Matthew French

Proven development professional with 15 years of experience leading diverse teams to achieve their impact goals. Expertise in fundraising, program design and implementation, governance, mentoring and training, budget development, financial oversight, and M&E. Demonstrated ability to successfully incubate locally-led, community-based organizations.

Adept at designing and growing innovative solutions to challenges in youth development, community health, entrepreneurship, and mental health. Raised several million dollars from a diverse group of donors, including Segal Family Foundation, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Echidna Giving, and USAID.

Strategic Advisor (selected projects) at United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Escazú Secretariat) (2024-03 – Present)

Partnering with the Escazú Secretariat, the UN entity that coordinates environmental democracy efforts in the LAC region, to increase its foundation donor base and strengthen its marketing strategy.

Strategic Advisor (selected projects) at Nganinka Association

Provided technical assistance to a Burundian NGO that produces wheelchairs for children with disabilities. Led an organizational strengthening process that included crafting a theory of change, financial controls, and fundraising strategy.

Strategic Advisor (selected projects) at Nama Wellness Community Centre

Partnered with Nama Wellness, a leading community health organization in Uganda, to revitalize its brand—spearheading the renaming process, designing a new logo, updating brand materials, and developing a launch strategy.

Strategic Advisor (selected projects) at Uwezo

Conducted a review of Uwezo Tanzania's governance systems as part of an Echidna Giving organizational effectiveness grant. Activities included: reviewing policies and governance practices, interviewing board members and other stakeholders, developing a governance improvement plan, and facilitating governance strengthening workshops.

Executive Director at Komo Learning Centres (2014-10 – 2024-10)

Responsible for all aspects of organizational leadership, including strategy development, program design and implementation, M&E, human resources, team building, policy development, fundraising, and marketing. Guided a process to move Komo to full local ownership by registering a new Uganda-based NGO, Kukuza Education. Developed and led several successful programs that transitioned to full local ownership.

• Do It Yourself (DIY) Clubs: DIY aims to create safer, more engaging, and more equitable school environments. DIY enrolls over 3,500 students and 300 teachers in 30 schools each year. Kukuza Education runs this program.
• Resilience Project: This mental health program was developed in partnership with Strong Minds Uganda. To date it has graduated over 300 young people with impressive results. Kukuza Education runs this program.
• Nama Wellness Community Centre: A holistic health program that incorporates community health workers, technical assistance to government health centers, mobile outreaches, and a private/not-for-profit health center level 3. We turned this program over to full local ownership in 2022.
• Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Apprenticeship: LEAP provides entrepreneurship training and job preparation for over 4,000 young people each year. Wezesha Impact took full leadership of this program in 2018.
• Represented Komo in several international coalitions, including USAID YouthPower, the Regional Education and Learning Initiative East Africa, and the Community Health Impact Coalition. Also worked closely with local, regional, and national government offices.
• Raised several million dollars from a diverse group of donors, including Segal Family Foundation, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Porticus, Echidna Giving, Crown Family Philanthropies, Child Relief International, Dovetail Impact Foundation, T&J Meyer Family Foundation, Izumi Foundation, Gould Family Foundation, DAK, and USAID.

Technical Assistance Manager at JBS International (2010-02 – 2014-04)

Worked on the USAID Global Evaluation and Monitoring-II Program. This included conducting a scale and sustainability assessment on the Akazi Kanoze livelihoods program in Rwanda (listed in publications), managing the Mobiles for Youth Workforce Development working group, and developing USAID's first guidance for meaningfully including youth in development projects (listed in publications). Provided technical assistance to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration HIV/AIDS grantees.

This included managing the first federally-funded syringe services program and supervising HIV testing trainings.

William J. Clinton Fellow at American India Foundation (2008-10 – 2009-08)

Assisted in management, program design, and implementation of a National AIDS Control Organization HIV/AIDS Intervention targeting female sex workers. Collected qualitative data on the USAID-funded Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Plus program for a multiorganizational team (USAID, Futures Group International, and government).

Bachelors of Psychology

Masters of Public Health