Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
References
Affiliations
Training
Timeline
Generic

Elikplim Evelyn Abla Dzrekey

Accra

Summary

Highly accomplished and results-driven professional with over 15 years of progressive experience in project leadership, strategic planning, and cross-functional team management within diverse sectors including international development, marketing, and sales. Proven ability to design, implement, and oversee complex projects, delivering impactful outcomes in challenging global environments. Adept at fostering inclusive practices, driving communication strategies, and building capacities to achieve organizational objectives. Seeking to leverage extensive expertise in project direction and stakeholder engagement to lead impactful initiatives.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

GESI and Safeguarding Advisor

ACTIVATE Project
03.2024 - Current
  • Strategically champion the inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, refugees, and displaced individuals across all project interventions, enhancing their well-being through inclusive economic opportunities within the agricultural TVET ecosystem.
  • Lead the development and rollout of comprehensive GESI strategies, tools, and resources, ensuring transformative approaches are integrated into program delivery.
  • Coordinate and conduct GESI analysis to identify and address access barriers for vulnerable populations.
  • Strengthen GESI capacity of project staff and partners through targeted training and on-the-job support.
  • Develop and implement the project's safeguarding strategy, serving as the Ghana focal point for safeguarding advice and support to the Senior Management Team and system actors.
  • Oversee safeguarding compliance, conduct assessments, maintain a safeguarding risk register, and manage incident reports.
  • Lead and manage the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), ensuring youth aspirations are met and promoting youth voices within the project.

GEYSI, Marketing and Communications Consultant

Freelance
04.2021 - 01.2024
  • Provided expertise in Gender, Youth, Social Inclusion (GYSI) and Communications consultancy services.
  • Developed communication materials and provided ancillary support for various development projects, including agro-forestry initiatives.
  • Collaborated on GESI training for ATVET institutions, focusing on inclusive education and pedagogy.

Gender, Youth and Communications – Farmers’ Economic Advancement Through Seedlings (FEATS) Project

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
01.2018 - 04.2021
  • Spearheaded the mainstreaming of gender equality for tree crop farmers through face-to-face and mobile voice message trainings, leading to economic empowerment and leadership for women.
  • Designed and implemented youth economic empowerment programs, assisting youth in forming farm services associations.
  • Developed and executed a comprehensive communication strategy, utilizing local radio stations and illiteracy-friendly approaches (talking book devices, infographics) to inform and engage target audiences.
  • Facilitated the development and broadcasting of radio dramas, leading to a significant increase in seedling off-take.
  • Managed stakeholder and steering committee meetings, utilizing baseline, midline, and end-line data for project planning and measurement.
  • Developed media content, including press releases for events, ensuring effective public and external stakeholder engagement through contemporary and digital media.

Crosscutting Specialist: Gender, Youth, Environment and Communication – Farmers’ Economic Advancement Through Seedlings (FEATS) Project

Mennonite Economic Development Associates
01.2016 - 12.2017
  • Custodied the project’s GESI strategy implementation, ensuring gender and social inclusion across all project activities and partners.
  • Led planning and implementation of activities to overcome barriers to women’s participation in tree crop value chains (cocoa, cashew, rubber, shea).
  • Designed and implemented sub-activities to foster understanding of gender, environment, and youth across all project teams.
  • Coordinated the design and implementation of an effective communications strategy, including specific messages and press kits, ensuring compliance with Global Affairs Canada (GACs) standards.

Cross-cutting Gender, Youth and Environment Specialist-High Performance Tree Seedlings Project (HPTS)

Mennonite Economic Development Associates-Contract
08.2015 - 12.2015
  • Participated in stakeholder meetings to determine gender, youth, and environment needs, informing the development of project strategies.
  • Identified key bottlenecks in the tree crops sector and recommended interventions.
  • Researched alternative livelihood opportunities and suggested key project interventions.
  • Organized and participated in focus group discussions with farmer cooperatives.

Zonal Field Manager – eEnhanced Social Marketing Initiative (ESMI)

Mennonite Economic Development Associate
07.2014 - 06.2015
  • Managed program implementation in three key regions, serving as the public face of the ESMI project.
  • Drove and acted as a liaison for product implementing public and private partnerships.
  • Developed private sector partnerships for LLIN distribution and supported the scale-up of the eVoucher channel.
  • Ensured efficient and timely project functioning at the field level, including fraud prevention and monitoring.

Sales & Marketing Category Manager

Kwastons Ghana Limited
08.2013 - 06.2014
  • Developed and implemented sales strategies for detergent, toiletry, and pet food categories, achieving 85% of sales strategy for HoReCa channel (vs. previous 60%).
  • Managed retail store marketing, including bulk set-up, flyers, and branding.
  • Monitored and evaluated category strategy in line with organizational objectives.

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Herbalife, Ghana
05.2011 - 01.2013
  • Led the successful launch of nine international product lines, shortening projected stock cover period by 45% and increasing revenue by 27%.
  • Developed and disseminated effective communication tools and marketing information to Distributors and employees.
  • Organized and promoted national and international corporate events.
  • Designed and implemented a successful "Come Back" promotional campaign, recovering 10% of lagging distributors.

Brands Manager

Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd.
11.2008 - 08.2010
  • Achieved agreed Brand Health and Profitability targets, providing input into World Class GAME Plan development.
  • Managed Gulder budget, activating a six-month strategic communication campaign that increased brand volume by 22% in three months.
  • Ensured excellence in project management (time, cost, quality) for brand activities.

Key Account Manager

Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd.
04.2007 - 11.2008
  • Managed a team of eight Key Account Developers and one merchandiser across key regions.
  • Implemented and executed sales and marketing initiatives in Key Account outlets.
  • Developed the formal off-trade business as a new channel, leading to GUINNESS GHANA BREWERIES being awarded No. 1 beverage company Off-trade during tenure.

Trade Marketing Representative

BAT GHANA
01.2006 - 12.2006
  • Grew Pall Mall's three-month volume by over 33% after launch, addressing lagging performance.

Promotional Assistant

Accra Brewery Company Ltd.
08.2002 - 12.2005
  • Organized and implemented brand promotions, trained promoters, and recruited retailers.

Interviewer / Supervisor

Research International
09.2000 - 12.2004
  • Gathered raw data, conducted interviews, and contributed to scriptwriting, data collation, and report writing.

Education

BSc. - Business Administration

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
09.2017

MCIM Chartered Marketer - undefined

CIM-UK
01.2011

Professional Post Graduate Diploma/ Professional Diploma - undefined

CIM-UK | GIMPA, CIMG Executive School of Marketing
01.2010

Professional Diploma Chartered Institute of Marketing - undefined

CIM-UK | Zenith College
06.2007

Professional Certificate Chartered Institute of Marketing - undefined

CIM-UK | Academy of Business Administration
06.2003

Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination - undefined

Aggrey Memorial Zion Secondary School
12.1999

Skills

  • Project Management & Leadership: End-to-end project lifecycle management, strategic planning, implementation oversight, risk management, budget administration, cross-functional team leadership, project coordination, M&E integration
  • Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI): GESI strategy development & rollout, mainstreaming inclusive practices (women, youth, persons with disabilities, refugees, displaced persons), capacity building, GESI analysis, advocacy, transformative approaches
  • Safeguarding & Compliance: Safeguarding strategy development & implementation, focal point expertise, compliance oversight, risk register management, incident reporting & management, policy review
  • Communications & Stakeholder Engagement: Strategic communication planning, content development (blogs, reports, campaigns), media relations, public speaking, stakeholder liaison, partnership development, advocacy messaging
  • Team Leadership & Development: Coaching & mentoring, talent development, performance management, fostering collaborative environments, leading from behind, building high-performing teams
  • Strategic Planning & Analysis: Needs assessment, market research, data-driven decision making, identifying intervention areas, impact evaluation, proposal and report writing

Certification

  • Certificate in Safeguarding (Children and Vulnerable Adults) | Alison International (Laws & Policies, Incident Management, Types of Abuse, Vulnerability & Harm)
  • Gender Mainstreaming in Development Programming | MDF Africa Training and Consultancy (October 2016)
  • Effective Communication | Nyansa Africa
  • Marketing Excellence Series (MXS introduction and level 1) | British American Tobacco
  • Finance for Non-Finance Managers Training & Managing Self and Managing the Manager Training | KPMG
  • Diageo Ways of Selling (DWS), Diageo Ways of Brand Building (DWBB), QDVPPP Diageo Steps in Selling, Brand Public Relations, Training of Trainers | Diageo
  • Microsoft Office 365 and Refresher on MS Office Suite | eSolutions
  • Graphic and Infographic Design on PowerPoint | IPMC and online via LinkedIn

References

Available upon request

Affiliations

Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM-UK)

Training

  • MA Mass Communications | Liverpool John Moores University (Currently on final module)
  • Diploma in Safeguarding | Alison International

Timeline

GESI and Safeguarding Advisor

ACTIVATE Project
03.2024 - Current

GEYSI, Marketing and Communications Consultant

Freelance
04.2021 - 01.2024

Gender, Youth and Communications – Farmers’ Economic Advancement Through Seedlings (FEATS) Project

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
01.2018 - 04.2021

Crosscutting Specialist: Gender, Youth, Environment and Communication – Farmers’ Economic Advancement Through Seedlings (FEATS) Project

Mennonite Economic Development Associates
01.2016 - 12.2017

Cross-cutting Gender, Youth and Environment Specialist-High Performance Tree Seedlings Project (HPTS)

Mennonite Economic Development Associates-Contract
08.2015 - 12.2015

Zonal Field Manager – eEnhanced Social Marketing Initiative (ESMI)

Mennonite Economic Development Associate
07.2014 - 06.2015

Sales & Marketing Category Manager

Kwastons Ghana Limited
08.2013 - 06.2014

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Herbalife, Ghana
05.2011 - 01.2013

Brands Manager

Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd.
11.2008 - 08.2010

Key Account Manager

Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd.
04.2007 - 11.2008

Trade Marketing Representative

BAT GHANA
01.2006 - 12.2006

Promotional Assistant

Accra Brewery Company Ltd.
08.2002 - 12.2005

Interviewer / Supervisor

Research International
09.2000 - 12.2004

MCIM Chartered Marketer - undefined

CIM-UK

Professional Post Graduate Diploma/ Professional Diploma - undefined

CIM-UK | GIMPA, CIMG Executive School of Marketing

Professional Diploma Chartered Institute of Marketing - undefined

CIM-UK | Zenith College

Professional Certificate Chartered Institute of Marketing - undefined

CIM-UK | Academy of Business Administration

Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination - undefined

Aggrey Memorial Zion Secondary School

BSc. - Business Administration

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

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Elikplim Evelyn Abla Dzrekey