Harvard Alumni for Education Sub-Saharan Africa Chapter
21st Century Ethical Issues in International Education Policy & Programming
Presenter: Damita Kaloostein, PhDc
Damita is earning a PhD in Innovation in Global Development from Arizona State University. She holds a masters in criminal justice. Her research focuses on educational systems and quality of learning in low-income settings, including in West Africa. Her dissertation will also focus on gaps in digital learning platforms in the global South, including availability of ICT for university learning. As an American researcher, she strives to work collaboratively with West African colleagues, including professors from Liberia including Professor Daniel Gray. She is highly passionate about advocating for equity for those who are most affected by poverty and social injustice. Today, she shares her perspective of how Western researchers can consider more ethical and inclusive means of collaborating on research in the global South.
Presenter: Dr. Andiwo Thomas Obondoh
He is an Activist, practitioner; Andiwo Obondoh has over 25 years consistent experience in Governance, Grants Management, Advocacy for Policy Influence, Education, Programme Leadership, and(monitoring, evaluation & learning) across national, regional and international organizations in Africa. From Kenya, he currently works in various positions, including (i) Associate at the Center for Research and Innovations in East Africa (CRI-EA) leading evaluations and capacity building initiatives for USAID-KUZA, the Forum for African Women Educationalists, UNESCO, GIZ (pronounced G I Zet), among others; (ii) Technical Advisor for the Regional Education & Learning Initiative (RELI Africa) supporting over 60 implementing partners in designing projects, elaborating MEL frameworks, firming up advocacy strategies and facilitating policy engagements across Eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and DRC). He has worked all over the world, including as a lead education specialist for Childfund International which promotes child-friendly schooling using culturally-sensitive and sustainable programming.