Deborah is a social development and local governance consultant with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), local governance, and climate change. She applies this expertise across sectors, including infrastructure, conservation, women’s economic empowerment, violence against women and girls, health, justice, governance and public financial management.
Deborah has worked with SD Direct since 2017 on both long and short term assignments. Long-term assignments include providing GEDSI and conflict sensitivity technical assistance to Hlan Chi, the DFID Myanmar Cities and Infrastructure for Growth programme. She was the principal writer of Women's Economic Empowerment and Climate Change: A Primer for FCDO, which was showcased at COP 26 by Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Shorter term assignments have included the design of an analytical framework for assessing drivers of vulnerability to climate risk for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a rapid review of green growth opportunities for women and youth in urban areas of Mozambique for FCDO Mozambique, and a portfolio review of gender equality and international climate finance in selected British High Commission Tanzania programmes.
Alongside working with SD Direct, Deborah has worked with a range of clients including FCDO, the British Council, World Bank, UNOPS, UNICEF, Mercy Corps, PACT International and local NGOs such as Akhaya Women in Myanmar and Regional Screen Scotland’s Cinema Near You project. Prior to becoming a consultant, Deborah worked for DFID as a Social Development Adviser in Rwanda, Kenya, Myanmar and Whitehall where she developed and/or led a range of programmes such as the Burma Civil Society Strengthening Programme, the British Embassy in Burma’s Women, Peace and Security agenda, Rwanda’s national Social Protection Programme, the Kenya Adolescent Girls’ Initiative Action Research Programme and was seconded to the World Bank’s Accountable Devolution programme in Kenya. She has an excellent understanding of, and track record in, contributing to UK government strategy, policy, programming and briefing.
Deborah has an MSc in Policy Studies and an MA in English Literature from University of Edinburgh. Her publications include two book chapters: ‘When Heads of the Household become Heads of the Village: Gender and Institutional Change in Local Governance Settings in Myanmar’ in Hedström, J. and Olivius, E. (Ed.s) (2022) Waves of Upheaval in Myanmar: Gendered Transformations and Political Transitions, and ‘The Winding Path to Gender Equality in Myanmar’ in Chambers, J., Galloway, C. and Liljeblad, J. (Ed.s) (2021) Living in Myanmar, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.