DIONE SHARON EPIE
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Summary
Dedicated Program Development and Partnerships Specialist with a strong track record in program design, policy development, and strategic partnership management. Passionate about the World Bank’s mission to eliminate poverty and foster a livable planet through inclusive, accountable governance. Experienced in securing donor funding, leading stakeholder engagement, and strengthening institutional capacity through evidence-based planning, training, and policy reform. Skilled in data collection and analysis to inform responsive programming that reflects community needs and supports sustainable development outcomes.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Grants Coordinator
Norwegian Refugee Council
Cameroon
02.2025 - Current
- Led multi-sector program design (economic development, WASH, shelter, education, legal protection) through contextual, policy and needs analysis.
- Developed theories of change and proposals, connecting community-led solutions to identified needs.
- Ensured proposal quality with integration of gender, protection, sustainability, and partnership standards.
- Delivered donor compliance training and learning sessions for EU, US State Department, GIZ and NORAD funding, to organisational staff and local partners. .
- Produced high-quality reports and contributed to project publications.
- Represented the organization with government and stakeholder groups.
- Created NRC Cameroon’s partnership guidance and RACI tools.
- Designed partner capacity-building plans and facilitated training.
- Co-developed project budgets, spending plans and assured budget monitoring, for financial compliacte
Grants and Partnership Officer
Norwegian Refugee Council
Cameroon
10.2023 - 02.2025
- Strengthened partner organizations through tailored capacity-building plans, performance evaluations, and constructive feedback.
- Led partner mapping and due diligence assessments to inform strategic collaboration and program alignment.
- Reviewed and improved partner policies to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
- Facilitated workshops and trainings to build staff knowledge on new policies, procedures, and donor requirements.
- Supported consortia development and coordination, contributing to strategic program design and partnership frameworks.
- Oversaw donor contracting and compliance processes, enhancing accountability and operational consistency.
- Produced high-quality reports and communications for global donors, including BHA, EU, ECHO, AFD, and SIDA.
INGO Forum Officer-Field Coordination
Cameroon International NGO Forum -CHINGO
Cameroon
06.2022 - 09.2023
- Conducted socio-political analysis and authored strategic reports to guide INGO programming in Cameroon.
- Facilitated dialogue sessions with government counterparts and development actors to address critical development issues.
- Established and maintained an updated database of development and humanitarian actors in Cameroon.
- Developed project proposals and budgets aligned with CHINGO’s 2023–2024 strategy based on contextual evidence.
- Collected and analyzed data for research on crosscutting development issues, including the Nexus approach.
- Represented the forum in high-level consultations to influence policy dialogue and enhance coordination.
National Project Manager and Department Lead
Local Youth Corner
Cameroon
03.2021 - 06.2022
- Led high-quality program design and secured strategic funding from the EU and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
- Ensured program integrity through integration of gender, protection mainstreaming, and accountability frameworks.
- Conducted stakeholder mapping and sustained engagement to inform inclusive program strategies.
- Organized policy framing workshops and multi-actor consultations to advance peacebuilding and social cohesion.
- Developed comprehensive training manuals on proposal development and accountability, strengthening partner capacity and internal policy alignment.
Volunteer Program Officer
Local Youth Corner
Cameroon
03.2019 - 02.2021
- Designed program strategies aligned with organizational goals and supported proposal and budget development.
- Managed outreach initiatives to raise awareness of Youth, Peace and Security.
- Led the organisation of workshops, seminars, and training sessions to with external stakeholder for peacebuilding policy and program development.
- Conducted qualitative research through focus groups, interviews, and community consultations to inform evidence-based program development and policy recommendations.
- Produced detailed progress reports and recommended strategic adjustments to improve program outcomes.
- Drafted key partnership documents including contracts, MOUs, and letters of agreement to formalize collaboration.
Education
Master of International Relations - Peace And Development Studies
Protestant University of Central Africa
Cameroon08-2021
Bachelor's Degree - Political Science
University of Buea
Cameroon11-2017
Skills
- Program development
- Policy writing
- Proposal writing
- Quality reporting
- Project Cycle Management
- Data analysis (PowerBI)
- Workshop planning and facilitation
- Pressure management
- Assertive communicator
- Results-driven mindset
- Attentive to detail
- Risk analysis
- Diverse team collaboration
- Microsoft software suite
Certification
- Public-Private Partnerships, UNICEF -2025
- From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development, Blavatnik School of Governance, Oxford University, 2024
- Financial Management and Implementing a European Union DG ECHO funded Action, DG ECHO- 2024.
- Managing Early Recovery Livelihood and Food security projects, BHA-USAID-2024
- Gender mainstreaming and Safe, Inclusive Programming, Norwegian Refugee Council- 2023
Licenses And Accreditations
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, USA, global, 01/01/23
- Project Management Development Professional (PMDPRO), 01/01/23
- Disaster Risk and Humanitarian Management, Pan African Institute for Development and UN Peace University, 01/01/22
Affiliations
- Sports
- Travelling
- Cultural Discovery
Accomplishments
- Employee of the Year, Local Youth Corner Cameroon, 2021
Languages
English
First Language
French
Advanced (C1)
C1
Timeline
Grants Coordinator
Norwegian Refugee Council
02.2025 - Current
Grants and Partnership Officer
Norwegian Refugee Council
10.2023 - 02.2025
INGO Forum Officer-Field Coordination
Cameroon International NGO Forum -CHINGO
06.2022 - 09.2023
National Project Manager and Department Lead
Local Youth Corner
03.2021 - 06.2022
Volunteer Program Officer
Local Youth Corner
03.2019 - 02.2021
Master of International Relations - Peace And Development Studies
Protestant University of Central Africa
Bachelor's Degree - Political Science
University of Buea