Our people

Tarek oversees our Africa, Middle East and Asia operations. Dynamic and experienced, he uses his exceptional expertise to work closely with governments and partners to realise ambitious and far-reaching reform in both public and private education systems. With extensive knowledge of system reform, inspection and school management, he develops solutions that improve learning outcomes for children and empower teachers and principals. Educated in the UK and Australia, Tarek is a fluent Arabic speaker and has lived in the Middle East for 12 years.

Richard brings over twenty years’ experience working in education. This includes 10 years as a teacher and middle leader specialising in science and pupil enrichment, and 5 years developing and managing programmes focussed on Global Citizenship. Since joining Education Development Trust, Richard has put this experience to use designing complex national programmes for governments around the world, helping to translate policy aspiration into reality – delivering impact, strengthening systems, and leading to sustainabe improvements for learners across the world. Richard now leads the Sub-Saharan Africa region, including the oversight of our multiple large-scale education reform programmes.

Abdu Zeleke is Team Leader for our TARGET programme in Ethiopia, a technical assistance programme which works to enable disadvantaged girls and boys including children with disabilities to improve their learning outcomes and successfully transition from primary to secondary schools and be well prepared for the job market. With over 26 years of experience, Abdu is skilled in program management, project design, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, financial management and operational systems oversight and has worked for organisations including RTI International, Save the Children, and WaterAid.

Clare is Lead Adviser in Education and Technical Advisor for the TARGET programme in Ethiopia. She has worked in education for many years as a secondary school teacher and teacher educator at Oxford University, Oxford Brookes and the Institute of Education. Most recently Clare has worked in the middle east and sub-Saharan Africa as a consultant and government adviser focusing on system strengthening, school leadership and teacher development. She has an M.Litt from Oxford University on teacher professional knowledge and a PhD from University of Birmingham on education and nation building.

Libby is a seasoned programme specialist with more than 15 years’ experience leading large scale programmes in the development sector. Before joining EDT, she served as COO of a UK based reproductive health INGO. Libby leads delivery excellence in the Sub-Saharan Africa Region, responsible for ensuring programmes meet their commitments within cost, time and scope and achieve the highest levels of quality and impact.

As Progamme Deputy Director, Rosa has extensive project management and operational leadership experience focused on the Girls Education Challenge project in Kenya. She has more than ten years’ experience and a strong portfolio of successfully managed education and social development projects in East Africa. Rosa’s expertise ensures strong project control and partnership working, and well-managed delivery teams – all to ensure we deliver on the promises made to thousands of deserving girls and to ensure client satisfaction. Rosa holds an Master’s Degree in Development Studies and a Project Management Professional certification from University of California, Irvine.

Silas Bahigansenga joined Education Development Trust in 2017 to manage the Building Learning Foundations education programme in Rwanda. He is a development practitioner with over 12 years of experience leading and managing large scale programmes in education, early childhood development, youth economic empowerment as well as SRHR. He is PMD pro certified with a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management.