SANDRA PENZI
Lusaka
Summary
A Certified Project Management Institute (PMI) member Experienced and skilled programs/projects professional with top-notch hands-on experience in research, capacity building, business analytics, Organization management and demonstrated abilities with project management processes, tools and methodologies. highly organized, methodical and skilled at management and leveraging businesses and organizations to build their capacity and reach their full potential. Well-versed in team building, operational support, partnerships, financial planning and management, MEAL, strategy and business development and overall management processes considering the aspects of cost, quality and time.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Capacity Building Trainer
Asikana Network
Lusaka, Zambia
02.2023 - Current
- I Support the Organization on a capacity building project with Financial Sector Deepening Zambia (FSDZ)
- Plan and lead training programs in business development on Financial planning & management to enhance Innovator's knowledge, engagement, satisfaction and performance
- Conducted evaluations of training courses to uncover areas in need of improvement
- Created testing and evaluation procedures to assess performance before, during and after training sessions
- Oversaw training courses and promotional paths for professionals and leaders in business
- Designed training implementing strategies on business modelling, revenue & cost structure, value propositions and ROI training concepts
- Develop tools for evaluation survey to determine areas for growth.
Volunteer Project Officer
UN-Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Youth
Lusaka, Remote
09.2021 - Current
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Remote, I support the organization globally in the Investment Readiness Program under Youth Solutions Department
- Managed 110 innovators (business/solution ventures) and 110 mentors
- Design the application and selection criteria for innovators and mentors in the IRP
- Develop project documents such as Concept notes, Tracking sheets, Project charter, progress reports, monitoring and evaluation guides.
- Manage multiple engagements simultaneously, balance needs of IRP Innovators & Mentors while ensuring successful and timely project completion
- Provide feedback to help innovators design a viable business pitch to enable them secure financial aid in the pitch competition at the end of the program.
- Collaborated with program and senior teams to develop critical qualitative and quantitative data collection methodologies.
- Developed project metrics to follow system build-out progress.
Consultant – Projects Manager
The Dream Factory
Lusaka, Zambia
02.2021 - 01.2024
- Developed Projects from conceptualization and established detailed roadmaps for implementation
- Conducted stakeholder mapping to determine project requirements and objectives
- Secured partnerships and resources for projects
- Developed documents like the project scope, charter, concept notes, proposals etc
- Developed budget estimates, progress reports and cost tracking reports
- Established indicators to guide the monitoring and evaluation processes
- Developed and updated project plans to document objectives, technologies, schedules and funding.
- Supervised data collection, data quality, analysis, evaluation and dissemination for research projects.
- Evaluated program service delivery operations, goals and impact on portfolios with surveys and assessments.
Programmes Officer/Associates Technical Advisor
Skillshare Governance Support Foundation
Lusaka, Zambia
11.2017 - 01.2021
- The organization is a network of Organizations and seeks to build capacity of Civil Society Organizations in Zambia
- I supported the Organization in various capacities including:
- Supported senior management since 2017 in implementing organizational flagship programs and anchored the onboarding of new staff and interns
- Developed and maintained relationships with over 100 affiliated organizations
- Coordinated over 50 events including training workshops, networking events, awards events and exhibition events since 2017 to 2020, generating yield organizational goal achievement
- Fostered new partnerships leading to organizational growth
- Performed administrative duties relating to finance, procurement etc
- Strengthened operational efficiencies and traceability by developing organizational deployment material filing systems for confidential employee records and reports
- Supported the implementation of the Global Environmental Facility project under UNDP from 2019 to 2021 as project officer and liaison between the organization and UNDP
- Provided upto-date information to help in the monitoring and evaluation processes.
Education
Master of Business administration - Information Communications
University
12.2024
Bachelor of Science - Project Management
Cavendish University
09.2023
Diploma - Business Administration
Institute for Chartered Professionals
12.2021
Skills
- Research, Data collection and analysis
- Documentation and Reporting
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- IT/Tech skills
- Risk management
- Strategic planning
- Operational support
- Resource assessment/resource allocation
- Stakeholder management/relations
- Project management tools & methodologies
- Business analysis
Accomplishments
- Project lead – Zambia Civil Society Organizations Directory 2017-2020
- Events Coordinator – Zambia Civil Society Organizations awards 2018
- Events lead – Zambia Civil Society exhibition fair 2018-2019
- Project officer- UNDP-Gef project 2019-2021
- Coordinator-UN75 global peace intergenerational dialogue 2020
- Organizer- Social Entrepreneurship masterclass 2020-2021
- Organizer- Hult prize regional summit 2021
- Facilitator- global change makers school 2021
- Consultant- World NGO day commemoration in Zambia 2022
- Project officer - Investment readiness program 2022-2023
- Capacity building trainer – Asikana Network (network of women in Tech)
- Project Manager – Future of Zambia top 30 under 30
Languages
English
First Language
French
Upper Intermediate
B2
Additional Information
COMPUTER PROFICIENCY
- Microsoft office
- Social media
- Internet and emailing
- Graphics designing
- Search Engine Optimization
- Data visualization and analysis with SQL
- Spreadsheets and presentation
Certification
- Strategic development planning certificate – Skillshare Governance Support Foundation
- Project management for change makers certificate –Global Change Makers Organization
- Monitoring and evaluation certificate – Skillshare Governance Support Foundation.
- Risk management certificate – Humanitarian leadership academy
- Entrepreneurship certificate – Republic of Turkey
- Membership certificate – Project Management Institute
Timeline
Capacity Building Trainer
Asikana Network
02.2023 - Current
Volunteer Project Officer
UN-Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Youth
09.2021 - Current
Consultant – Projects Manager
The Dream Factory
02.2021 - 01.2024
Programmes Officer/Associates Technical Advisor
Skillshare Governance Support Foundation
11.2017 - 01.2021
Master of Business administration - Information Communications
University
Bachelor of Science - Project Management
Cavendish University
Diploma - Business Administration
Institute for Chartered Professionals
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