AWUOR AYIECHO
-/- ● Nairobi, Kenya ● -https://www.linkedin.com/in/awuorayiecho/
Dedicated Grant Writing and Operations professional with a history in project management, institutional governance & staff on-boarding and management. Educated, curious, undaunted and prefers to be hands-on.
EXPERIENCE
Grant Writing ConsultantMay 2021 - Present
Interest Curve Global (ICG)| Multi location team (Remote role)
Write grant proposals and research panels identifying potential granters for non-profit organizations.
Create budgets and log frames to support grant proposals.
Key Accomplishments:
Introduced a new project management platform to the Managing Partner for better project monitoring. Selected to work with the managing partner to make the transition to the new platform for all projects towards the end of the year.
Project Manager- Community Analyst ProjectAugust 2020 – August 2021
The Ramsay Group|Valencia, California (Remote role)
Key Accomplishments:
Executed CDBG training facilitation for 11 potential sub-recipients on behalf of the City of Palm Springs and reinforced communication and compliance for all sub- recipients of CDBG and CDBG -CV funds for FY 2020/21 and FY 2021/22 resulting in funding approvals for their programs.
Initiated the use of an Agile project management platform and remodeled the editing process, resulting in a 90% accuracy rate for the pilot project’s ConPlan and AAP first drafts.
FY 2021/22 for the City of Palm Springs and the City of Indio which were both approved by the two City Councils and approved for funding by HUD totaling approximately $1.4 Million for CDBG and $580,000 for CDBG-CV.
Consolidated the drafting process, delegating some functions to complete Conplans for- and- as well as the AAP FY 2020/21 for 3 Cities for City council approval and subsequent HUD approval totaling up to approximately - $3.2 million- CDBG, $1 million-HOME and $440,000-CDBG-CV in annual funds all approved by HUD.
Directed the work of short-term employees supervising the drafting parts of the ConPlans, AIs and AAPs editing and aligning preparation of documents for quality assurance.
Monitored the IDIS site, troubleshooting emerging issues and refining existing information including substantive amendments from FY 2019/20 to enable CDBG CV approvals, preparation of SF424s and document changes and corrections for multiple clients.
Accelerated lead generation through various methods including chartering enrollment into various platforms. This resulted in an approximate 12% increase in the rate invitations to apply for Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
Scrutinized relevant public policy and census data to ascertain relevance and to prioritize community needs to draft City Consolidated Plans (ConPlans) and Annual Action Plans (AAPs). This analysis was used to justify budget allocations for Annual action plans and 5-year strategic plans.
Government Associate- Community Analyst ProjectAugust 2019 – August 2020
The Ramsay Group|Valencia, California (Remote role)
Key Accomplishments:
Co-authored and monitored the drafting and editing process for multiple Conplans- and AAP FY 2020/21. All plans were subsequently approved by the relevant City councils and subsequently by HUD totaling up to approximately - $4.9 million- CDBG and $1.4 million-HOME in annual funds all approved by HUD
Trained and onboarded 3 new short-term employees offering guidance, support and delegating relevant tasks ensuring quality assurance and role effectiveness.
Manage correspondence with clients for team projects ensuring prompt and accurate responses for queries and troubleshooting.
Scrutinized relevant public policy and census data to ascertain relevance and to prioritize community needs to draft City Consolidated Plans (ConPlans) and Annual Action Plans (AAPs). This analysis was used to justify budget allocations for Annual action plans and 5-year strategic plans.
Monitored and updated the IDIS site, troubleshooting emerging issues, uploading new uploads, and refining existing information including substantive amendments from FY 2019/20 to enable CDBG CV approvals, preparation of SF424s and document changes and corrections for multiple clients.
Training Assistant- Mukuru Kwa Njenga Women’s Group May 2016
Personal Project of Trainer| Nairobi, Kenya (Project assistant)
The project was meant to offer training and support for a women’s group in Mukuru kwa Njenga to set up small businesses that would support their families.
Key Accomplishments:
Supported capacity building of 30 women in basic human rights leading to the formation of an economic self-help group.
Co-writing a grant proposal and budget raising KSH250, 000 to finance the group’s small business ventures to ensure financial independence
Projects Director February 2015– December 2018
SCOHRA Society|Nairobi, Kenya (Volunteer role)
This is an organization that works with young people towards achieving positive social change through human rights education where I was one of seven co-founders.
Key Accomplishments:
Steered fundraising efforts including preparation of the budget and concept notes resulting in USD4600 cash and in-kind support for the annual InterVarsity Human Rights Debate Championship national event in 2018.
Delegated and supervised volunteer personnel tasks including the planning team organizing successful national events in 2017 and 2018. Managed over 50 volunteers in total.
Conducted and supervised Capacity development through developing training materials and coordinating all training sessions for participants and adjudicators. This led to substantive discussions during the debate using argument papers for documentation.
Co-established 12 new High School Human Rights Clubs as part of our partnership with Amnesty Kenya which later formed part of their Human Rights Friendly schools project.
Organized the first Operational Planning meeting for 2016 for the organization
Enlisted the organization as one of various youth organizations worldwide to endorse a youth advocacy statement to lobby UN member states to protect the sexual and reproductive rights of young people, led by the Amnesty International Activism and Youth Unit and MBMR Campaign Team
Introduced the use of Action Papers in the 2015 Inter Varsity Human Rights Championship as a member of the planning team to encourage students to do more research on Refugee rights in Kenya. The debate resulted in more advocacy against closure of the Dadaab and Kakuma Refugee camps
Event Producer February 2016– March 2016
Forum For Figo Foundations (FFF)|Nairobi, Kenya (Contract role)
This was a project that raised money for children suffering from kidney disease
Key Accomplishments:
Co-authored the sponsorship package for the fundraising efforts towards the peritoneal dialysis project.
Conceptualized and organized the Fashion Auction and runway show during the Gala
Supervised the site preparations and service providers for the renal gala dinner
These and other fundraising efforts saw the team raise over $5000 (about KSH 500,000) towards the project. The event was also covered by the Star newspaper and some local bloggers.
Project Assistant- ‘Texting for life’ Project September 2011–June 2013
The Bloodlink Foundation|Nairobi, Kenya
The purpose of this project was to increase the blood donor database for the Bloodlink Foundation which works with the National Blood Transfusion Service.
Interviewed 20,000 people who were added to the frequent donor database that has been running for over 7 years with 500,000 registered donors countrywide.
EDUCATION
University of Nairobi | Bachelor of Arts Sociology and Political Science September 2010-December 2015
Activities and Societies: SCOHRA Society, Kenya Model UN, Amnesty International, Nairobi University Political Science Students Association
Amnesty IBYT: One of 6 youth Globally, selected to participate in a co- learning process for a deeper understanding of Amnesty’s Governance. Co-wrote an analysis of the then Amnesty International Global Goals ‘Taking injustice personally’ to the board that led to the revision of Goal 5 ahead of the 32nd Amnesty International Council Meeting (ICM)-2015
SCOHRA Society: Enlisted the organization as one of various youth organizations worldwide to endorse a youth advocacy statement to lobby UN member states to protect the sexual and reproductive rights of young people, led by the Amnesty International Activism and Youth Unit and MBMR Campaign Team-2015
Kenya Model UN: First Chief of staff in the bureau under the office of the Conference Director -2012. Ran the office of the conference director during a change in leadership. Supervised 4 members of the conference bureau throughout the year and coordinated 23 volunteers during the Annual Main Conference in early 2013.
SKILLS
Adobe Acrobat DC| Click up | Google Workspace(G-Suite) | Asana | Slack| Pumble | Mail Chimp | Dropbox| Otter.ai|Project Management| Non-profit Governance| Volunteer Management | Program Development| Facilitation and Capacity Development| Event Planning and Management | Policy Analysis |Human Rights Advocacy| Budget Management |Conference Planning and management|Proposal Writing| Fundraising| Strategic planning| Content Editing |Proofreading |Staff Onboarding|Public Policy Research| Data research | Administrative support | Business Development |Client Communication and support
