Laura Ede

Provide strategic and operational leadership across WSCIJ’s programme portfolio, organisational systems, and team management functions. Support the Executive Director in strengthening programme delivery, internal operations, partnerships, and institutional sustainability. My role spans programme leadership, donor engagement, operations management, and internal coordination across teams.

Programme Strategy and Delivery

• Lead the design and execution of programmes across investigative journalism, governance advocacy, media development, democracy and civic space, and gender equity.
• Oversee programme planning, implementation, reporting, and learning.
• Guide programme storytelling, thought leadership, and advocacy messaging.
• Ensure alignment between organisational strategy and programme priorities.

Fundraising and Partnerships

• Support grant development, donor engagement, and relationship management.
• Engage funders, policymakers, media leaders, and civil society partners to expand WSCIJ’s reach and influence.
• Contribute to sustainability planning and long-term programme positioning.

Operations and Organisational Management

• Support day-to-day operations and coordination across programmes, communications, research, and finance.
• Strengthen internal systems for planning, documentation, and reporting.
• Contribute to compliance, administrative processes, and institutional structures.
• Support budgeting, activity tracking, and operational oversight.

People and Team Leadership

• Supervise and mentor programme managers, officers, and support staff.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and team performance management.
• Foster a collaborative and accountable team culture.

• Lead and communicate the charity’s vision, mission, and values to foster a unified organizational culture and clear direction.
• Implement and drive strategic priorities set by the Board of Trustees, while developing new initiatives and long-term plans to enhance the charity’s future impact.
• Represent the charity at local, regional, and national forums to advance its goals and visibility in the out-of-school children’s sector.
• Build strong, lasting relationships with key stakeholders in Nigeria and internationally to ensure the charity’s priorities are achieved and its community-focused mission is upheld.
• Ensure efficient and effective service delivery through best practices and robust systems for tracking outcomes and impact across all programs.
• Oversee all operational areas, including program management, finance, HR, IT, and communications, to maintain a cohesive and accountable leadership structure.
• Cultivate a culture of learning and development, empowering staff and volunteers to achieve professional and personal growth while delivering high-quality services.
• Establish new partnerships and secure funding from charities, NGOs, individual donors, and corporate sponsors to support program delivery.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with existing donors, sponsors, and collaborators to ensure ongoing support and resources for programs.
• Collaborate with partners to expand support services based on research and identified needs, improving accessibility and reach for beneficiaries.
• Shape advocacy strategies by leveraging data from services, beneficiaries, parents, school leaders, and other stakeholders to influence policy change.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring high-quality, safe, and cost-effective service delivery with strong systems and processes.
• Proactively engage government stakeholders to address child illiteracy and promote policy changes supporting education access for all children.

• Oversee day-to-day operations and ensure program excellence, maintaining 100% compliance in program evaluation and consistent quality across all departments.
• Provide strategic leadership and make data-driven decisions to optimize resource allocation and achieve organizational goals.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture by actively engaging and empowering a diverse group.
• Strengthen board involvement and drive strategic direction by serving as an ex-officio member on each committee and successfully launching new programs.
• Develop and retain top talent by leading, coaching, and mentoring a high-performance management team, resulting in a 25% reduction in staff turnover.
• Improve stakeholder communication and increase transparency by implementing robust systems to track scaling progress and regularly evaluate program components.
• Key Achievements:
• Enhanced program efficiency by 20% through rigorous evaluation and quality assurance.
• Achieved 95% of organizational goals within projected timelines.
• Improved team collaboration and project outcomes by 30% through effective leadership and team building.
• Increased board engagement and strategic involvement by 15% through active participation and guidance.
• Developed a high-performing management team with 25% lower turnover and 40% higher productivity.
• Enhanced ADPF's brand through improved communications and increased online engagement.
• Increased program visibility and sponsorship through strategic initiatives and relationship building.

• Working closely with the Foundation Chairman and other foundation and corporate leadership to set an effective philanthropic agenda, identify funding priorities and build related cases for support.
• Overseeing the overall management of the Foundation and ensuring smooth delivery of services to beneficiaries and partners.
• Managing the Foundation’s finances including budgets, expenditures and reconciliation.
• Managing and monitoring awarded grants to ensure all activities meet the Foundation’s and funders’ standards.
• Designing programs from conceptualization to implementation that are impactful to target beneficiaries.
• Structuring compliance to grant policies and procedures.
• Developing operation plans to implement activities that will result in the development of new funds and new donors.
• Creating the framework for successfully retaining existing partners and attracting new partners.
• Developing innovative support formats with team members in Nigeria and abroad.
• Providing strategic leadership and managing the resources of the team.

• Ishk Tolaram Foundation provides access to education, healthcare, and skills training to underserved individuals in Indonesia, Nigeria, Singapore, and Estonia. As Program and Grant Manager, I developed and implemented core programs, and evaluated and administered grants.
• Grant Management
• Maintained a robust grant pipeline that addressed critical issues in healthcare and employability, leading to the successful approval and disbursement of grant funding (including Covid response).
• Performed rigorous due diligence on all grant applications, ensuring compliance with ITF’s Grant Monitoring policy and due diligence processes, resulting in a 90% success rate for approved grants.
• Developed detailed proposals, including timelines, budgets, and sustainability plans, securing multi-year grants that contributed to long-term success for grantees.
• Coordinated grant approvals through the Board, effectively managing grant disbursements.
• Communicated regularly with grantees to set clear expectations and outcomes, ensuring 100% adherence to grant conditions and reporting requirements.
• Engaged in contract management and documentation with grantees, facilitating smooth agreements and minimizing risk.
• Monitored and evaluated grant disbursements in accordance with ITF’s M&E guidelines, ensuring that 100% of funded projects met or exceeded their intended outcomes.
• Program Management
• Supported the development & execution of strategic program initiatives, contributing to the foundation’s mission & improving the quality of life for all beneficiaries.
• Led campaigns to increase program visibility, resulting in a 50% rise in enrollment across targeted regions.
• Oversaw program monitoring & impact tracking, enhancing the effectiveness of all active programs by refining monitoring tools & supporting evaluation exercises.
• Managed relationships with key partners & stakeholders, expanding the foundation's network by 40% & enhancing collaboration on multi-stakeholder initiatives.

• Ishk Skills Hub is a core program focused on providing skill training to unemployed youth, impacting over 800 individuals at the time. I spearheaded the program from conceptualization to successful implementation.
• Developed grant-based opportunities ensuring full compliance with funder guidelines, and coordinating with internal teams to deliver detailed, timely reporting.
• Conducted research and needs assessments, leading to the design of programs that directly addressed the skill gaps of over 800 unemployed youth, resulting in a 80 % increase in employment or further training opportunities for participants.
• Built and maintained strategic relationships with over 15 partners and stakeholders, driving collaboration that expanded the program’s reach by 50% across regions.
• Oversaw program implementation, ensuring efficient on-the-ground execution that trained over 800 individuals, with a 95% program completion rate.
• Monitored and evaluated program outcomes demonstrating improvement in youth employability and reporting a 70% success rate in post-program employment placements.
• Conducted due diligence for grant applications, resulting in 70% of proposals being approved and successfully funded.
• Provided detailed impact reports to the board of directors, showcasing program success, financial transparency, and strategic growth potential, leading to 30% increased investment and program expansion.

• Coordinated all aspects of operations, including budgeting, utilization review, and continuous quality improvement.
• Analysed and strategized opportunities to create and enhance visibility for the project organization of tasks to meet delivery deadlines.
• Liaison with key stakeholders and partnership engagement.
• Conducted monitoring and evaluation to ascertain progress for beneficiaries and close gaps identified.
• Developed and implemented a strategic plan to increase the overall efficiency of the organization and dental clinic.

• Ensured data was reported according to the approved data flow and timelines and attended to other duties assigned.
• Ensured correct use of the data entry tools.
• Managed all State Aids and Spending Assessment (SASA) Data by collecting and compiling data from various organisations for analysis.

• Identified new market opportunities.
• Conducted surveys and analysed competitors.
• Offered insights about product potentials.
• Performed extensive market research.
• Determined brand perceptions and reputations.
• Evaluated market penetration.