy
frameworks for poverty reduction and
community perceptions about factors affecting
their livelihood sources – Partners for
Development (PFD)
Nigeria Team Leader PFD
2003 July –
August
Developing a framework for undertaking a
participatory poverty assessment and a
poverty reduction strategy plan, State and
Local Government Programme
Nigeria Team Member DFID
2003 February Co-facilitator at action planning and logframing
workshop for the Benue State Reform Team
under the State and Local Government
Programme
Nigeria Co-Facilitator DFID
2003 January Collation and preparation of action plans of
Government agencies and civil society
organizations for the HIV/AIDS Development
Project
Consultant World Bank
2002 October /
November
Development of strategy for engaging civil
society in the public sector reform process as
well as preparation of poverty reduction
strategy for Benue State. Prepared for the
State and Local Government Programme
Nigeria Consultant DFID
2002 September
/ October
Co-facilitator at an Action Planning and
Development of Measurable Indicators
Workshop for Community Based
Organisations involved with Community
Development, Health and HIV/AIDS in Benue
State, organized by CBDD/CBO Unit
Nigeria Co-Facilitator DFID
2002 June Development of methodology for undertaking
participatory action research on Adolescents
Right-to-Know issues related to HIV/AIDS
prevention
Nigeria Team Leader UNICEF /
ActionAid
2002 June Member of Team that undertook an appraisal
for expansion of ActionAid Nigerian
programmes in HIV/AIDS and Education in
Nassarawa and Kaduna States, using child
sponsorship
Nigeria Team Member ActionAid
2002 April Lead facilitator at workshop on Strategic Nigeria Lead Facilitator DFID

7. Planning for NGOs and Government Agencies
involved with HIV/AIDS in Ekiti State,
organized by DFID Coordinating Office, Ekiti
State
2002 Facilitator at a workshop on Developing
Advocacy Skills of NGOs and Coalitions
working in HIV/AIDS and Education
Nigeria Facilitator ActionAid
2002 February Annual Review of ActionAid Nigerian
Programme, with a focus on HIV/AIDS and
Education programmes
Nigeria Team Leader ActionAid
2001 December Preparation of a Civil Society Mapping
Exercise for Benue State, Nigeria. Funded by
CBDD Project and co-ordinated by DFID State
Co-ordinator for Benue State
Nigeria Consultant DFID
2001 July Facilitator at a workshop on “Capacity Building
Needs Assessment for Civil Society
Organisations” involved with or with potential
to engage in HIV/AIDS interventions.
Organised by ActionAid and funded by DFID
Nigeria Facilitator DFID
2001 June Assessment of capacity of Civil Society
Organisations working in HIV/AIDS and CSO
Mapping in Jigawa State of Nigeria. A DFID
funded project and executed by ActionAid
Nigeria Consultant DFID
2000 August Action Research to collect baseline information
required for preparing a proposal for Project
Extension into Nasarawa State and Research
into Road Infrastructure Development in
Benue State undertaken for Partners for
Development (PFD)
Nigeria Consultant Partners for Devt
1999 April Participation in a participatory evaluation of the
WaterAid Programme in Ghana which was
also used as a training session for Partner
staff
Ghana Consultant WaterAid
1998 June Part of a three-member team that undertook a
review of UNICEF Water and Environmental
Sanitation Programme in Ghana
Ghana Consultant UNICEF
1996 Co-ordinator, Evaluation of water and
sanitation programme funded by Plan
International in the Asesewa and Bawjiase
Area and the Preparation of a feasibility report
for new water and sanitation schemes in the
area
Ghana Co-ordinator Plan International
1994 August Team Leader, Review of Water and Sanitation
programme implemented by the Diocesan
Development Office of the Catholic Church in
the Upper East Region of Ghana and
preparation of proposals on how to establish
the scheme as a sustainable enterprise
Ghana Team Leader Diocesan Devt
Office of the
Catholic Church
7. Name, address, phone no., and e-mail address of independent professional referees
who may be contacted
1. Dr. Paschal Atengdem
Dept of Agric Extension
University of Ghana
Legon, Accra, Ghana
Tel: +233-21-500150 (office)
Mobile:+233-24-4263156
Email: pbatengdem@gmail.com>
2. Dr. Nana Anyimayew

8. Signature: 30-10-2013
Health Partners Ghana
Bryan-Jigawa House,
14 Atweh-Adjei Loop,
Teshie Demo, P.O. Box AC 647,
Accra, GHANA.
Tel: +233-20-7054517
Email: nana2043b@gmail.com
3. Bryan Haddon
Health Partners International
Waterside Centre,
North Street, Lewes,
East Sussex
BN7 2PE, UK
Email: bryanhad@gmail.com