Yafika Chitanda
Accra
Summary
Experienced professional with nine years' expertise in public relations, communication, advocacy, and project management. With a proven track record in coordinating high-impact initiatives and contributing to policy development. Passionate about driving socio-economic growth in Africa.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Programme Management Officer
African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat
09.2022 - Current
- Facilitated and coordinated National AfCFTA Implementation Committees, ensuring alignment with objectives and smooth progress.
- Formulated and managed projects, overseeing planning, execution, and resource allocation to achieve desired outcomes.
- Organized workshops and roadshows to educate State Parties on AfCFTA agreements and implications.
- Coordinated the AfCFTA World Bank BIASHARA project, collaborating with stakeholders and ensuring compliance with project goals.
- Established a centralized repository for AfCFTA-related documents and facilitated dissemination to stakeholders.
- Produced engaging content for websites and social media platforms to inform stakeholders and promote AfCFTA benefits.
- Crafted speeches, concept notes, policy documents, for key events, ensuring alignment with organizational messaging and objectives.
- Fostered relationships and facilitated collaboration with partner organizations to enhance AfCFTA implementation efforts.
Communication Expert
GIZ Office To The African Union
08.2021 - 05.2022
- Implementation of the African Standby Capacity Communication Strategy
- Prepared social media posts and videos with eye for viral content strategies.
- Conducted communications audits to identify areas of improvement and develop targeted action plans.
- Crafted compelling content for various channels, resulting in improved audience reach and engagement.
- Assisted in building a comprehensive digital asset library for efficient management of visual materials associated with the organization's communications needs.
- Created engaging multimedia content such as infographics, videos, and blog posts to illustrate complex concepts in an accessible manner.
Communication Assistant
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
01.2021 - 07.2021
- Assisted in the development and execution of marketing campaigns, leading to higher brand visibility and customer engagement.
- Managed social media accounts to increase brand awareness, create engaging content, and monitor online discussions.
- Enhanced team collaboration by organizing meetings, taking detailed minutes, and distributing relevant materials to all members.
- Coordinated company events such as conferences, workshops, and webinars to promote knowledge-sharing among stakeholders.
- Designed visually appealing promotional materials using graphic design software that resulted in increased audience interest.
- Contributed to team success by proofreading presentations, reports, newsletters ensuring error-free communications materials were distributed internally and externally.
Project Administration Assistant – Women, Youth and Democracy
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
04.2019 - 12.2020
- Provided administrative support to the Regional advisor and the Regional Director, enabling seamless execution of multiple concurrent projects.
- Prepared detailed reports on project status for both internal stakeholders and external clients, facilitating transparency in communication at every level of the organization hierarchy.
- Maintained accurate records for financial tracking purposes, supporting budget adherence and cost control initiatives.
- Improved project efficiency by streamlining administrative processes and implementing time-saving strategies.
- Managed document control procedures, ensuring the security and accessibility of essential files for all team members involved in each project phase.
- Supported successful project completion through diligent tracking of timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
- Assisted in the development of comprehensive project plans to ensure timely achievement of milestones and objectives.
Communications Officer – African Continental Free Trade Area Unit (AfCFTA) (African Union Volunteer Corps)
African Union Commission
11.2017 - 12.2018
- Developed and implemented comprehensive communication strategies to raise awareness of AfCFTA among youth, governments, stakeholders, and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
- Coordinated the execution of communication work plans, ensuring clear deliverables were met.
- Organized national and regional campaigns and public events to enhance visibility and understanding of AfCFTA.
- Led the creation of promotional materials for social media and other channels, targeting youth engagement with AfCFTA.
- Established a strategic partnership with the University of Johannesburg, facilitating student participation in a 'Youth Unconference' on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2018 in Lusaka to promote youth participation in the AfCFTA.
Administrative Clerk – Internationalisation
University of Johannesburg
03.2017 - 10.2017
- Entered data into system and updated students contacts with information to keep records current.
- Arranged meetings and appointments and updated records to assist management.
- Assisted in budget preparation by collecting financial data, processing invoices, and reconciling bank statements.
- Coordinated study abroad exchange programmes for students
Executive Assistant to the Director – Internationalisation
University of Johannesburg
09.2016 - 02.2017
- Managed a diverse array of administrative tasks to enable the director to focus on higher-level responsibilities.
- Collaborated with other executive assistants within the organization to share best practices and streamline processes across departments.
- Coordinated travel arrangements to ensure timely arrivals and seamless experiences for the director during business trips.
- Developed presentations for the director using advanced PowerPoint skills, resulting in visually engaging content that conveyed key messages effectively.
- Enhanced director''s productivity by managing calendars, scheduling appointments, and organizing meeting materials.
Journalism Third Year Tutor
Department of Journalism, Film and Television, University of Johannesburg
02.2016 - 12.2016
- Assist third year Journalism students with their comprehension of third year journalism work and formulation of coherent arguments in their assignments
- Marking and invigilation of tests and exams
- Liaise with lecturers on course content and students.
- Provided constructive feedback on assignments, helping students improve their writing and problem-solving skills.
- Conducted group tutoring sessions to help students engage active learning and critical thinking skills.
Journalism Intern
Forbes Africa and Forbes Women Magazine and CNBC Africa Online and Morning Live at SABC
07.2016 - 07.2016
- Gained exposure to different departments within the news organization, such as layout and design, to develop a well-rounded understanding of the publication process
- Worked as a member of the production team for Morning Live Show at South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
- Improved writing skills through consistent feedback from editors, leading to higher-quality content.
- Conducted thorough research for feature articles, providing comprehensive coverage of complex subjects.
- published news articles online and print
Student Assistant
Division for Internationalisation, University of Johannesburg
02.2015 - 12.2015
- Provided support to the Director: study abroad in the day-to-day running of the office and the study abroad programme
- Provided excellent customer service to students and staff at the front desk, addressing inquiries and concerns promptly.
- Collaborated with team members on event planning and execution, resulting in successful campus events and activities.
- Maintained accurate inventory of office supplies, ensuring availability of necessary materials for daily operations.
- Performed clerical tasks such as photocopying, scanning documents efficiently while maintaining confidentiality when necessary.
Student Assistant
Department of Education, University of Johannesburg
02.2014 - 12.2014
- Increased department productivity through effective time management and prioritization of tasks.
- Assisted professors with grading assignments, resulting in timely feedback for students.
- Managed student appointments for academic advising, streamlining scheduling processes and reducing wait times.
- Performed clerical tasks such as photocopying, scanning documents efficiently while maintaining confidentiality when necessary.
Education
Master of Arts - Communication And Media Studies
Università Telematica Pegaso
Italy 09.2023
Honours Degree - Journalism
University of Johannesburg
South Africa04.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Johannesburg
South Africa04.2015
Skills
- Oracle/ SAP/ERP (Unit 4)
- Communication
- Report Writing
- Research and analysis
- Partnership Management
- Budgeting and Financial Management
- Policy Development
- Event Coordination
Certification
- Public Policy Analysis Certificate, London School of Economics, November 2023 to February 2024
- Project Management Foundations, LinkedIn, Aug 2020
- Building Competitiveness in Creative Industries, ITC SME Trade Academy, Oct 2020
- Introduction to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, Oct 2020
Affiliations
The South African Communications Association (SACCOM), University of South Africa
Language
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
French
Elementary (A2)
Publications
- Sebahizi, P., Habte, M., Noor, H., Chitanda, Y., Semedo, J. T., te Velde, D. W., Abudu, D., Agarwal, P., Mendez-Parra, M. (2023). AfCFTA National Implementation Committees: scoping options and support mechanisms. ODI Research Report. London: ODI (https://odi.org/ en/publications/afcfta-national-implementation-committees-scoping-options-and-support- mechanisms).
Honorary Awards
- Academic Merit Award - Honours Bursary, University of the Johannesburg, 2016
- Dean’s List for Academic Excellence, University of Johannesburg, 2015
- Participant in University of Connecticut’s CIBER Business challenge, University Connecticut, 2015
References
- Available on request.
Timeline
Programme Management Officer
African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat
09.2022 - Current
Communication Expert
GIZ Office To The African Union
08.2021 - 05.2022
Communication Assistant
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
01.2021 - 07.2021
Project Administration Assistant – Women, Youth and Democracy
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
04.2019 - 12.2020
Communications Officer – African Continental Free Trade Area Unit (AfCFTA) (African Union Volunteer Corps)
African Union Commission
11.2017 - 12.2018
Administrative Clerk – Internationalisation
University of Johannesburg
03.2017 - 10.2017
Executive Assistant to the Director – Internationalisation
University of Johannesburg
09.2016 - 02.2017
Journalism Intern
Forbes Africa and Forbes Women Magazine and CNBC Africa Online and Morning Live at SABC
07.2016 - 07.2016
Journalism Third Year Tutor
Department of Journalism, Film and Television, University of Johannesburg
02.2016 - 12.2016
Student Assistant
Division for Internationalisation, University of Johannesburg
02.2015 - 12.2015
Student Assistant
Department of Education, University of Johannesburg
02.2014 - 12.2014
Master of Arts - Communication And Media Studies
Università Telematica Pegaso
Honours Degree - Journalism
University of Johannesburg
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Johannesburg
- Public Policy Analysis Certificate, London School of Economics, November 2023 to February 2024
- Project Management Foundations, LinkedIn, Aug 2020
- Building Competitiveness in Creative Industries, ITC SME Trade Academy, Oct 2020
- Introduction to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, Oct 2020
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