Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Ripfumelo Risimati

Project Management & Impact Assessment | Research & M&E Practitioner
Little Falls

Summary

Demonstrated aptitude in research, monitoring, and evaluation across various sectors. Extensive experience in stakeholder mapping and engagement, cultivating relationships for program/project success. Established relationships with Gauteng District, Gauteng Department of Health, NGOs, and academics in the research sector. Skilled in project planning and budgeting. Over 5 years of experience managing field activities, particularly in implementation science. Possesses necessary skills and experience to monitor and evaluate projects from inception to end-line impact evaluations. Hands-on experience combined with an academic background in social sciences align well with the goals/vision of your organization. Postgraduate degree with majors in Anthropology & Research provides a solid foundation for understanding and executing projects across various fields.


Self-driven professional with a passion for supporting organizations to achieve objectives through effective skills. Excellent organizational and planning abilities, including the aptitude to quickly reassess priorities. Capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously in a calm and efficient manner. Effective communication and interpersonal skills. Competent in following directives and working independently, relying on logic and intuition to guide decision-making. Confident, enthusiastic, and hardworking individual with a dedication to delivering quality service.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience
13
13
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Certifications

Work History

Impact, Communications and Engagement Manager

Wits VIDA Research Unit
05.2023 - Current
  • Lead the development and execution of the organization's Implementation and Impact Strategies, aligning with organizational objectives to drive measurable results.
  • Spearhead the design and development of frameworks and policies for assessing the performance and impact of organizational activities.
  • Identify and advise on impact metrics, frameworks, standards, and principles to Effectively Measure and position the impact of the organization's programs and research initiatives.
  • Drive continuous improvement by enhancing existing processes, procedures, and systems, ensuring optimal efficiency and effectiveness in meeting organizational goals.
  • Manage comprehensive project planning, including timeline development, budget oversight, deliverables, dependencies, and resource allocation to ensure projects are executed on time and within budget.
  • Oversee the implementation of projects, tracking milestones, deliverables, and progress against set targets to ensure high-quality outputs.
  • Lead and manage cross-functional study teams, providing internal reporting, feedback, and ensuring alignment with project goals and performance metrics.
  • Collaborate closely with data management teams to ensure the integrity and accuracy of research data, promoting strong data quality controls.
  • Manage participant recruitment and retention strategies, contributing to the design and execution of effective community liaison and engagement plans.
  • Conduct stakeholder mapping, analysis, and prioritization, strengthening relationships with key stakeholders to ensure ongoing project support and success.
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy, ensuring impactful messaging and engagement across various stakeholders.
  • Foster and strengthen relationships with local community groups, committees, and partners, ensuring effective collaboration and sustainable partnerships.
  • Cultivated a culture of collaboration within the team, enabling seamless execution of project deliverables at each stage of the engagement process.
  • Consulted with teams on established best practices and process improvements.

Monitoring, Evaluations & Research Associate

Wits History Workshop
08.2018 - 04.2023
  • Provided strategic M&E insights, analysing and tracking data to develop actionable recommendations that informed decision-making and project improvement.
  • Contributed to new product development and business proposal writing, helping to expand the organization's portfolio and service offerings.
  • Assisted in the revision and enhancement of M&E policies, procedures, and systems, improving operational efficiency and effectiveness across the organization.
  • Developed and refined M&E plans for all project activities, ensuring alignment with best practices and impact measurement standards for social outcomes.
  • Led the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and alignment with project goals.
  • Analysed M&E data to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement, developing insights and making recommendations to stakeholders.
  • Led regular reviews of project progress against established targets and objectives, ensuring alignment with key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Designed and implemented tools and systems to build M&E capacity, providing support for teams to track and report project progress more effectively.
  • Developed customized M&E reporting templates, ensuring that findings and insights were clearly communicated to clients, donors, and other stakeholders.
  • Monitored progress against project timelines, ensuring timely completion of deliverables while maintaining high-quality standards.

Research Fellow

Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
03.2017 - 03.2018
  • Conducted both qualitative and quantitative research, providing critical insights for various projects and initiatives related to social justice and conflict resolution.
  • Managed and tracked data integrity across databases, identifying and correcting discrepancies to ensure accurate reporting.
  • Conducted data quality audits, reviewing system data against source data to ensure compliance and address anomalies.
  • Produced detailed reports for funders, tracking progress against established targets and ensuring timely delivery of deliverables.
  • Coordinated data collection processes, working with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure accurate and complete data for reporting.
  • Assisted in developing and refining methods for recording, reporting, and analysing research data, ensuring high-quality outputs and compliance with research standards.
  • Conducted training sessions on M&E systems and best practices, empowering internal and external stakeholders with the tools necessary for effective project monitoring.

Education

Ph.D. - Anthropology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2020 - Current

Master of Arts - Anthropology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2017 - 07.2019

Bachelor of Arts with Honors - Anthropology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2015 - 07.2016

Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology & Sociology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2012 - 12.2014

Matric -

Giyani High School
01.2011 - 12.2011

Skills

  • Effective Communication Skills

  • Commitment and Dedication

  • Display Respect and Ethical Behavior

  • Attention to Detail

  • Effective Listening and Problem-Solving Skills

  • Reporting Writing Skills

  • Strategic Planning

  • Decision Making

  • Efficiency and Optimization

  • Planning and Organizing

  • Relationship Management

  • Project Management

  • Results/Achievement Driven

  • Self-Motivated

  • Negotiating Skills

  • Stress Tolerance

  • Conflict Handling

  • Conscientious

  • Adaptable

  • Reliable

  • Articulate

  • Willingness to embark on new skills and challenges

Certification

Specialized Project Management, 2024

Timeline

Impact, Communications and Engagement Manager

Wits VIDA Research Unit
05.2023 - Current

Ph.D. - Anthropology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2020 - Current

Monitoring, Evaluations & Research Associate

Wits History Workshop
08.2018 - 04.2023

Research Fellow

Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
03.2017 - 03.2018

Master of Arts - Anthropology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2017 - 07.2019

Bachelor of Arts with Honors - Anthropology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2015 - 07.2016

Bachelor of Arts - Anthropology & Sociology

University of The Witwatersrand
01.2012 - 12.2014

Matric -

Giyani High School
01.2011 - 12.2011
Ripfumelo RisimatiProject Management & Impact Assessment | Research & M&E Practitioner