PERSONAL PROFILE: IRENE K. NYAMU (PhD) Education and Training Irene Nyamu has a PhD in Development Studies from the Institute for Social Development, University of the Western Cape (South Africa) and a master’s degree (MA) in MA in Development Studies with a Major in Social Policy for Development and sub-specialization on children & youth from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus Rotterdam University (Netherlands). In addition, she holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom) and a second master’s in education (M.Ed. Home Economics) from Kenyatta University (Kenya). Irene is a professional teacher and holds a Bachelor of Education (B. Ed. first-class Honors), Kenyatta University (Kenya). She has taught at high school and university levels and also at the community level as a trainer and facilitator. Executive Summary of skills and competencies____________________________________________________ Dr. Nyamu is a southern childhood studies scholar, a social policy analyst, and child protection expert. Her work focuses on children’s rights, welfare, and protection; social protection; young people's reproductive health rights; gender and inclusive education; disability politics; and transformative social policies in the Global South. Her most recent research explores decolonization of childhood studies, youth in climate action and comparative child welfare policies. She several journal articles, book chapters, policy briefs, conference papers and research reports. In her research work Dr. Nyamu applies critical social theories and perspectives including decoloniality, post-colonial theories, and political economy. She combines more than 25 years of development practice in the civil societies (CSO) space with empirical and policy research to bridge the divide between policy and practice. Dr. Nyamu’s key strengths are in academic teaching, research, policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation using participatory and mixed methods approaches in basic as well as policy research. Dr. Nyamu has held several senior leadership positions. For 8 years she was the Executive Director of Childline Kenya where the overall responsibilities were strategic leadership and oversight to the development of Childline Kenya (CLK) into a reputable national NGO with the capacity to coordinate prevention, response, research, and policy advocacy efforts on child protection. She was also responsible for creating global linkages with a network of child helplines and other child protection movements working towards a violence-free society for children and was able to bring Childline Kenya into the Child Helpline International (CHI) network where she was an active member of the board and various global advisory committees. As the African Representative on the Advisory Board Dr. Nyamu represented 15 African child helplines at the CHI global board. During my tenure, I supported peer exchanges, cross-learning, and mentorship to 8 start-up African helplines including Zambia, Uganda, Burundi, Ghana, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Concomitantly Dr. Nyamu had responsibility for fundraising, partnerships building with governmental, multilateral, private sector, and civil society organizations. She is therefore well versed with matters concerning grants management and donor liaison. Some of the donors Dr. Nyamu has worked with include UNICEF, OCHA, Rockefeller, NOKIA, Stars foundations, DFID and other private sector funders. Besides Childline Kenya Dr. Nyamu was also a Program Unit Manager at Plan International and has also led several research and consultancy assignments that have involved large and small teams equally. Having held senior leadership positions in various institutions where she has worked, Dr. Nyamu brings strategic leadership for high level research and policy advisory work, advocacy, negotiations, and coordination of multi-level and multi-partner research and development projects.