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YESHUA RUSSEL

International Development & Systems Transformation Leader

Connecting Digital Economies, Inclusive Growth & Development Impact.

More than fifteen years across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa linking labour market intelligence, digital skills and inclusive enterprise to programme strategy — for development partners, governments and the private sector.

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Portrait of Yeshua Russel

International Development · Digital Transformation · Labour Market Systems · Inclusive Economic Growth

[ Trusted on assignments for ]

  • WBGThe World BankGEM Project
  • IFADIFADCASP Programme
  • IFPRIIntl. Food Policy Research InstituteLead Research Consultant
  • GACGlobal Affairs CanadaEconomic Empowerment Strategy
  • EU·GIZEuropean Union / GIZKaduna Strategy
  • SSSightsaversNational Study
  • WECWEConnect InternationalCluster Lead, West Africa
  • MFMoody's FoundationFunded Initiative

[01] Years

15+

Development consulting, programme leadership and systems advisory

[02] Trained

1,450

Agribusiness personnel across seven states (IFAD CASP)

[03] Countries reached

8

WEConnect bootcamp expansion informed by the Nigeria pilot

[04] African markets

5+

Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and wider West Africa

Introduction

A multidisciplinary development professional working at the intersection of strategy, evidence, technology, skills and inclusive economic participation — with more than fifteen years across consulting, donor-funded programmes and systems-level advisory.

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Selected areas of impact

Four lenses on one problem: building pathways from complex systems to inclusive opportunity.

[PILLAR-01]

Development Strategy & Systems Change

Programme design, donor-funded delivery and institutional partnerships that turn analysis into durable change.

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[PILLAR-02]

Digital Economies, Skills & Future of Work

Labour market intelligence and IT value-chain analysis that connect training systems to real employer demand.

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[PILLAR-03]

Inclusive Growth & Economic Empowerment

Designing for women, young people and persons with disabilities as participants in markets, not afterthoughts.

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[PILLAR-04]

Agriculture, Climate & Sustainable Livelihoods

Value-chain and market-systems work that strengthens livelihoods while building climate resilience.

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Institutional experience

Selected organisations engaged through consultancy assignments, programme roles and funded initiatives. Listing does not imply endorsement or current affiliation.

  • The World Bank
  • IFAD
  • International Food Policy Research Institute
  • Sightsavers
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • GIZ / European Union
  • WEConnect International
  • Moody's Foundation

Selected work

All case studies
[CASE-01]

IT Skills Demand, Disability Diagnostics & Digital Employment Study

Sightsavers-funded national study

[CASE-02]

Inclusive Digital Finance & Skills in Agricultural Value Chains

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

[CASE-04]

Women's Enterprise Market Access, Digital Skills & the Moody's Creditworthiness Bootcamp

WEConnect International

[CASE-05]

Climate-Smart Agriculture & Inclusive Agribusiness Development

IFAD-supported Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP, $81M)

Engagements

Complex assignments benefit from connected thinking.

Open to consulting engagements, strategic advisory, research assignments, programme leadership and professional collaboration.

Discuss an opportunity