Barbara Simaeys (°1971) ) is an engineer in international technological development. From 1997 to 1998 she spent 7 months in Ecuador, where she carried out a study for a local NGO on small-scale rural electricity supply. Barbara has been working as a consultant for South Research since 1999. Until 2002 she also worked half time as an evaluator for the Flemish NGO umbrella organisation 11.11.11 on behalf of the Instituut voor Ontwikkelingsbeleid en -beheer (IOB – Institute for Development Policy and Management) of the University of Antwerp. Barbara Simaeys is actively involved in various evaluation missions and gives training in project cycle management (PCM) and strategic planning, both in Belgium and in the South. Language skills: Dutch (mother tongue), Spanish, English and French.

Key areas of specialisation

• setting up and implementing evaluations at project, programme and policy level
• evaluation methods and techniques, including participatory and more traditional scientific methods
• interactive training, particularly in project cycle management
• facilitation of workshops
• specific expertise of: lobbying and advocacy by NGOs, partnerships between North and South, rural electricity supply.

Personal characteristics

• Barbara offers creativity, combined with an analytical and critical approach. She likes to study complex problems and then work out creative solutions for them. She enjoys challenges and innovation.
• Barbara has a wide range of interests and shows considerable openness and curiosity in the areas of cultural and intellectual life as well as interpersonal relationships.
• She likes motivating people and interacts enthusiastically with them.
• Barbara likes to work in a team of motivated people.

Selected work experience

• evaluating the effectiveness of Belgian NGO regional offices in the South: in Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Philippines and the Great Lakes region. Clients: 11.11.11, OXFAM Solidarity.
• evaluation of the Development Cooperation Covenant for cities, towns and municipalities in Flanders, and formulating policy recommendations on the basis of this evaluation. Client: Flemish Community.
• evalluating university development co-operation policy. Client: VLIR (Flemish Inter-University Council).
• moderating training courses in participatory project cycle management and strategic planning in various countries including Belgium, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, El Salvador, Zambia, Bangladesh and Ivory Coast. Clients: several NGOs, the University of Antwerp, ACV-internationaal.

Contact Details
South Research vzw, Leuvensestraat 5/2, 3010 Kessel-Lo, België
Tel.: +32 16 49 83 14
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