Jessica Mayenda
Lusaka
Summary
As Senior Manager in the Service Delivery Team at VillageReach, I lead the expansion and scaling of service delivery solutions across Africa and globally. I bring over eight years of experience in digital technology, health systems strengthening, and inclusive development across sectors including nutrition, sustainable agriculture, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, rural livelihoods, and youth empowerment. My work is anchored in systems thinking, with a strong emphasis on regulatory alignment, regional coordination, and multi-stakeholder engagement. I have led and contributed to complex donor-funded programs in partnership with national governments, regional economic communities, and global agencies. I have also directly supported agriculture and livestock sector reforms, including food systems development, SME value chain strengthening, and policy advocacy—positioning me well for leadership roles at the intersection of industrial development, food safety, and inclusive market access. Recognized for my thought leadership, I actively participate in high-level forums including Geneva Digital Health Day, Global Digital Health Forum, and CPHIA. I am passionate about leveraging data and digital systems to create integrated, sustainable solutions for public service delivery.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager, Service Delivery
VillageReach
04.2023 - Current
- Lead the strategic direction for service delivery across five African countries, identifying solutions that strengthen systems and improve equity in healthcare and rural development.
- Oversee design and implementation of digital platforms aligned with national regulatory and quality standards, supporting policy and compliance reforms.
- Manage cross-functional teams and regional engagements to build sustainable service delivery frameworks in partnership with Ministries, donors, and technical partners.
- Provide guidance on regulatory alignment, institutional strengthening, and regional scaling approaches for AI-driven call centres, digital feedback loops, and telehealth models.
- Coordinate stakeholder workshops and donor reporting across multiple countries, ensuring results-based management, evidence generation, and capacity building.
- Lead public-private partnerships that improve last-mile service delivery and enhance MSME participation in digital and health service ecosystems.
Tech Associate
The Tony Blair Institute
Lusaka
01.2023 - 03.2023
- Spearheaded national digital transformation strategy design for Zambia across health, mining, and governance sectors.
- Developed project pipelines for digital infrastructure and convened key ministries to adopt and integrate scalable digital tools.
- Provided strategic support on innovation vetting and digital public infrastructure rollout for the Ministry of Health.
Project Manager, East & Southern Africa
Viamo Inc
Kampala
01.2022 - 12.2022
- Managed over 15 digital development projects across 7 countries with clients including USAID, GIZ, and Johns Hopkins.
- Oversaw project lifecycles including budgeting, compliance, donor reporting, and content localization in multiple languages.
- Led stakeholder coordination and cross-border implementation of mobile health, agriculture extension, and social behaviour change programs.
Digital Technology & Communications Advisor (USAID SUN TA)
Viamo Inc
Lusaka
10.2020 - 10.2021
- Directed digital integration for USAID's multi-sector nutrition program, working with over 13 districts on digital SBC interventions.
- Developed mobile-first M&E strategies and citizen feedback tools to improve nutrition, hygiene, and agricultural practices.
- Trained government staff and CSO partners in digital engagement, systems thinking, and content optimization.
Monitoring and Evaluation Lead / Programs Manager
Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition (CSO-SUN)
Lusaka
10.2018 - 10.2020
- Led rural development and food systems programs that strengthened smallholder farmer inclusion in nutrition-sensitive value chains.
- Directed a poultry initiative (Village Chicken Model) supporting vulnerable women in Eastern and Western Zambia to engage in agro-enterprise.
- Worked with Ministries of Agriculture, Health, and Livestock to improve food security outcomes, focusing on compliance, standards, and market access.
- Organized multistakeholder advocacy efforts and presented policy recommendations on SPS-related challenges to Parliament.
- Partnered with UNOPS, Hivos, and national agencies to design and monitor compliance frameworks for nutrition, food safety, and agricultural subsidies.
- Delivered mass campaigns and stakeholder workshops that increased awareness and policy uptake for food systems reform.
- Developed MEAL systems, tracked program KPIs, and produced learning reports shared with donors and sector leaders.
Programs M&E Officer / Global Health Corps Fellow
Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia
Lusaka
06.2017 - 08.2018
- Digitized national health records and led the training of 20+ district M&E staff.
- Designed new data collection tools and supported performance reporting for USAID-funded projects.
- Supervised a national reproductive health commodities study in collaboration with UNFPA.
Regional M&E Officer
Society for Family Health (PSI)
Ndola
08.2015 - 06.2017
- Managed data for US DoD-funded voluntary medical male circumcision programs.
- Led facility-based M&E across the Copperbelt for HIV prevention initiatives.
Education
MSc. - Digital Transformation
University of Hull
UK09.2025
B.A. - Development Studies
University of Zambia
Zambia01.2014
Skills
- Regional Programme Management (SADC, ECOWAS)
- Regulatory Systems Strengthening (Health, Agriculture)
- Policy Advocacy & Capacity Building
- SME
- Government Relations & Public-Private Dialogue
- Digital Platforms for Public Service Delivery
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Results-Based Reporting
- Stakeholder Engagement
References
- Edwin, Mulwa, edwin.mulwa@villagereach.org, +254 711 107 479, VillageReach
- Sheila, Valema, sheila.valema@gmail.com, +260 779 072 863, Tony Blair Institute
- Mubanga, Chilufya, mubanga.chilufya@viamo.io, +260 966 993 399, Viamo Inc
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Manager, Service Delivery
VillageReach
04.2023 - Current
Tech Associate
The Tony Blair Institute
01.2023 - 03.2023
Project Manager, East & Southern Africa
Viamo Inc
01.2022 - 12.2022
Digital Technology & Communications Advisor (USAID SUN TA)
Viamo Inc
10.2020 - 10.2021
Monitoring and Evaluation Lead / Programs Manager
Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition (CSO-SUN)
10.2018 - 10.2020
Programs M&E Officer / Global Health Corps Fellow
Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia
06.2017 - 08.2018
Regional M&E Officer
Society for Family Health (PSI)
08.2015 - 06.2017
MSc. - Digital Transformation
University of Hull
B.A. - Development Studies
University of Zambia