Professional Experience:
Nicholas Read is an experienced Programme Manager, Team Leader, and ICT4D consultant with over two decades of international work across Africa, Asia, Central Asia, and the UK. He has delivered major donor-funded programmes for the World Bank, DFID/FCDO, UNICEF, USAID, ADB, and MCA, combining strong programme leadership with technical expertise in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), supply chain reform, digital systems, and AI-driven reporting.
He has successfully led more than 10 programmes as Team Leader or Programme Manager, providing strategic oversight, governance, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of results in fragile, conflict-affected, and reforming contexts. In parallel, he has contributed to 15+ evaluations, consistently ensuring evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management.
In Rwanda (2008–2025), Nicholas directed the design and rollout of the national Learning and Teaching Materials MIS, managing an $80m+ system that became a continental benchmark. Before the MIS, he worked extensively on supply chain analysis and reform – consulting stakeholders, negotiating agreements, and improving efficiency in textbook distribution. He pioneered iPad-based EMIS data collection in 2012 and more recently led AI-driven forecasting and dashboard integration (2024–25).
As Team Leader in South Sudan (2016–2018, GESS II), he oversaw 15+ studies, managed a multi-national team, and worked with government stakeholders to establish a national research agenda and inclusion dashboards, building the evidence base for FCDO policy in fragile states.
In Namibia (2012–2016) he managed a $12m MIS and per-capita costing reform. He strengthened the Supply Chain Management Unit, introduced per-capita costing for equitable distribution, and embedded transparency into procurement processes while leading MIS integration.
In Lebanon (2017–2018, World Bank), he provided TA for RACE II and conducted a national textbook quality and procurement study, benchmarking supply chain systems and recommending procurement and QA reforms.
In Myanmar (2019–2021, TREE) he served as MERL Adviser, designing the MEL framework and Theory of Change for teacher reforms, integrating Power BI/SharePoint MIS, and piloting AI-informed CPD reporting. Similarly, in Bangladesh (2019–2021, TMTE) he designed a MEL/MIS suite, including dashboards, QA frameworks, and digital tools that supported 2,020 Master Trainers and 130,000 teachers nationwide.
In Ghana (2022–2024, GEOP/EOF), he built the first national outcomes dashboard for 170,000 learners, creating an AI-ready Power BI system and training MEAL teams.
His Central Asia and FSU experience is extensive: in the Kyrgyz Republic (2006–2019) he developed TRS/TRF MIS reforms and analysed supply chain flows for textbooks to ensure systems tracked real procurement and distribution. Across Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Mongolia (2005–2012) he supported ICT-based education reforms and authored regional policy papers. Having lived six years in Bishkek with family ties in the region, Nicholas brings strong contextual familiarity.
In the UK (Oxford Direct Services, 2022–2023), he served as PMO Lead Project & Programme Manager, implementing AI-powered dashboards, developing governance processes, and supporting benefits realisation across a municipal portfolio.
Across all assignments, Nicholas has demonstrated the ability to manage large-scale reforms, strengthen supply chain and procurement systems, deliver rigorous MEL, and introduce digital and AI-enabled solutions. He is well suited for programme management, MEL leadership, supply chain reform, and ICT4D/AI advisory roles.