Susie Ama Korakoma Arku

To utilize my knowledge, experience and expertise to engage and support vulnerable and marginalized groups in under-served communities.

My career has spanned over two decades; the first of which was in the formal sector working as a research assistant, coordinating various programs and projects, providing consultancy services for some reputable organisations. The second part of my career has been spent mostly in activities relating to community service through the founding of a local non-governmental organization (LNGO)-WIN. WIN -Women in Need afforded me the unique opportunity to apply the principles of my skill as a social worker in assisting women and girls in disadvantaged communities. It involved project proposal development, fundraising efforts, and provision of employment through recruitment of staff, financial management, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment among other project management strategies that afforded me the rare opportunity to appreciate life among various usually marginalized social groups not impacted by government social interventions. These years were also formative period of developing or acquiring skills such as training and consultancy services through the many workshops, seminars, stakeholder consultations etc. that come with community works and NGO management. WIN has undertaken projects sponsored by Ghana AIDS Commission and the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana among other collaborative ventures. Through all of the above career development efforts, I believe I have acquired an appreciable level of skills in, trainer of trainees, research, facilitation, reporting technically and financially. Through it all I have developed the tact of being a good team player in managing various persons of diverse backgrounds to achieve value for money outcomes.

• 2006, PAMOJA GHANA, Reflect Methodology
• 2003/2004, Family Health International, Research Ethics & Qualitative Research Methods
• 2003, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, Voluntary Counseling and Testing Of HIV, Peer Educator’s Supervisory Skills & Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health

• Research Assistant, Population Council, 11/01/11, 12/31/14, Responsible for moderation of FGDs, in-depth interviews and interviewer administered questionnaires on various projects/studies.
• Research Assistant, UNICEF/WATER AID, 10/01/14, 10/31/14, WASH Program (Upper East & Upper West region)
• Research Assistant, MARIE-STOPES International, 12/01/13, 12/31/13, Health Facilities Mapping Exercise (Ashanti region Kumasi)
• Counselor/Outreach officer, Virtual Access Ltd., 04/01/04, 03/31/06, Clinical trial on Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (HIV Prevention Drug)., Mobilized and recruited study participants, conducted pre and post HIV and Hepatitis B counseling and testing and Followed-up on study participants.
• Research Assistant, Formative Study of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, 09/01/03, 02/28/04, Observed, interviewed and conducted focus group discussions of HIV caregivers, People Living with HIV/AIDS and Commercial sex workers.

• Elsie Gaisie Ahiabu PhD, Executive Director, DeSMAS, eldesmas@yahoo.com, 0244571956
• Abena Adubea Amoah, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), aaamoah@ppag-gh.org, +233204651138
• Selina Esantsi, Senior Program Officer, Population Council, Sesantsi@popcouncil.org, +1 917 564 7398