Yakama Jones
Project Leader
Summary
Yakama is a rising systems thinker and practitioner who combines public and private sector experiences to pioneer high-impact interventions for improved human capital development outcomes. She is recognised for demonstrating a deep understanding of the catalytic impact of systems approaches to public service delivery on complex portfolios and for driving public financial management reforms in developing countries.
Education
- PhD, Economics & Finance, Birkbeck College, University of London
- Master of Research (MRes), International Business & Development, Birkbeck College, University of London
- Master of Science (MSc), Finance & Economics, Queen Mary University of London
- Postgraduate Diploma, Finance & Economics, University of Manchester
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Hons), Economics, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone
Delivery Experience
Yakama is currently serving as Project Leader for Sierra Leone and Rwanda, supporting their Ministries of Health in improving sexual and reproductive health for women and girls and supporting the Africa CDC in building delivery capacity across governments in Africa. The project focus is on creating sustainable delivery capacity within governments and enhancing decision-making processes by leveraging data and technology.
Other Experience
Yakama is known for her unyielding commitment to public service, regardless of obstacles. She was Sierra Leone’s Delivery Team Lead for the Former President’s Post Ebola Recovery Team, which dissolved after the transition to a new administration. This spurred Yakama’s shift from working as a consultant to formally joining the civil service. In her first 12 months, as the Director of Research and Delivery, she led the operationalisation of the newly established Research and Delivery Division of the Ministry of Finance. In this role, she led collaborative efforts to generate evidence for decision making in the economic management space. She also led the development of the current president’s flagship human capital development portfolio, coordinated Sierra Leone’s input into the ECOWAS Regional Human Development Strategy, and coordinated the implementation of the country’s COVID-19 Quick Action Economic Response Programme. Yakama served as the country’s Focal Person for the World Bank’s Human Capital Project.
Media & Reports
Books & Publications