Technical Support Policy Analyst
Resume:
KENNETH C. OZOEMENAM, Ph.D
**** ***** ***, *** *******, TX 78222, USA.
***.*********@***.***.**;
SKILLS: Research; local governance; policy analysis; evidence generation and documentation; gender analysis Strategic development professional and former UNICEF Social Policy Specialist with over 20 years of leadership experience in social policy design, philanthropic strategy, donor engagement, and capacity- building. Proven track record of initiating and institutionalizing impactful social policy programmes in collaboration with academia, government, and civil society. Strong expertise in advancing children’s rights, child protection, and social protection systems, with international exposure and policy leadership across Africa. Committed to strengthening philanthropic ecosystems to advance equity-focused programming. Key Achievements
Initiated and established a critical mass of social policy researchers, the Social Policy Network (SPN), with 12 Nigerian federal universities and the National Universities Commission, pioneering Africa-led postgraduate development programing.
Appointed as a Policy Analyst (P4) at UNICEF NYHQ in recognition of the rare initiative above after leading regional policy innovations and donor strategy formulation.
Personally authored major policy and budget briefs used to influence donor funding and government planning in Nigeria and Ghana.
Led technical input into Nigeria’s first National Gender Policy and contributed to national-level child rights and social protect
Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nigeria, September 2021 to date;
Provide leadership and coordinate all research activities within the domain of the social policy programme (social protection, child poverty, public finance for children, and local governance) recently established in the university with the technical support of UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Nigeria towards the promotion of the rights of the child.
Plan and deliver high quality research in all the four components of social policy programme, providing guidance to the research team, sustaining a research plan, and supervising and taking responsibility for the research team.
Establish a national reputation by sustaining the regular dissemination of research findings through leading peer-reviewed publications, presenting results at conferences, or exhibiting work at other appropriate events.
Academy Lead, De Mould Academy, September, 2021 to date;
Strategic leadership, shaping the vision and mission of the institution
Coordinate research, policy formulation/analysis and development programming initiatives of the organisation
Executive Director, Policy Analysis and Development Initiative (PADI), September 2021 to date;
Provide policy direction and strategic realignment of the organisation’s philosophy, goals and mandate in line with evolving national, regional and global research and development focus
Coordinate research, policy formulation/analysis and development programming initiatives of the organisation
Policy Analyst, Local Governance (P4) at UNICEF NYHQ, from October 2019 to February 2020;
Made significant technical contributions into the review and finalization UNDP/UNICEF DRR- Peacebuillding e-course in Novermber/December 2019.
Updated/reviewed and finalised technical papers on Scoping Notes on Local Planning and Budgeting and Child Participation in Local Governance
Updated and finalised four (4) Programme Briefs on various titles In collaboration with EMOPS, worked on a technical paper, Localisation in Humanitarian Action
Developed Concept Notes and analysed CO’s rate of buy-in to HQ programme and policy initiatives. Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria; October 2009 to August 2021
Personally provided technical guidance to two State governments in Nigeria to develop and publish subnational Social Protection Policies, as well as their Situation Analyses and Social Protection Policies.
Conducted a study on government investment in children, using trend analysis of annual budgets to provide evidence for advocacy and policy dialogues towards enhanced investment in children.
Developed policy briefs, issue papers, budget briefs, and sectoral programme policies and strategies
(WASH/Nutrition/Education).
Was developing on annual basis, the political and socioeconomic analyses of programming environment, as well as the executive summaries, that informed our Field Office annual reports. Gender and Child Participation Officer at UNICEF Abuja; April 2004 to September 2009;
Co-chaired Donor Coordinating Group on Gender (DCGG) and made substantial inputs into the development and publishing of Nigeria’s first National Gender Policy (2007) and midterm review of the Gender National Strategic Framework (NSF, 2006-2010).
Provided technical support to the government of Nigeria for the development of guidelines for the establishment and running of Nigeria Children’s Parliament (NCP), now operational at national and subnational levels.
Successfully organized and co-led a UN Gender Theme Group that facilitated a Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, UNDP and UNICEF Nigeria Country Office. Child Protection Specialist a.i. (March to October 2006);
Provided technical guidance to the Federal Government of Nigeria to advocate with duty bearers at State level for the domestication of Child Rights Law.
Collaborated with relevant government agencies for the institutionalisation of the promotion of child rights in Nigeria.
Provided technical assistance to government for development and submission of Nigeria’s Country Report on the Rights of the Child.
HIV/AIDS and Youth Participation Specialist a.i (August 2007 to August 2008);
Provided technical guidance for the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF-Assisted National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Reproductive Health (RH) and HIV/AIDS Prevention project.
Led policy and programme dialogue with duty bearers in government and civil society on HIV/AIDS and Youth Participation programming.
Led the process that designed, managed and evaluated UNICEF-Assisted programme on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
UNICEF Accra, Ghana, Social Policy Specialist (a.i) ; August to September 2013;
Represented UNICEF at a meeting with World Bank and Government on review of draft Livelihoods Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) evaluation report – Ghana’s flagship social protection programme.
Made technical inputs into the review of LEAP qualitative research instruments at a meeting with the Lead Consultant and other researchers from University of Accra, Ghana (CSPS).
Represented UNICEF at a meeting with government and WB and made technical inputs into review of LEAP’s e-Payment Assessment report by Catholic Relief Services. FUNTIONAL SKILLS
Policy analysis; research; programe design; child rightd; Python; Data analytics CURRENT PROJECT
Analysis of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICSs) to enhance development throughput, strategic programme management and policy directions. EDUCATION
Texila American University: Ph.D in Education (2025)
University of Nigeria, Nsukka: Ph.D, Public Administration and Local Government (2004)
University of Nigeria, Nsukka: Master of Public Administration (MPA) (1999)
Imo State University, Owerri: B.Sc. (Hons), Economics KEY PUBLICATIONS
Perception of Child Poverty in Southern Nigeria: Children’s Voices
(https://doi.org/10.1080/10875549.2021.1910103)
Child Participation in Development Programming: Lessons from Southern Nigeria
(10.21522/TIJAR.2014.04.02.Art010)
Child Participation in Nigeria: Three Examples of Dialogue with Children and Adolescents
(DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-64167-5_3)
REFEREES
1. Charles Nzuki, Chield of Field Office, UNICEF Somalia; ******@******.*** 2. Enrique Delamonica, Senior Adviser Statistics and Monitoring (Child Poverty and Gender Equality), UNICEF, NYHQ; ***********@******.***
3. Maureen Zubie-Okolo, Planning and Monitoring Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria; ***********@******.***
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