Abena Karikari
Accra
Summary
A passionate, adaptable and well-organized individual dedicated to collaborative, interdisciplinary research-based advocacy and policy-influencing. I have keen interest and expertise in contemporary issues related to gender, population, and health. With complementary knowledge and expertise in the fields of Sociology, Medical Anthropology, African Studies and Literature, I am well-equipped for research, teaching and leadership roles in these and related fields.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Languages
Work History
Research and Evaluation Officer
Poka Foundation
10.2023 - Current
- Developed and implemented strategic plans to meet organizational goals, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to address complex issues, leading to more efficient problem-solving processes.
- Increased employee satisfaction with constructive performance evaluations and targeted feedback.
- Boosted team morale through recognition programs, resulting in higher productivity levels.
- Drove innovation within the department by promoting creative thinking and supporting new initiatives.
Teaching Assistant
Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana
08.2016 - 06.2017
- Course Taught – UGRC 229 Culture and Development
- Provided tutorial assistance to students resulting in improved understanding of the course
- Collaborated with lecturers to develop assessments and evaluate student performance
- Assisted in the development of learning plans to facilitate the achievement of course objectives.
Documentation Consultant
Grameen Foundation (Ghana)
02.2016 - 06.2016
- Team Member on the Grameen Ghana No Yawa project to facilitate youth access to Sex and Reproductive Health (SRH) education and resources
- Team Lead in charge of conducting focus group discussions and in-depth interviews for the end-line Impact Assessment Survey of the No Yawa project
- Contributed to the No Yawa Lessons Learned document by collecting and analyzing relevant data.
Writer
Grameen Foundation (Ghana)
02.2015 - 12.2015
- Conceptualized and produced two episodes per week for the “No Regrets...The Journey” mobile series; an online story series that educated the youth on sex and reproductive health (SRH) issues (noregrets.mobi)
- Facilitated youth engagement to assess their SRH knowledge and practices
- Formulated strategies to improve the No Yawa project for educating youth on sex and reproductive health and related issues.
Teaching Assistant
Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana
10.2012 - 06.2015
- Course Taught – UGRC 234 Philosophy in African Cultures
- Provided assistance with teaching undergraduate and postgraduate classes
- Organized tutorial classes and designed assignments for undergraduate students which enhanced their understanding of topics taught
- Carried out Invigilation duties for Interim Assessment tests.
Conference Coordinator
International Conference on African Studies Secretariat, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana
10.2012 - 10.2013
- Main communications person for receipt and dissemination of all conference-related information
- Collected and organized abstracts and papers submitted for presentation at the conference
- Issued letters of invitation for participants’ visa applications
- Engaged in fundraising activities for the conference
- Liaison for all conference-related logistics i.e
- Hotel accommodation arrangements, flight booking for keynote speakers and booking of various venues and transportation for the conference
- Record keeping of all events leading up to and during the conference.
Research Assistant (National Service)
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana
10.2010 - 07.2011
- Conducted a literature review to identify the latest research in a field of study, allowing for more informed decision-making on the research project
- Collaborated with a research team to undertake fieldwork
- Carried out data management tasks to record and collate fieldwork data which facilitated the production of research findings documents.
Education
PhD African Studies -
08.2017 - 05.2021
- Enhancing Capacity and Postgraduate Education at the University of Ghana, 2017 from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
- Dissertation: A Social Media Ethnography of Emerging Cultures of Infertility in Ghana and Nigeria
- 3.61 GPA
MSc Anthropology of Health and Illness - undefined
09.2011 - 05.2012
Thesis: The Creation of A New Self from A Dying Body: A Study of Implications of HIV/AIDS Experience to Formulations of the Self in South Africa
BA (Hons) Sociology with English - undefined
08.2006 - 05.2010
Honors: Graduated with Second Class Upper Honors
Certificate in Advocacy and Citizen Engagement - undefined
05.2013 - 05.2013
Managing the PhD Process Module - undefined
01.2018 - 05.2018
Presentation Skills Module - undefined
01.2019 - 05.2019
Innovative Thinking in Research, Teaching and Learning Module -
Skills
Computer Skills
Microsoft Office
Creative Problem Solving
Good team player
Event Planning
Effective Team Leader
Capacity Building
Data collection techniques
Data Management
Qualitative Analysis
Survey Design
Ethical considerations
Documentation and Recordkeeping
Analytical Skills
Excellent Communication
Detail Oriented
Creative Thinking
Adaptability and Flexibility
References
References available upon request
Extracurricular Activities
Secretary, National Service Personnel Association of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NASPA-NMIMR 2010/2011), Accra, 10/2010, 07/2011, Recorded minutes for NASPA-NMIMR meetings and disseminated the finished document among members prior to subsequent meetings. This enabled me to hone my writing, documentation and time management skills, Collaborated with other Executives and members of NASPA-NMIMR to carry out a community health outreach project on Schistosomiasis, Engaged in fundraising schemes to finance the community health outreach project
Training
- 37th Africa Union Summit Side Event, Addis Ababa, 02/2024, 02/2024, Multi Stakeholder Consultative Forum on COP28 Reflections and Strategy for COP29
- African Regional Symposium on Loss and Damage, Lilongwe, 04/2023, 04/2023, Consolidating Evidence and African voices to advance a Pan African Loss and Damage Agenda at all levels
- Women and Girls’ Research and Evidence Roundtable, Accra, 03/2023, 03/2023, An event which brought together partners from government, academia, civil society to share and discuss the findings of research and evidence framed around three thematic priorities which underpin the UK’s Women and Girl’s Strategy: ‘Educating Girls’, ‘Empowering women and girls and championing their health and rights’, and ‘Ending gender-based violence’
- Virtual Study Abroad Program for The State University of New York at Buffalo, 09/2021, 09/2021, Travel to Ghana through Fiction; a presentation underpinned by the literary representations of Ghana's culture and history
- Edinburgh Catalyst Regional Workshop in West Africa, Cape Coast, 06/2021, 06/2021, “Watching the Stomach”: The Infertility Experience in the Age of Social Media in Ghana
- Canadian Association of African Studies Conference (CAAS), 06/2021, 06/2021, “Watching the Stomach”: The Infertility Experience in the Age of Social Media in Ghana
- Georgetown University Global Business Experience, 03/2021, 03/2021, Travel to Ghana through Fiction; a presentation that took students on a virtual tour through Ghana's culture and history utilizing representations in Ghanaian literature
- Sociologists for Women in Society, 08/2020, 08/2020, Watching the Stomach”: The Experience of Infertility in the Social Media Age
- Edinburgh Conference on African Studies (ECAS 2019), Edinburgh, 06/2019, 06/2019, Tracing the Trajectory of the Creation of a Black Women’s Sexuality
- Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 62), New York City, 03/2018, 03/2018, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Conference - Theme: Empowering Rural Women and Girls
Reading, Book Blogging
I have made it a habit to regularly read diverse sub-genres and themes in the general fiction category as well as creative non-fiction. Particularly, I enjoy reading fiction written by women of African descent and other underrepresented groups. My aim is to create awareness and promote literature written by women of diverse cultural backgrounds and in particular those from marginalized communities. Thus, I provide book reviews and recommendations which highlight such books and themes on my social media platforms on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Additionally, I am the Founder of 4 (four) book clubs focused on reading diversely. Through these book clubs we also contribute to book donation drives and other community outreach programmes.
Timeline
Research and Evaluation Officer - Poka Foundation
10.2023 - Current
Pan-African Doctoral Academy, University of Ghana - Presentation Skills Module,
01.2019 - 05.2019
Pan-African Doctoral Academy, University of Ghana - Managing the PhD Process Module,
01.2018 - 05.2018
University of Ghana - PhD African Studies,
08.2017 - 05.2021
Teaching Assistant - Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana
08.2016 - 06.2017
Documentation Consultant - Grameen Foundation (Ghana)
02.2016 - 06.2016
Writer - Grameen Foundation (Ghana)
02.2015 - 12.2015
Coady International Institute, St Francis Xavier University (Nova Scotia, Canada) - Certificate in Advocacy and Citizen Engagement,
05.2013 - 05.2013
Teaching Assistant - Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana
10.2012 - 06.2015
Conference Coordinator - International Conference on African Studies Secretariat, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana
10.2012 - 10.2013
University of Edinburgh - MSc Anthropology of Health and Illness,
09.2011 - 05.2012
Research Assistant (National Service) - Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana
10.2010 - 07.2011
University of Ghana - BA (Hons) Sociology with English,
08.2006 - 05.2010
Pan-African Doctoral Academy, University of Ghana - Innovative Thinking in Research, Teaching and Learning Module,