Recent work
Here are some examples of consultancy assignments that Sarah has carried out.
Providing communications support to the READY movement
Since 2017, Sarah has worked with Frontline AIDS on a range of projects as part of the READY movement, which builds resilient and empowered adolescents and young people living with and affected by HIV. She supports writing and editing outputs aimed at sharing knowledge and communicating learning to partners, youth networks, donors and supporters. Her role includes:
- Helping to develop six succinct READY newsletters. Sarah has contributed ideas for the content, written, edited and translated articles, and had an input to design.
- Writing a review of the READY+ programme to assess progress, identify gaps, learn from challenges and make targeted recommendations for the future (January 2020).
- Communicating research findings in a clear, accessible way. This includes editing and shaping two research summaries: What works? Preventing gender-based violence among young people living with and affected by HIV (May 2019) and What works? Supporting mental health of young people living with or affected by HIV (March 2020).
- Writing a series of engaging IEC materials for adolescents and young people on five different topics, for two age groups (2018). Topics include child marriage, condom use and deciding when to have sex. The leaflets aim to support young people to make informed decisions about their own sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- Transforming notes from two READY+ consortium meetings (held in Harare in July 2017 and Maputo in May 2018) into lively reports.
VSO's youth volunteering programme: ICS
VSO’s International Citizen Service (ICS) programme brings together young people from the UK and developing countries to volunteer in some of the poorest communities in Africa and Asia. In 2018, Sarah helped communicate research findings into an important and yet neglected subject: young people and mental health, specifically the relationship between youth volunteering overseas and mental health.
More and more young people in the UK experience mental health problems. But little is known about the effect of volunteering on mental health, and how mental health issues can shape the placement. Research by Lancaster University shed light on these questions, and looked at how ICS could support all its volunteers and staff. Sarah’s role was to condense a lengthy report into an engaging overview document that reflected the voices and experiences of young people in all their diversity.
Sarah has previously supported VSO on a number of other initiatives. This includes writing a succinct position paper on youth aimed at a donor audience; editing the ICS annual report (2016-2017) as well as reviewing and strengthening a series of ICS case studies demonstrating project impact.
More and more young people in the UK experience mental health problems. But little is known about the effect of volunteering on mental health, and how mental health issues can shape the placement. Research by Lancaster University shed light on these questions, and looked at how ICS could support all its volunteers and staff. Sarah’s role was to condense a lengthy report into an engaging overview document that reflected the voices and experiences of young people in all their diversity.
Sarah has previously supported VSO on a number of other initiatives. This includes writing a succinct position paper on youth aimed at a donor audience; editing the ICS annual report (2016-2017) as well as reviewing and strengthening a series of ICS case studies demonstrating project impact.
Sharing learning from IPPF's Choices and Opportunities programme
IPPF's groundbreaking Choices and Opportunities programme (known as "Choices") promoted young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and scaled up good practices in youth-friendly service provision and comprehensive sexuality education.
In 2016, Sarah was commissioned by IPPF to edit and shorten a lengthy donor report on the Choices programme (2011-2015) .
A second assignment was to write a concise summary showcasing the main achievements and lessons learnt over the life of the Choices programme. This summary was uploaded to IPPF's website in 2017.
In 2016, Sarah was commissioned by IPPF to edit and shorten a lengthy donor report on the Choices programme (2011-2015) .
A second assignment was to write a concise summary showcasing the main achievements and lessons learnt over the life of the Choices programme. This summary was uploaded to IPPF's website in 2017.
Providing communications support to Link Up
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In 2016, Sarah worked with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance (as Frontline AIDS was then called) over a seven-month period, providing communications support to the Link Up programme.
Link Up (2013-2016) has empowered 940,000 young people in Bangladesh, Burundi, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Uganda to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Link Up strengthened the integration of HIV and SRHR, and focused on young key populations most affected by HIV. Sarah's role was to edit and strengthen more than a dozen Link Up case studies communicating Link Up's key achievements and learning. She also provided expert input on SRHR, and drafted a series of accessible summaries based on the case studies. |
Strengthening capability statements for IPPF
In 2016, Sarah worked with IPPF on the production of a series of six concise capability statements on service delivery; women, girls and gender; humanitarian action; young people; advocacy and accountability and social enterprise.
Primarily aimed at donors and IPPF partners, the statements summarise the key issues as well as IPPF’s expertise and extensive experience in just two pages.
Sarah’s role was to review, strengthen and shorten the statements, edit for IPPF style and ensure consistency across the set. The capability statements have been extremely well received.
In 2016, Sarah worked with IPPF on the production of a series of six concise capability statements on service delivery; women, girls and gender; humanitarian action; young people; advocacy and accountability and social enterprise.
Primarily aimed at donors and IPPF partners, the statements summarise the key issues as well as IPPF’s expertise and extensive experience in just two pages.
Sarah’s role was to review, strengthen and shorten the statements, edit for IPPF style and ensure consistency across the set. The capability statements have been extremely well received.
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Working with Pamoja to enhance research uptake
Since 2014, Sarah has worked with Pamoja Communications, translating complex research findings into user-friendly policy briefs in order to share learning and increase research uptake. Over the years, Sarah has condensed lengthy journal articles into around 20 accessible briefs. Many of the briefs capture learning from studies conducted by research consortia on health workers, particularly community health workers, and health in post-conflict settings. One area focused on if - and how - gender is integrated into health sector reform as societies rebuild after war. Sarah wrote eight concise briefings (two thematic briefings and six country case studies), distilling evidence on gender and health systems in countries affected by war. She also wrote the copy for a website, Building Back Better, conceived by Pamoja and launched in October 2015, which showcases the research and briefings. |
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Communicating evidence for Women and Children First (UK)
In 2015, Sarah prepared a submission on behalf of Women and Children First (UK) and partners to the inquiry by the International Development Committee on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sarah drafted evidence putting forward the case that DFID should prioritise maternal and newborn health (SDG three) and gender equality (SDG five) within the new post-2015 development framework. She drew on current research and showcased Women and Children First’s participatory women’s group approach. This model has been shown to improve maternal and newborn health survival rates, thereby contributing to the achievement of several SDGs. |
"Manifesto for Motherhood" parliamentary brief
In 2014, on behalf of the Manifesto for Motherhood (M4M) coalition of NGOs, professional associations and civil society networks, Sarah was asked to draft a brief to highlight the importance of investing in women and girls, upholding rights and promoting sexual and reproductive health in the new post-2015 development framework.
With financial support from Save the Children UK, Sarah wrote a succinct policy brief which, unusually, was endorsed by four large UK development networks.
The M4M brief was printed and distributed to MPs and parliamentary candidates in advance of the 2015 general election in order to raise awareness and understanding of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and maternal, newborn and child health issues.
In 2014, on behalf of the Manifesto for Motherhood (M4M) coalition of NGOs, professional associations and civil society networks, Sarah was asked to draft a brief to highlight the importance of investing in women and girls, upholding rights and promoting sexual and reproductive health in the new post-2015 development framework.
With financial support from Save the Children UK, Sarah wrote a succinct policy brief which, unusually, was endorsed by four large UK development networks.
The M4M brief was printed and distributed to MPs and parliamentary candidates in advance of the 2015 general election in order to raise awareness and understanding of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and maternal, newborn and child health issues.
Integrating human rights into national HIV strategic plans
To strengthen the rights-based national response to HIV, UNAIDS, with the technical support of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, initiated a project to help national stakeholders integrate human rights programmes into National Strategic Plans (NSPs) for HIV.
In 2012, the Alliance asked Sarah to carry out an evaluation of the integration of human rights programmes into NSPs. This entailed analysing responses to a survey, interviewing workshop participants in English and French and writing up the findings in an accessible report.
Lessons learnt, short-term outcomes and case studies of effective human rights programming were summarised in a comprehensive report, Making it Work. This is a joint International HIV/AIDS Alliance/UNAIDS publication.
In 2012, the Alliance asked Sarah to carry out an evaluation of the integration of human rights programmes into NSPs. This entailed analysing responses to a survey, interviewing workshop participants in English and French and writing up the findings in an accessible report.
Lessons learnt, short-term outcomes and case studies of effective human rights programming were summarised in a comprehensive report, Making it Work. This is a joint International HIV/AIDS Alliance/UNAIDS publication.
Provision of advocacy expertise to the World Health Organization
This consultancy assignment consisted of technical assistance in advocacy to the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the landmark consultation in Glion on strengthening the links between family planning and the prevention of HIV in women and children.
Sarah had an input to the draft “Glion Call to Action” that resulted from the WHO/UNFPA consultation. The concise Call to Action makes a series of recommendations in the areas of policy and advocacy, programme development, resource mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation and research. After the consultation, Sarah formulated a comprehensive advocacy plan for implementation by a range of stakeholders, including governments, MPs, UN agencies, donors and civil society.
A second assignment from WHO was to write a clear, accessible briefing paper - available on the WHO website - summarising the main outcomes of the Glion consultation.
Sarah had an input to the draft “Glion Call to Action” that resulted from the WHO/UNFPA consultation. The concise Call to Action makes a series of recommendations in the areas of policy and advocacy, programme development, resource mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation and research. After the consultation, Sarah formulated a comprehensive advocacy plan for implementation by a range of stakeholders, including governments, MPs, UN agencies, donors and civil society.
A second assignment from WHO was to write a clear, accessible briefing paper - available on the WHO website - summarising the main outcomes of the Glion consultation.
Working with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance to formulate an effective advocacy strategy
The strategy encompassed the International HIV/AIDS Alliance's engagement with the UK Government in terms of policy and fundraising. Sarah mapped out current relationships, assessed capacity, identified key players (primarily key officials and parliamentarians) and analysed opportunities where the Alliance could have the most impact. Sarah carried out research and interviewed a number of internal and external stakeholders to elicit views about the best way forward. She consolidated stakeholders’ input and put forward proposals into a comprehensive, co-ordinated, flexible and strategic approach for the Alliance. 
Advocacy and resource mobilisation for Parliamentarians for Global Action Over a four-year period, Sarah carried out a number of advocacy and fundraising assignments for Parliamentarians for Global Action. These were primarily in support of PGA's successful series of parliamentary seminars on HIV/AIDS in South Asia. Key assignments included: writing proposals, drafting parliamentary Declarations of Action on HIV/AIDS, writing accessible briefing papers for MPs on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health issues as well as providing technical assistance in drafting agendas and editing draft reports. Sarah has a strong track record in securing grants for PGA's parliamentary initiatives from institutional sources and multilateral agencies. She has also reviewed and provided input to draft proposals, including a submission on PGA's advocacy work on malaria in West Africa. |
