Robyn Savage

Experience

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  Groundwork Group

  Oct 2010 - Jan 2016

  Director of Human Security (Development) Programs

  A management role requiring a strategic administrative and operational focus, as well as strong leadership and field-level implementation skills. Driving six years of holistic systems-based approaches to community development, conflict resolution and child safety; I ran health, water access, economic empowerment and education programming in areas of high urban poverty. This role required close advisory relationships, working through local partners to reach the most vulnerable. Clear communication, strong community relations, establishing trust and capacity building our partner were integral to the success of these initiatives.Cambodia: Child Protection Programming and Social Enterprise Development• Extensive stakeholder and community engagement to assess needs and vulnerabilities• Holistic community-centred approach to program development resulting in non-formal education, water access, health, vocational training programs and social enterprise development• Childsafe policy development• Development of alternative economic models for sustaining operational costs of non-profit programs including long-term economic independence through social enterprise establishmentUganda: Healthcare Program Development • Comprehensive beneficiary-cantered needs assessments to identify un-met needs and systemic issues undermining current development initiatives • Harm reduction and supply chain sustainability recommendations• Extensive stakeholder and community engagement • Emergency medical relief measures and education initiativesChile: Microcredit Program Development• Flexi-loan programming for a candidate pursuing higher education in environmental/indigenous rights • Multiple draw program incentivizing early repayment and multi-draw loans Show less

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  UNICEF

  Oct 2010 - Apr 2011

  Volunteer Team Lead Post LRA Identification Alternative Care Institutions housing ex-child soldiers

  •Located alternative care facilities, children left vulnerable through conflict, documented levels of care•Managed and mitigated relationships between distrustful administration•Reported findings and professional recommendations to UNICEF; Report used by UNICEF for designation and distribution of 2011 regional emergency funding

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  The Mercy Project

  Oct 2010 - Jan 2011

  Volunteer Advisor Health Program Development

  • Strategic planning and operational efficiency review• Increased local economic stimulation and sustainability of supply chains• Managed harm reduction measures within service provision• Evaluated economic and logistical operations for multiple healthcare clinics - Gulu region

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  Royal Roads University

  Mar 2012 - May 2012

  Conflict Analysis & Stakeholder Relations: Mapuche & Private Forestry Operations

  • Analysed private forestry/public economic and environmental conflicts within the context of Chilean Counter-terrorism legislation • Conducted multi-stakeholder dialogue between fighting Indigenous Mapuche factions, government and private enterprise on environmental and social conflicts stemming from economic/legislative changes• Reported analysis to stakeholders with recommendations for conflict resolution and dialogue management• Reserve translator for conflict analysis in active conflict zone Show less

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  Oil & Gas Private Client

  Jun 2013 - Dec 2014

  Social Impact & Corporate Social Responsibility Consultant

  • Designed a comprehensive social impact & strategic implementation tool focusing on human rights for the extractive industry• Designed a supply chain management tool for increasing human rights and social license • Risk management and mitigation policies• Compiled ILO, IFC, UN, ICCPR, Global Compact Guidelines etc. standards

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  City of Stirling (Western Australia)

  May 2014 - Dec 2014

  Crisis Intervention Case Worker

  • Coordination of social service access for women and children of domestic violence• Child protection and case-centred advocacy approach• Legal, social and cross cultural community support for housing, health and safety

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  Save the Children

  Dec 2014 - Jan 2015

  MHPSS Unaccompanied Minor Asylum Support

  • Psycho-social support of unaccompanied asylum seeking minors in alternative places of detention as directed by the Australian Department of Immigration & Border Protection• Cross cultural communication, internal/external relationship building• Strict professionalism, security and ethics in practice• Trauma-informed/ strength based approaches in case management• Child protection focus

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  ACTED

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2016

  Education Specialist - TA (Development) Cambodia

  • Coordinated national education legislative reform • Authored and advised on national non formal education legislation • Designed strategic approaches to program implementation and economic exit-strategies • Worked with a range of ministries, donors and local partners • Linked private market skill needs to public education programming • Thematic areas of focus: non-formal education, vocational training, basic Literacy, numeracy, inclusive education, accelerated learning, teacher training, training of trainer, civil society strengthening, security, logistics, budget management Show less

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  ACTED

  Mar 2016 - Oct 2016

  Education Specialist -PM (Emergency) Central African Republic

  • Managed the Central African UNICEF, Global Partnership for Education across SE and NW • Base Chief (3) deep field locations: managed security and operations • Lead government capacity building for newly established government • Coordinated infrastructural repairs and national distributions • Implemented return to school initiatives and advocacy campaigns • Strengthened educational reforms and teacher training to strengthen civil engagement • Thematic areas included: formal education, inclusive education, teacher training, training of trainer, parent advisory committee creation Show less

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  ACTED

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2018

  Education and Gender Technical Coordinator, Child Protection Focal Point Afghanistan

  • Managed Afghan education and gender portfolio: development and emergency contexts • National education, gender and protection strategy development • Formal education, accelerated education, life skills, peace-building program development, • Protection and GBV focus • Business development for Public Private Partnerships: market linkages to global supply chains • Vocational training, female economic empowerment • Developed national market linkages for TVET programs • Advocacy for education in emergencies EiE (returnee populations as well as IDPs)*Child Protection Focal Point for all ACTED Afghanistan Programs Show less

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  ACTED

  May 2018 - Jul 2018

  Coordinatrice Technique: Consortium Protection de l'Enfance Haiti

  • Coordinated launch of a four-party child protection consortium funded by UNICEF and the Canadian Government • Established strong, actionable child protection mechanisms and methodologies addressing domestic employment of children • Provided direct psycho-social intervention to the child while addressing the socio-economic and educational needs of families • Coordinated income generating activities, access to micro-finance, sexual reproductive health, primary education, psychological support and art therapy to beneficiaries• Organized capacity building of engaged partners addressing child protection technical capacity • Improved consortium members’ ability to implement programming in an accountable, beneficiary- focused manner. Show less

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  Norwegian Refugee Council

  Aug 2018 - Jan 2020

  Education Specialist Mali

  • Strategy development: NRC, Ministerial, working groups, clusters, technical committees • Technical input on programming • Technical writing for reporting and advocacy • Program management and coordination of multi-sector integrated education programs: protection, vocational training, youth programming, information counselling and legal assistance (ICLA), shelter • Consortium coordination: education, PSS, nutrition, health, income generating activities, WASH • NEXUS development for the improvement of coordination across development and humanitarian interventions • Ministerial coordination to inform and guide the establishment of a National Strategy for Accelerated Education in Mali based on AEWG guiding principles. • Technical input and contribution to establishment of AEWG guiding principles (2016) • Donor relations, fundraising and advocacy • Research and data collection for targeting areas of intervention • Research and data collection of intervention methods of interest and pertinence for the current conflict/needs context. • Advocacy for issues in the education sector liaising internally to clusters and donors as well as externally to media through NRC advocacy and media channels Show less

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  UNICEF

  Mar 2020 - Nov 2021

  Education in Emergencies and Access Specialist

  • Education Programme and Partner Management:Technical assistance and capacity building of local implementing partner on programs which comprised of educational activities adapted to Covid-19Development of radio-based distance learning and socially distanced in-class mixed modalitiesCreation of temporary learning spaces, infrastructural repair, construction to schools and gender inclusive WASHMass sensitization on Covid-19 signs, symptoms, risks, mitigation and health authority’s information• Early Recovery and Coordination Covid-19 Response in Education:Co-Chair Education in Emergencies Working GroupChair Technical Working Group on Covid-19 Response• Coordination with security network and data analysis organizations on key humanitarian issues that require monitoring and analysis in order to inform access for BAY states UNICEF education and cross sectoral activities and response• Analysis of access and security related information from relevant stakeholders including patterns and trends in order to inform access and programme planning in the fluid and dynamic security context of the BAY states• Established and leads the School Security platform internal to UNICEF ensuring up to date incident reporting across all section facilitators based around the BAY states• Consistent liaising with key stakeholders to share relevant information and stay informed in security context, displacement issues and needs analyses Show less

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  Slavefreetrade International

  Mar 2022 - now

  Chief Human Rights Officer
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  UNICEF Middle East and North Africa

  Mar 2022 - Mar 2023

  Education Specialist | Education Cannot Wait Programme Manager | Whole of Syria
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  UNICEF Ukraine

  Jul 2022 - Sept 2022

  Surge Emergency Response Team
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  NES NGO Forum

  Feb 2023 - now

  Director