Bem Alugh

Results-driven program management professional with over 14 years of progressive experience leading and supporting large-scale donor-funded health and development programs across Nigeria. Proven expertise in program planning, implementation, stakeholder engagement, budget management, donor compliance, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic partnerships. Demonstrated success managing and supporting annual project portfolios exceeding USD 10 million across multiple states and more than 60 LGAs.

Experienced in coordinating multidisciplinary teams, consortium partners, government agencies, civil society organizations, and donors to deliver sustainable development outcomes in HIV/AIDS, malaria, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, and community development. Skilled in translating strategy into actionable plans, strengthening systems, managing complex stakeholder relationships, and ensuring high-quality program delivery in compliance with donor requirements. Possesses advanced fluency in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to engage diverse stakeholder groups and convey complex information clearly and effectively.

Highly proficient in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, OneDrive), Google Workspace, task management, digital collaboration and project management tools. Hold an advanced degree in Health Economics, complemented by professional certifications in project management, change management, and process optimization. I am a PMP and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN).

Senior Program Officer at Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) (2023-02 – Present)

• Coordinated planning and implementation of the USA Department of State–funded ACE-5 project, ensuring 100% donor compliance across reporting cycles and achieving zero audit findings
• Directed development of annual workplans and budgets exceeding $1M, aligning activities with donor priorities and achieving a 90% completion rate.
• Monitored performance across 3 states, resolving implementation gaps that boosted workplan execution from 70% to 95%, while maintaining full financial accountability with zero unresolved queries.
• Forged and sustained partnerships with 27 state agencies, NGOs, and CSOs, enhancing coordination and expanding service delivery to 20 LGAs.
• Managed a $1M program budget, monitoring expenditure against burn-rate targets and achieving 95% utilization with zero cost overruns
• Authored 14 technical quarterly reports that documented program impact for 206,660 beneficiaries, informing donor decision-making and continued funding.
• Collaborated with finance, communications, and operations teams to streamline program delivery, reducing reporting turnaround time by 60%
• Strengthened implementing partners' performance through routine reviews, technical support, mentorship, and accountability systems that improve service delivery and program outcomes.

Program Officer at Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) (2020-01 – 2023-01)

• Led development and monitoring of 24 monthly and quarterly implementation plans, ensuring 95% adherence to donor timelines and expectations across Global Fund–funded activities
• Monitored implementation across 43 sites, resolving performance gaps that increased implementation fidelity from 70% to 93%
• Strengthened engagement with over 100 stakeholders, including state ministries, agencies, partners, CSOs, and health facilities, enhancing coordination that accelerated data reporting, improved service uptake, and enabled joint supportive supervision visits.
• Supported development and monitoring of a $1M+ program budget, maintaining 90% compliance and achieving zero unresolved audit or reporting queries.
• Contributed to 24 quarterly narrative reports and 40 success stories documenting program impact for 40,000 beneficiaries, which informed advocacy efforts and supported continued funding decisions

Team Lead at Education as a Vaccine (2016-09 – 2020-01)

• Led a 15-member team to design and implement community-based SRHR, HIV/AIDS, and GBV interventions across 7 states, reaching 30,000+ beneficiaries
• Developed 5 training manuals and coordinated capacity-building for 150 frontline workers and 500 adolescents on SRHR, enhancing service delivery quality across 5 states
• Oversaw 10 concurrent programs worth $550,000, achieving 96% budget adherence and surpassing all program targets
• Spearheaded development of 5 proposals, securing $150,000 in project funding from Ford Foundation, UNFPA, and UNICEF.
• Managed a cumulative $550,000 program budget across 10 initiatives, ensuring full donor compliance and achieving zero audit findings
• Produced impact reports across 10 projects, documenting outcomes for 20,000+ beneficiaries and providing evidence that informed donor renewal and scale-up decisions.
• Directed stakeholder engagement with over 20 state agencies, CSOs, and community leaders across 5 states, strengthening partnerships that facilitated community entry, implementation, and joint monitoring

State Coordinator at Education as a Vaccine (2015-09 – 2016-08)

• Provided strategic leadership for the Benue State field office, overseeing 10 staff and 4 programs that achieved 95%+ of set targets and reached 20,000+ beneficiaries.
• Cultivated relationships with 10 state agencies, 4 CSOs, and 100+ community stakeholders while serving as technical lead on service delivery and BCC strategies, driving improved service uptake, referral completion, and community engagement across 20 communities
• Implemented documentation and reporting systems across 4 programs, improving data timeliness and accuracy, and enabling evidence-based decisions that strengthened program performance.

Program Officer at Education as a Vaccine (2012-09 – 2015-08)

• Led and coordinated project implementation across 2 LGAs and 20 communities in Benue State, achieving 97% of planned activity targets.
• Managed a ₦10,000,000 project budget, ensuring accurate forecasting, 100% utilization, and zero unresolved financial queries.
• Built and sustained engagement with 50 community leaders, LGA officials, and local stakeholders, strengthening buy-in that enabled smooth project entry and implementation across 20 communities
• Supervised and mentored 3 Program Assistants and 5 volunteers, strengthening field-level capacity to ensure consistent, high-quality project delivery.
• Ensured timely preparation and submission of 50+ activity reports and 20 periodic project reports, achieving 100% on-time submission and supporting full donor compliance

Master in Health Economics Business – Bayero University Kano (2019)

Bachelor of Science in Economics – Benue State University (2009)

National Diploma in Business Studies – Kaduna State Polytechnic (2006)

Diploma in Management Studies – Kaduna State Polytechnic (2005)