Sonia Arias, M.Ed

Experience

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  Academy for Educational Development

  Jan 1992 - Jan 2001

  Program Officer
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  EDC

  Jun 2002 - Apr 2007

  Project Director

  Led project strategy, selection of delivery methodologies, and content development for $13M ICT projects funded by USAID Dot-EDU LWA:o Managed, designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated novel educational technology/ICT training initiatives in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. o Conducted quality learning needs assessments for basic education and ICT teacher and faculty capacity building projects (Mali, Macedonia, D.R. Congo) to inform training design. .o Designed and delivered pedagogically sound Ed. Tech/ICT teacher training programs for every primary and secondary school in Macedonia. o Designed first knowledge web portal for Macedonian and Albanian teachers. o Recruited and supervised more than 40 staff, five subcontractors, and consultants.o Developed rigorous monitoring and evaluation plans for all projects.o Interacted effectively with ministry officials, policy makers, funders, and field office in a highly politicized environment. Show less

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  EPSScentral LLC

  Apr 2007 - Jan 2011

  Sr. Director

  Designed and deployed performance-based e-learning solutions in support of an ERP launch for U.S. corporate client: o Developed, and delivered large-scale e-learning platform with highly customized, just-in-time electronic support for users of 12 ORACLE modules in the areas of HR, procurement, and inventory. o Documented entire knowledge process repository around company business needs.o Conducted in-depth business process review and analysis; accurately identified ERP user adoption issues and determined gaps in user knowledge and performance; digitally mapped gap analyses for improved and streamlined business processes and procedures. Show less

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  FHI 360

  Aug 2010 - Jan 2017

  Senior Technical Advisor, Learning & Performance Solutions, Global Learning Group

  Led design, development, and implementation in the areas of capacity building, teacher training, human performance improvement, HICD, e-learning, electronic performance support, mobile applications design, knowledge management, process mapping, and instructor-led training for Education/EGR, and EMIS and Business Intelligence projects. Provided strategy and design guidance in project and proposal development in terms of systems strengthening, human and organizational performance improvement, mobile learning and support, effective competency-based training, and organizational process improvement. Contributed as technical writer on winning $70M proposal. Provided results-based technical assistance to projects in Djibouti, South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea and: o Ghana USAID Learning Project: Directed technical assistance for teacher capacity building and Ministry capacity strengthening activities. Delivered workshops to staff on performance-based capacity building. o Myanmar UNICEF: Conducted Capacity Assessment of Ministry of Education.o Afghanistan USAID project: Developed capacity strengthening standards and assessment tool for improved quality of training provided to the Ministry. o Senegal USAID EDB project: Delivered two workshops on Principles of Instructional Design for E-Learning to project staff and Ministry personnel. Show less

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  Chemonics International

  Jan 2017 - Jul 2021

  • Design and develop new education programs; provide technical assistance to education programs across Chemonics’ portfolio of education projects including providing distance learning expertise for programs in DRC and Senegal. • Support the corporate Knowledge Management team to update corporate local capacity building approach and tool kit. • Serve on the company-wide Education & Youth community of practice to support education research agenda, collaboration and learning across education projects, including drafting of technical brief on teacher coaching. Show less Provided technical and strategic direction to large-scale $133M USAID/UKAID-funded education project (ACCELERE!1) in eight provinces of the DRC. o Delivered results and improved literacy outcomes despite politically charged and unstable context, to include supporting the government in implementing early grade reading policy. o Authored thought leadership pieces aimed at the DRC donor, government, and implementing partner community to include technical briefs on early grade reading findings and recommendations within the context of the DRC; the application of microfinance strategies to mitigate adverse effects of school fees on student retention; and parents’ perceptions and use of low-cost private schools. Led team of 40+ technical staff and ensured coherent and efficient management of all program areas including in-service teacher professional development and support (coaching), accelerated learning programs, Early Grade Reading (EGR), development and deployment of teaching and learning materials, grants, school-based governance, gender, M&E, and operational research of program activities. o In years one through four, reached 3,245 schools, 1,238,206 students, and 16,268 teachers. Closely collaborated with government education counterparts; successfully managed CSO program, implementing partners, funders, subcontractors, and other technical partners to ensure sustained impact and results. Served as Acting chief of party. Show less DRC ACCELERE!1 project valued at $133M; provided overall project quality assurance and technical advisement to field leadership and subcontractors, particularly with relation to strategic approach and planning, technical deliverables, government engagement, operations research, and M&E. Ensured that program activities were results-oriented and met relevant reporting requirements.Directed work planning, subcontractors, development of technical scopes of work, key deliverables, grants program, and conducted Rapid Education Risk Analysis (RERA). Show less

  • Education Director/Advisor, West & Central Africa & Haiti Region

    Feb 2020 - Jul 2021

  • Deputy Chief Of Party

    Sept 2018 - Feb 2020

  • Education Director, West & Central Africa & Haiti Region

    Jan 2017 - Sept 2018
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  RTI International

  Jul 2021 - Sept 2023

  Sr Technical Advisor

  Under the USAID-funded UEEP, provide strategic leadership, management, oversight, and quality assurance to multiple activities within the Teacher Professional Development and Research component in the subject areas of EFL, ICT, Uzbek language arts (ULA), and mathematics for more than 8000 teachers and 800 master trainers.

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  Chemonics International

  Oct 2023 - now

  Sr. Project Director