Michelle Ell
MBA, BA (Political Science)
Welcome to i.dev.practice
A Platform to Advance International Development Practice
This site is dedicated to bold ideas and solutions.
Here, I share experience, insights, and opportunities for investment in innovative and scalable international development solutions that empower communities, foster local leadership, and drive transformational change at scale.
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Let’s connect!
My Approach
• Leading with purpose • Innovating for progress • Collaborating for impact
I lead with vision and ambition, but also with humility and deep listening. I recognize that solutions emerge from local insights, frontline experience, and collective wisdom. My approach is to bridge diverse perspectives, elevate underrepresented voices, and create space for co-creation, ensuring that strategies are both contextually relevant and sustainable. With trust and safe spaces to explore creative solutions, I help organizations and teams to revisit their purpose and re-imagine their work - connecting lived experiences, data, & ideas with global insights to inspire new efforts & success.
Offering a coaching and mentoring approach, I ensure that individuals and teams feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute their best. At my core, I am driven by a passion for solving problems and advancing thought leadership to scale what works. My leadership is about unlocking potential—within teams, organizations, and communities—and ensuring that the right systems, resources, and opportunities exist for them to succeed.
As a tried & true multi-hyphenate, I have led and supported complex development programs across multiple sectors - including education, health, social protection, gender, and livelihoods, strengthening systems and services to meet the needs of vulnerable groups. These experiences are featured in numerous publications, global, regional, and national conferences - see publications.
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I am available for short & long-term consulting, as I prepare to commit to my next team & mission.
​Core Values & Approach
​​Visionary Thinking: I analyze challenges holistically and encourage teams to seek out bold (yet practical) solutions.
Creativity & Innovation: I cultivate spaces where leadership is shared, creativity is encouraged, and thought leadership is embedded into everyday practice.
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Meaning Partnerships: I bring diverse people, teams, & organizations together, across disciplines and geographies, to build trust, inspire collection leadership, and establish a legacy to build upon.
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Unwavering Integrity: I hold myself and my teams accountable to excellence, transparency, and ethical leadership.
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Program Leadership & Adaptive Management
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Program development & execution (from start-up to close-out).
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Leading & overseeing strategy development.
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Managing geographically disbursed teams & experts.
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Cultivating diverse partnerships.
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​Leading risk assessment & mitigation measures.
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Technical Expertise
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Strengthening systems and capacity to deliver services to vulnerable groups across multiple sectors:
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Mental health & psychosocial support (MHPSS)
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Prevention & response to gender-based violence
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Child protection & safeguarding
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Family strengthening
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Early childhood development
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Life skills & empowerment for youth
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Food security & nutrition
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Household economic strengthening
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Social & behavior change communication - designing multi-channel campaigns customized for different audiences.
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Diversity, equity & inclusion - promoting meaningful participation, policy influence, and leadership.
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Human rights-based approach through citizen engagement, participation & accountability.
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Business Development & Fundraising
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Co-creating new programs with conceptual frameworks, theories of change & technical writing on the following
winning proposals:-
Keeping Children Healthy & Safe - $19M.
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Improved Services for Vulnerable Populations - $37M.
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Social Services for Vulnerable Populations - $50M.
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Building relationships with diverse stakeholders – aligning priorities, goals, and shared values to identify present and future areas of collaboration.
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Leading school-based fundraisers with children and youth in multiple countries - raising funds for a wide range of social justice issues.
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Strategic Communications
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Managing external & internal communications with geographically dispersed teams, partners & donors.
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Leading the creation of high-quality content, including reports, presentations, websites & social media posts.
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Overseeing communications & branding to advance thought leadership & strengthen name recognition.
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Professional Writing & Representation
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Produced high-impact briefs and persuasive presentations for diverse audiences, effectively influencing policies, partnerships & investments.
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Author & Co-author of numerous technical guidelines, strategies, and training packages which were scaled nationwide.
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Lead knowledge sharing efforts to advance thought leadership & compelling stories, photographs & videos to demonstrate impact & effectiveness.
Professional Experience
Testimonies
Team Leader, USAID Rwanda
"I have no words to describe what you have been to the OVC [orphans and vulnerable children] fraternity in Rwanda. We will miss your passion, professionalism, initiative and candor"
Senior Project Officer, Catholic Relief Services
"I am full of praises for your strong and compassionate leadership and through your time at Catholic Relief Services. Your visioning, staff care, and creativity will be missed."
Program Management Specialist, USAID Uganda
Senior Gender Officer, Anti-GBV Directorate
"Thank you for steering the project, your energy, enthusiasm and passion to get things moving will be missed."
"Michelle, is someone who thinks without-the-box, she will help you to uncover truly innovative and creative solutions."