Siyanda Xaba
Programmes Manager
Sandton
Summary
Gender: Female
Race: African
Nationality: South African
COVID-19 Vaccination: Fully vaccinated
Languages: English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, Afrikaans, French (Beginner)
I’m a purpose-driven Programme Manager with over a decade of experience designing and delivering impactful initiatives that uplift communities, empower youth, and drive sustainable social change.
Rooted in a strong academic foundation in sociology and international relations, social behaviour change & communication and additional post graduate qualifications; I’ve built a career around solving complex challenges in education, youth development, and socio-economic inclusion. Currently at the Trevor Noah Foundation, I lead cross-sector programmes that span digital skills training, psychosocial support, leadership development, school infrastructure and educational equity—creating pathways for young people to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Throughout my journey, I’ve held transformative roles that reflect my commitment to community-led solutions. At Beulah Africa Foundation, I spearheaded economic empowerment programmes that reached over 800 young women, equipping them with tools to build independent futures. At Vula Vula Research Services, I championed inclusive, community-informed research that shaped more responsive development strategies.
My core strengths lie in:
- Programme design & implementation that is both strategic and deeply human-centered
- Stakeholder engagement across NGOs, government, and grassroots communities
- Youth opportunity creation through education, mentorship, and skills development
- Multilingual communication, with fluency in six languages and working knowledge of French
Beyond my professional roles, I serve as a Non-Executive Trustee of The Butterfly Foundation, and previously contributed as an ambassador for the Angel Box Project—continuing my commitment to social upliftment outside of the workplace.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Programmes Manager
Trevor Noah Foundation
07.2023 - Current
- Over see multi disciplinary implementation of Education projects in 19 schools
- Program risk management including risk identification and mitigation strategies
- Oversee partner Service Level Agreements relating to portfolio implementation
- Financial Management including budget management and expense tracking
- Team Management - manage the implementation team both at HQ and in the field and performance management
- Stakeholder Engagement & Relations
- Strategy Support
- Proposal Development
- Report writing
Social Development & Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator
The Impact Catalyst
12.2022 - 07.2023
- Actively support project planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting processes relevant to assigned areas and aligned with sustainable development goals.
- Highlight stakeholder risks, problems and issues to the Social Development and Communications Manager.
- Perform programme oversight.
- Ensure timely reports that articulate progression of achievement towards the Impact Catalyst collaboration objectives.
- Facilitate and coordinate compilation of social development, stakeholder engagement and communication briefs.
- Collaboration with relevant stakeholders through follow-up emails/telephone calls/teams messages
- Support effective communication and partnerships.
- Facilitate and assist technical specialists and programme/project managers to take complicated subjects and communicate them simply and practically with stakeholders.
- Effectively write and communicate and engage successfully and innovatively with stakeholders.
- Perform administrative and implementation tasks necessary to coordinate social development and stakeholder management activities.
- Provide administrative support to the Social Development and Communications Manager.
- Arrange and schedule meetings and engagements.
- Take meeting minutes, attendance register and ensure timely distribution as required.
- Track and map social development and stakeholder engagement and management activities through project and programme management tools and methods, flowcharts and technical documentation.
- Reason for leaving: Received opportunity with Trevor Noah Foundation
Project Manager
Beulah Africa Foundation
07.2021 - 11.2022
- Training – Implement an Economic Empowerment Program for 825 beneficiaries. The program formed part of the Global Fund Health Empowerment #MyJourney Program.
- Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (ME&R)
- General Program Management Support and Scheduling;
- Project Administration
- Beneficiaries profiling
- Workshop Facilitation
- Standard Operating Procedure development review & oversight
- Liaison with local organization/ businesses for workplace internship placements
- Identifying and screening of Livelihood Support needs amongst beneficiaries (e.g. transport money to attend to an interview; food vouchers; ECD vouchers; etc.)
- Internal and external program partners liaison including community Stakeholder Liaison
- Playing an active role in the Management Team (ManCo) which includes amongst others, participating in weekly EXCO meetings and the execution of decisions made by the Team.
- Collaborates with functional management teams to assess ongoing and future training and development needs as well as effectiveness of established programs
- Develops a program delivery schedule that provides training as needed and in locations that work for the participants.
- Approves new training techniques and suggests enhancements to existing training programs.
- Oversees and establishes relationships with vendors to provide additional outside training program.
- Manages and develops training professionals – train the trainer (TTT)
- Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function
- Liaises with various other departmental heads and managers ensuring proper execution of ongoing training program to achieve the desired results and ultimately improve the overall performance of the program on site
- Strong analytical skills as well as a demonstrated passion for research, data analysis, and the insights that are derived from it.
- Stakeholder communications
- Establish an internal communications strategy in conjunction with key project players
- Keep stakeholder abreast of project progress and address queries
- Proactively manage the drafting of standard operating procedures, review thereof and track implementation with department heads
- Managing fleet usage for the project
- Highlight operational inefficiencies and guide continuous improvement.
- Reason for leaving: Company retrenched all staff
Projects & Office Manager
Vula Vula Research Services
02.2017 - 01.2020
- Oversight of social and market research projects
- Team Management: Oversight of 25 national field staff members
- Facilitation of Projects recruitment
- Field work facilitation (including surveys, recruitment)
- Data collection and preliminary report writing post project work
- Office Management: Researched and updated all required materials needed for project teams and clients.
- Supported organisation with daily operational functions.
- Developed and maintained key stakeholder relationships, displaying the ability to engage with individuals across various levels in the organisation and externally
- Reason for leaving: Pursuing studies and received job offer during that time
Program Associate (Intern)
Harambe Advisory Services
09.2016 - 02.2017
- Office administration facilitation
- Project Recruitment;
- Field work facilitation (including project office administration)
- Conducting a community needs assessment
- Client relationship management
- Data collection and internal preliminary report writing
- Reason for leaving: Received opportunity with VV Research Services
Researcher and Data Collector
Tamara Braam & Associates
03.2016 - 09.2016
- Data collection tool development
- Field work facilitation for the PEPFAR HIV Aids Program (including surveys, moderation of focus group discussions, data collection)
- Preliminary report writing post project work
- Reason for leaving: Contract ended
Researcher & Data Collector
Rethink Africa
03.2016 - 05.2016
- Remote work as per project specification.
- Data collection
- Field work facilitation (including surveys, recruitment, data collection)
- Article writing all for the Alex Forbes 2016 Benefits Barometer
- Reason for leaving: Contract ended
Education
Post-Graduate Certificate - Management Essentials
GetSmarter - UCT
Cape Town 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Arts Honours - Social Science, Behaviour Change & Communication [with the application of HIV]
Unisa
Pretoria10-2023
CHESED Early Childhood Development Training - Early Childhood Education
Isivuno Training Centre
Stellenbosch, South Africa 04.2001 -
Short Learning Program - Post Graduate Certificate - Afrikan Gender and Feminism Studies
Unisa - TMALI
Pretoria06-2020
Short Learning Program - Post Graduate Certificate - Thought Leadership for Afrikas Renewal
Unisa - TMALI
Pretoria06-2016
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and International Relations
University of Witswatersrand
Johannesburg 04.2001 -
Skills
- Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, Sharepoint)
- Survey drafting
- Survey administration
- Key Informant Interviewer
- Report Writing
- Proposal development
- Workshop Facilitation
- Project Management
- Project Design & Drafting
- Finance Management
- Team Management
- Strategy Development
- Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Key Accounts Management
References
- Mrs Khuselwa Mxatule, Assistant Director of Learning and Impact, 067 404 6045, Trevor Noah Foundation
- Hlengiwe, Molefe, Project Manager, 076 090 9140, The Impact Catalyst
- Stian, Veldman, Executive Director, 083 842 0395, Beulah Africa Foundation
- Tony, Malgas, CEO & Founder, 072 330 7712, Vula Vula Research Services
Evaluation
- Core competencies
- 7 Years experience in project coordination, management, monitoring and reporting, both on and off site.
- 4 years experience in market research, socio-economic research, field research and report writing, proposal drafting.
- 3 years experience in office management, minute taking, meeting set up, client engagement, data storage using clouds and hard copies, diary management and good telephonic skills.
General Information About Me
I bring warmth, insight, and a collaborative spirit to every project I lead. Whether I’m building partnerships, facilitating community dialogues, or mentoring young leaders, my goal is always the same: to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to shape their own futures.
Additionally, I enjoy reading, travel (locally and internationally), singing, cooking & baking.
Timeline
Programmes Manager
Trevor Noah Foundation
07.2023 - Current
Social Development & Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator
The Impact Catalyst
12.2022 - 07.2023
Project Manager
Beulah Africa Foundation
07.2021 - 11.2022
Projects & Office Manager
Vula Vula Research Services
02.2017 - 01.2020
Program Associate (Intern)
Harambe Advisory Services
09.2016 - 02.2017
Researcher and Data Collector
Tamara Braam & Associates
03.2016 - 09.2016
Researcher & Data Collector
Rethink Africa
03.2016 - 05.2016
Post-Graduate Certificate - Management Essentials
GetSmarter - UCT
04.2001 -
CHESED Early Childhood Development Training - Early Childhood Education
Isivuno Training Centre
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and International Relations
University of Witswatersrand
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Arts Honours - Social Science, Behaviour Change & Communication [with the application of HIV]
Unisa
Short Learning Program - Post Graduate Certificate - Afrikan Gender and Feminism Studies
Unisa - TMALI
Short Learning Program - Post Graduate Certificate - Thought Leadership for Afrikas Renewal
Unisa - TMALI