Richmond Atta-Williams
Accra
Summary
Education leader with 10+ years’ experience in policy reform, program design, and large-scale implementation across Africa. Expertise in secondary education access, teacher professionalisation, and digital learning. Skilled in forging partnerships and delivering scalable, inclusive solutions with measurable impact.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Capacity Building and Digital Integration (DARE Project)
UNESCO
Accra
04.2025 - Current
- Ensure digital integration and quality implementation of planned DARE capacity building activities by;
- Supporting with the designing and implementation of capacity building activities of the program implementing partners.
- Facilitating digital integration into the content and delivery of capacity building programs, particularly for young mothers.
- Leveraging the opportunities presented by revitalised Community Information Centres (CICs) to enable young mothers in selected districts access information and educational resources.
- Jointly plan, coordinate, and organise meetings and trainings workshops with the Program Officer and Implementing Partners (IPs) to address specific capacity gaps identified in the project.
- Providing high quality technical advice, coaching and guidance to the program implementing partners (IPs).
- Supporting the IPs and service providers/consultants with quality assurance of their training modules and delivery.
- Maintaining regular interaction with the implementing partners, national counterparts and key stakeholders, and using their feedback to recommend quality improvement in the program implementation.
- Ensuring equitable inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups (including PWDs), in all capacity building programs.
- Ensure the monitoring, evaluation and learning of implementation of capacity building activities by:
- Contributing to monitoring and evaluation of program progress as far as capacity building and digital integration is concerned.
- Conducting periodic review of the training modules and capacity building delivery with DARE consortium members and IPs.
- Ensure timely reporting on program implementation (activities, results, challenges, lessons learnt) by:
- Submitting progress reports timeously for consolidating with other consortium members for onward submission to Mastercard Foundation.
- Submitting briefs on the capacity building for young mothers for inclusion in UNESCO updates at Education Sector DP Meetings, UN Country Team Meetings, and other relevant national level platforms.
- Together with the Program Officer and Communication/Public Relations Officer, ensure communication and visibility of the program by:
- Writing news stories, technical briefs and status updates on capacity building and digital integration component of the program for dissemination with wider audience including inputs for the quarterly UN in Ghana newsletter.
- Developing news items, messages on the DARE program’s activities, events and results etc for dissemination via UNESCO Accra’s social media handles.
- Organizing communication events (seminars, field trips and workshops) for key stakeholders including Mastercard Foundation and the media.
- Production of branded communication materials including factsheets, note pads, conference folders, etc.
Associate National Project Officer
UNESCO
Accra
11.2021 - 10.2024
- Responsible for piloting the Huawei Funds-in-Trust Technology Enabled Open School Systems (TEOSS) project to support blended and distance learning in public basic schools, focusing on vulnerable groups for inclusive, crisis-resilient education.
- Conducted a comprehensive mapping of ICT infrastructural deficits across 216 districts in Ghana, identifying critical needs for educational technology integration.
- Performed an organizational capacity assessment of CENDLOS, leading to enhanced coordination of their ICT integration in the education system and capacity-building of CENDLOS staff in cybersecurity and data management.
- Assessed and improved government learning management platforms (iBox and iCampus) to enhance offline and online learning capabilities for learners across the country.
- Organized a national consultative workshop on content development, resulting in new content for the Learning Passport platform and establishing access points for online and offline learning in pilot schools.
- Equipped 300 teachers with essential digital skills, ICT pedagogy, and e-content development training, and provided special digital skills training for inclusive education.
- Conducted digital skills training for 3,000 learners, enabling remote access to e-learning resources, and procured and deployed ICT equipment in pilot schools, improving overall learning outcomes.
- Designed and contextualised the Technology-enabled Open School System, including key building blocks such as delivery and accessibility technology, digital or distance learning content, and preparedness of teachers and other facilitators.
- Piloted and scaled up the TEOSS model, enhancing central platforms, connecting schools, deploying applications, and supporting the pedagogical use of technology for blended and distance learning.
- Assisted in contextualising the BEAR III project for Ghana to enhance the national TVET systems, with a focus on three primary areas: aligning TVET with economic and labour market needs, improving the quality of TVET programs and institutions, and enhancing the perception of TVET among youth, businesses, and society as a whole.
Technical Advisor (eSkills4Girls project)
GERMAN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
Accra
09.2020 - 11.2021
- Completed research and consolidated open-source materials to align with unit specifications, working closely with proofreaders and assessment experts to finalise content and create comprehensive assessment guides.
- Contributed to the development of occupational standards for ICT specialisation in Networking, including generating statements of standards, support notes, and performance criteria that demonstrate achievement and meet learning outcomes.
- Revised workshop outcomes in accordance with quality assurance requirements, ensuring all materials and training implementation met the standards outlined in the COTVET manual for competency-based training (CBT) curriculum development.
- Worked with assessment specialists to identify and assign realistic assessment criteria and credit values for each unit, ensuring the levels, quality, and scope of performance required by learners were clearly defined and achievable.
- Performed a comprehensive evaluation of the Government’s 12-year-old Girls in ICT initiative, assessing its relevance, tracking key performance indicators, and providing recommendations for improvement.
- This initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Communication and Digitisation with ITU and KACE as implementing partners, also involves the Ghana Education Service (GES).
- Delivered digital skills training focused on promoting financial inclusion for women in the non-formal sector across three districts, reaching a total of 150 participants.
National ICT Coordinator
GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE (GES)
Accra
07.2007 - 03.2019
- Established the GES Information Technology Unit, integrating technology across academic and administrative operations.
- Organized and led ICT integration training for 1,200 teachers nationwide, enhancing educational delivery.
- Initiated online management services for postings, transfers, and promotions, improving administrative efficiency.
- Implemented internet access connectivity for 400 Senior High Schools under the Data Management and Communication Strengthening (DMCS) project, expanding educational resources accessibility.
- Established an Education Network linking GES Headquarters to Regional and District Offices, benefiting 40 districts.
- Developed the inaugural GES website under the DMCS project, enhancing public access to educational information.
- Implemented the Solar Power Internet School (SPIS) pilot project in collaboration with KERIS and Samsung, improving access to digital resources in rural and underserved schools.
- Piloted a Geographic Information System (GIS) in Eastern Ghana to enhance school management for the Ministry and GES.
- Collaborated with Ghana Health Service and USAID on an Ebola awareness programme for schools nationwide.
- Provided comprehensive IT training for school-based ICT coordinators, focusing on Microsoft Applications and infrastructure.
- Led the signing of Partnership in Learning (PIL) agreement with Microsoft Worldwide on behalf of the Ministry and GES, fostering educational technology partnerships.
- Contributed to occupational standards and networking initiatives with GIZ support for COVET.
- Managed the education component of the e-Ghana Infrastructure project through NITA and World Bank funding.
- Formulated and implemented initiatives under the World Bank-funded Secondary Education Improvement Project (SEIP), including school mapping and profile activities.
- Led the e-Education component of the e-Transform project, enhancing digital learning environments.
- Designed and implemented the nationwide Cockcrow project with USAID funding, now integrated into the BECE exams, promoting literacy and education access.
- Advised Ghana First Company on strategic investments for waste management project partnerships.
Education
MSc. - Management Information Systems (MIS)
Coventry University
UK01.2020
BSc. - Computer Science
Regent University College of Science and Technology
01.2013
Skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Leadership skills
- Communication skills
- Organisational skills
- Project management
- Adaptability
- Innovation
- Strategic leadership
- Human relations
- Teamwork
- Independence
- Information communication technology (ICT) in education
- Government to government (G2G)
References
Available on request.
Training And Conferences
- Participated in an educational tour in South Africa, 2012
- Vodafone African Business Leadership Forum, 2013
- U.S. Department of Bureau of Education and Cultural Affair- International Visitor Leadership Program on Science and Technology Education in the USA, 2014
- Seminar on Modern Distance Education for English Speaking African Countries, People’s Republic of China, 2015
- Master training for Solar Power Internet School (SPIS), Seoul, Republic of South Korea, 2016
- Seminar for English Speaking African Countries, 'Promoting ICT Planning & Construction Capacity for African English-Speaking Countries with Huawei,' People’s Republic of China, 2017
- OPORTO AFRICAN FORUM- PORTUGAL 'National ICT in Education policies and strategies to achieve sustainable development goals and implement the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA): Leadership and partnership in designing and implementing national initiatives', 2017
- 11th Global Symposium on ICT in Education on the topic: 'Digital Citizenship in the ERA of the Fourth Industrial Revolution', Seoul, Republic of South Korea, 2017
- 12th Global Symposium on Teaching in the 21st Century: 'Enhancing Teacher ICT Competencies', Seoul, Republic of South Korea, 2018
- School Mapping backend training with Tiger Party, New York, USA, 03, 2018
- Conference on Scholastic Technology Integration (ABEL), California, USA, 12, 2018
- Inaugural Digital Learning Week, Steering Technology for Education, 09/04/23, 09/07/23, UNESCO, Paris, France
- Digital Learning Week, 09/02/24, 09/05/24, UNESCO, Paris, France
Timeline
Capacity Building and Digital Integration (DARE Project)
UNESCO
04.2025 - Current
Associate National Project Officer
UNESCO
11.2021 - 10.2024
Technical Advisor (eSkills4Girls project)
GERMAN DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
09.2020 - 11.2021
National ICT Coordinator
GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE (GES)
07.2007 - 03.2019
MSc. - Management Information Systems (MIS)
Coventry University
BSc. - Computer Science
Regent University College of Science and Technology