Project Manager
Resume:
Samson W. Chekol
Silver Spring, MD 20904
*******@*****.***
www.linkedin.com/pub/samson-wolle/21/142/15/
https://independent.academia.edu/SamiWolle
Career Summary:
Main strengths and background are in macroeconomic policy analysis, financial sector and industry research, investment due diligence and appraisal as well as program design & evaluation. I have worked with government and non-governmental organizations in Africa, Europe and the US. I have had leadership roles on international consultancy assignments focusing on financial variables analysis, formulation of integrated development programs, strategic planning & mentoring exercises, enterprise development, marketing information systems design, participatory livelihood analysis, and feasibility studies.
Ample experience in statistical data analysis, generating reports, tables, listings, graphs, and communicate statistical concepts as well as interpretations with non-statisticians.
6 years of multi sector experience of handling multiple tasks independently as well as within a team utilizing SPSS as a software package & Microsoft Excel used for conducting statistical analysis, manipulating data, and generating tables (i.e., pivot tables) and graphs that summarize as well as display data.
Working knowledge of STATA software to manipulate advanced techniques, such as survival models, dynamic panel data (DPD) regressions, generalized estimating equations (GEE), multilevel mixed models, models with sample selection, multiple imputation, ARCH, and estimation with complex survey samples; to standard methods, such as linear and generalized linear models (GLM), regressions with count or binary outcomes, ANOVA/MANOVA, ARIMA, cluster analysis, standardization of rates, case-control analysis, and basic tabulations and summary statistics.
Core Competencies:
Macroeconomic Research
Sector and Industry specific Research
Operational Research
Internal & External Strategy Research
Financial Industry Research
Market Research
Custom Research
Private Equity Solutions
Capital Market Advisory
Value Chain Development
Project Appraisal
Data Management & Analytics
Investment Due Diligence
Project Analysis
Skills & Memberships:
oAdvanced in Microsoft Suite (i.e., Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook)
oStatistical Software Packages: SPSS, SPSS Clementine (PASW Modeler), Giv Win, E-View, SAS, STATA & Arc-View
oCertificate in Applied Econometrics with Software Applications
oFull Member of the World and Ethiopian Economic Associations
Professional Experience:
On Frontiers, New York, USA 04/2015 – present
Advisor: For research firm and global advisory network linking clients with an interest in emerging economies (e.g., development agencies, investors and multinationals).
Providing decision makers (asset management firms) with rapid access to targeted, high quality insights consultations and surveys, and longer term customized studies on frontier markets.
Periodic consultation in investment banking, venture capital, private equity, financial services and international development topics on frontier markets.
Economisti Associati, Bologna, Italy 08/2013 – 05/2014
Senior Consultant: International Financial Corporation’s (IFC) Access to Finance in Ethiopia Policy, Regulatory and Administrative Impediments.
Reviewed activities of financial intermediaries (the ‘Financial Sector Review’); (ii) the assessment of the access to finance constraints faced by the private sector (the ‘A2F Gap Analysis’), and (iii) the analysis of the policy, legislative and regulatory factors influencing access to finance (the ‘Policy and Regulatory Analysis’).
Identified appropriate policies and regulatory measures with the recommendation of concrete actions and steps
Isolated issues in access to finance that could form the object of policy dialogue with government authorities.
First Consult/DAI Europe, Addis Ababa, ET 04/2013 – 08/2013
Research Lead
Provided high quality financial solutions for clients in the areas of Microfinance development and Financial Inclusion, as well as Banking services and Equity finance sectors. Offer custom research building on a solid foundation of subscription-based services, which enabled FC to offer a product that is cost and time-effective but more importantly to specialize on becoming a pragmatic, data-supported solutions provider of critical technical information and decision making support tools to enable clients plan decisive market and investment strategies in the process mitigating operational inefficiencies by reducing costs and supply chain risk
Assisted foreign & local investors to make investment decisions via analytical/technical, planning & execution services as well as post-investment services by employing rigorous investment analysis framework to capture the business and risk fundamentals in every stage of the investment process of projects that meet the requirements of sophisticated and institutional investors.
From June 2013 up to August 2013 I was contracted as “Access to Finance Research Specialist” for UK-DFID financed and DAI Europe (& First Consult) contracted project called Private Enterprise Program in Ethiopia, responsible for undertaking preliminary market investigation to support preparation of the PEPE inception report with particular consideration to the activities of the Access to Finance Pillar. My prime role was undertaking survey of the Ethiopian financial market with regards the Equipment Finance and Leasing, Islamic Banking, and Retail Payments and Alternative Delivery Channels. The objective of the assignment was to gain an understanding of market gaps culminating in recommendations for interventions under the PEPE program.
Access Capital Services, Addis Ababa, ET 10/2009 – 03/2013
Senior Researcher
Support the strategic business goals of Access Capital and affiliates by delivering timely economic insights, critical market analysis, and business intelligence on sector prospects and potentials; as well assist Access Capital’s Equity Investment transactions at their various stages of progression from the prospecting of potential deals, to assisting deal-specific due diligence, to post investment support. Offer positive exposure through analysis, reports, and website, thereby helping attract and retain both domestic as well as foreign clients and investors.
Responsible for undertaking a number of celebrated macroeconomic, sector & industry specific research publications (i.e., The Ethiopian Macro-Economic Handbook 2011/12, Mid-Year Macroeconomic Review July 2012, Investing in the “Ethiopian Stock Market”, Banking Sector Review 2011, Sector Review Agriculture, South Sudan Macroeconomic and Business Environment Overview, The Ethiopian Macro-Economic Handbook 2010, Monetary Policy Review April 2011, Sector Updaters Beer and Real Estate, Ethiopian Banking Sector Review 2010, Ethiopian Export Performance Review, Ethiopia’s Imports, Price Database and Inflation Review October 2010, Exchange Rate Review September 2010 and other insightful analytical research pieces as well as quarterly Inflation Updaters (view and download all our research pieces from Access Capital’s website at www.accesscapitalsc.com/research and www.afrikadit.com). As an active global research contributor, one can also find our (Access Capital Research’s) periodic research pieces posted on global entitlement websites including Capital IQ (Standard & Poor’s) and FactSet. Research pieces and insights have frequently been consistently published on Bloomberg and Financial Times (FT).
As part of ET Pulse: Used SPSS and STATA to derive high-frequency (monthly and quarterly) indicators of business and economic activity including:
Citywide Wholesale Price Index for Major Grains
Construction Materials Price Index
Seasonal Adjustment of Consumer price index
Seasonal Adjustment of Wholesale Price Index
Seasonal Adjustment of Producer Price Index
Petroleum Price/Consumption Index
Aggregated Import and Export by Major categories
Import and Export Price Indices
Real and Nominal Effective Exchange Rate Development report
External Trade Performance report.
As part of preservation and constant analysis of macroeconomic data, I used to maintain and update large nationwide interlinked time series data sets (20 years series) using Excel including, National Accounts Statistics (Real and Nominal GDP Components), Inflation, Sector Aggregates, Monetary and Fiscal Variables, External Trade Statistics (Exports & Imports) and Balance of Payments variables
Pinnacle International Consulting/ACCEL Corp. USA 06/2012–08/2012 Lead Consultant: Baseline Study for USAID’s Increased Access to Financial Sector Instruments (FaBS) Project
Established targets and key base line indicators against which progress/impact will be measured and develop methodology for the review of the project
Assessed the enabling institutional and policy framework related to competitiveness and against which intended policy/institutional strengthening reform initiatives will be measured
Produced a baseline report: including review of institutional/policy framework related to private sector development
Informed on limitations, restrictions that may inhibit achievements of targets set for FaBS project
Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), Addis Ababa, ET 12/2009 – 01/2010
Consultant: Conducted finalization of Market Information System and Promotion of Local Associations in Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Areas of Ethiopia.
Ana Horna Contique, Addis Ababa, ET 07/2009 – 10/2009
Consultant: Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Assessment
AVA Tour Operators Addis Ababa, ET 05/2009 – 06/2009
Senior Consultant: Air Transport Market Survey
Family Health International (FHI), Addis Ababa, ET 09/2008 – 12/2008
Consultant: Mid Term Project Evaluation - “Peer Education and Counseling Project” in collaboration with the Addis Ketema Sub City Youth Association.
Afro-Consult &Trading P.L.C, Addis Ababa, ET 11/2005 – 06/2008
Senior Socio-Economic Analyst
Framework design, field coordination, project identification & appraisal, and program formulation activities in the World Bank financed Woreda Integrated Development Study (WIDP study) Lots-8 & 3 comprising of 15 Woredas (districts) located in four regions across Ethiopia with a study outreach of 2 million inhabitants.
As a “Project Appraisal & Business Development Services (BDS) Expert” in the Project Support Unit (PSU) - Micro and Small Enterprises Development Program financed by the EU and overseen by the Ministry of Trade & Industry in Ethiopia
Participated in NEPAD Infrastructure Medium to Long-term Strategic Framework Study.
Assisted in the preparation of the Mid-term Review of the Civil Society Fund European Union.
World Bank (Ministry of Finance & Economic Development), Addis Ababa, ET 11/2004 – 04/2005
Assistant Researcher/Data Manager
Participated in the First Ethiopian Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) Survey by identifying vulnerable groups & the specific livelihood problems they confront, researching livelihood trajectories (upwards & downwards) and the governance contexts: power, authority, taxes, blockages (traditional or government related) including empowerment.
As data manager, I worked on a range of datasets, including Ethiopian rural household, household income consumption, agriculture, industry, demography and health surveys, labor, import and export data etc. I employed SPSS & STATA to mine and analyze the data in specific formats as required by the policy issue or the concerned institutions and researchers
Awash International Bank (AiB), Addis Ababa, ET 07/2000 – 06/2001
Junior Economic Analyst
Preparation of customary quarterly and yearly operational reports of the entire Bank’s operations.
Undertake an aggregate impact analysis for the Bank, specific performance assessments at branch level, and propose prospective policy measures for the Bank’s management and board members.
Conduct nationwide comprehensive feasibility studies for branch opening opportunities of the Bank
Education:
2004 Master of Science in Economics with a focus on Policy Analysis, CGPA: 3.67
Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, ET
2000 Bachelor of Arts in Economics (with Honors)
Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Related coursework: Advanced Macro/Micro Economics, Econometrics, International Economics, Public Policy, Statistics, Project Analysis, Research Methods, Mathematics for Economists, Labor Economics
References are available upon request!
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