Founder

Dr. Barbara Mutedzi, PhD

DEGREES

PhD Conscious Business Ethics | MSc Medical Anthropology, Durham University, UK | Honors Socio-Cultural Anthropology, University of South Africa | BA Health & Community Psychology, University of South Africa | Bachelor’s & Ministers Degree in Metaphysics | Masters Degree in Metaphysics, University of Sedona, USA.

CERTIFICATES

Neuroscience-based coach | USAID Monitoring and evaluation fundamentals | UNDSS Basic security in the Field BSITF Certificate | NIH Certificate in protecting human research participants | USAID Gender integration in political transition environments

AWARDS

Durham University Research Department Fund, Durham, UK | Parkes Foundation, UK & Durham University. International Fieldwork Fund | Ruth First Scholarship South Africa & UK. Fully Funded Masters Scholarship | BuildCARE Africa recipient. Palliative Care Research Grant from King’s College London

ACADEMIC JOURNAL & OTHER PUBLICATIONS

SOME RESEARCH-RELATED EXPERIENCE

Process Evaluation Consultant

  • BBC Media Action and WHO: 2024-2025: The purpose of the evaluation was to assess actual activities and pathways in piloting the integration of BI questions into the Zambian Ministry of Health’s routine surveillance systems by documenting the development process, lessons learnt, and best practices for incorporating social and behavioral insights (SBI) data.

Research Lead on an independent study

  • Independent study with a colleague: Online 2023-2024: Creating concept notes, designing the study, recruiting, and interviewing participants, recording, analyzing, and reporting on results to be presented at a conference in Singapore in March 2024

Research Lead, Trainer & Co-Founder

  • The Jump Start Program: Harare, Zimbabwe: 2022: The Jump Start Program is a schools based mental health program for students aged 10 to 18. Led in the development of self-administered pre and post questionnaires for the students, teachers, parents, and facilitators; data analysis, reporting and recommendations.

Research consultant

  • The Inner Fitness Project California, United States: July – October 2021: Provided documented and scientific evidence of the socio- cultural and historical influences that lend to the gap of African American women’s experience and journey to inner wellness and wellbeing; whilst assessing any gaps in the accessibility of inner wellbeing programs and related interventions for African American women. Conducted a baseline survey to (i) pre-assess the inner fitness and wellbeing aspects of participants (baseline survey analysis & reporting); (ii) compare baseline data against end line data, to assess and document program effectiveness; and (iii) conduct a literature review as a way highlighting historical references to the program’s process

Qualitative data analyst

  • Centre for Sexual Health, and HIV Research (CESHHAR); Harare, Zimbabwe: 2019-22: Conducted qualitative analysis on the effects of Covid 19 (both negative and positives) on health, education, gender-based violence (GBV) and livelihood/socioeconomic (2021); Evaluated of the experience of medical personnel in a local hospital in quality of care for neonates (2021); Evaluated of a leadership program for young women in Zimbabwe (2019)

Principal Investigator. Consultant Researcher

  • King’s College London: Island Hospice Zimbabwe; 2017-2020: Successfully ran a feasibility cluster trial to test a locally developed grief and bereavement tool; Developed a detailed protocol approved by the national ethics board, recruited qualified research assistants, trained them, supervised data collection, quality control, data entry, analysis and reporting; Presenting published results at the African Palliative Care Conference in Rwanda, Kigali September 2019 and published the protocol for this study in the International Pilot and Feasibility Journal. Results manuscript is under review.

Qualitative Research Consultant

  • AMARI-African Mental Health Research Initiative; Regional: Africa: 2019-2020: Analyzed Qualitative data of interviews with mental health, neurological and substance abuse (MNS) practitioners, fellows & students to assess opportunities for strengthening MNS research & related policy in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopia, and South Africa; Created data analysis templates; coding, transcribing, analyzing, and reporting on data.

Qualitative Researcher

  • Q Partnership. Work with PACT: 2019: Carried an in-depth analysis of Zimbabwe’s civil society context: highlighting CSO financial, technical, and human resource sustainability; Conducted a desk review of PACT Zimbabwe to understand how their existing sustainability frameworks and activities are and would benefit them in the future; Advised on activities for increased efficiency and effectiveness

Consultant Evaluator

  • 4children Eswatini, Swaziland & Maestral International USA: September 2018: Documented key processes, approaches, successes, and lessons learned of 4Children ESwatini’s approaches to identify and respond to cases of violence against children and scale up their mechanisms and services; Conducted face to face interviews with NGOs, governmental officials, and staff from the Ministry of Health across four regions in Swaziland; Created data analysis templates, transcribed, analyzed, and reported on findings

Consultant Researcher

  • TRUST AFRICA. Zimbabwe. 2018: Principal investigator on the funding landscape in Zimbabwe: Conducted a desk review, designed questionnaires, set interview appointments and schedules with NGOs, CSOs and corresponding partners; Conducted interviews, created data analysis frameworks, analyzed, and reported on findings

Business Development & Research Manager – intermittent

  • Target Research & Q Partnership: 2013 – 2018: Research Manager: Led research projects from proposal writing to research design, training, and mentoring research assistants; from supervision to data collection and report writing; Project Management: Project lead on studies around the country. duties included:  desk and literature reviews, designing research questionnaires, training of researchers on data collection tools, quality assessments, data analysis and reporting on findings through written reports and in-person presentations to clients

Qualitative Research Expert

  • Independent Capacity Building with TRACE (DAI UK Funded): 2017: Developed and facilitated workshops in 2 cities for grant recipients; Special emphasis was on the development and use of the following tools: the most significant change stories, success stories, photo voice and case studies; Specific teachings were grounded in how to formulate questionnaires for each tool, collecting data, creating data analysis templates, coding data with program objectives and outcomes in mind, analyzing data for its relevance and reporting styles to and for various stakeholders from donors to beneficiaries in the communities.

Principal Investigator

  • Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI)Zimbabwe: 2016 – 2017: Explored and documented psychosocial support for children with cancer; Led the research process from protocol design, to successfully seeking approval from the national ethics boards; Collected data from key informants, hospital staff in the cancer department, caregivers, and parents of children with cancer and children (12 years and below) with cancer; Transcribed, translated, coded, analyzed, and reported on findings

Study Coordinator

  • GILEAD Sciences Research Scholars Program in HIV. Zimbabwe: 2016 – 2017: The program was funded through the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to reduce stigma and to motivate HIV testing in adolescents and younger children; Coordinated and collected information in preparation for the research phase of the project; Obtained local ethics; revised and translated materials into the local language and sought local expertise to refine study materials; collected market research data from the local community, to guide intervention development; created Training materials and an operation manual for approval and future use

Qualitative Research Specialist

  • Population Services International (PSI) Zimbabwe. 2016: Led qualitative research projects from project design to report writing and training staff; Was the research team link with program teams on research needs and research; M&E Data quality assurance and conducted quality control of field data collection; Proposed and led ethnographic methods new to the organization, including design thinking such as Human Centered Design, that compliment qualitative/quantitative research; Formulated and implemented a mentoring program for the organization’s young professionals

Independent Consultant & Writer on a National Report

  • UNICEF Zimbabwe: 2015 – 2016: Was the lead writer and synthesizer on a national report on the social determinants of violence against children in Zimbabwe. Participated in a systematic review as well as a literature review in this regard; Developed a Standard Operation Procedures for basic data preparation, entry, and content analysis; Facilitated youth participation by training youth researchers in data collection, analysis and documenting data collated from the workshops they conducted with young children across the country.

Qualitative Data Analyst

  • OPHID Zimbabwe: 2015: Used the Most Significant Changes (MSC) model to monitor and evaluate individual, community and clinic changes to understanding demand, and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services by young people; Documented project impact through reports; Contributed to sustainability of the project by starting a monthly newsletter translated into the local language for the young people.

Research Consultant

  • Africaid / Zvandiri Zimbabwe: 2015: Tested the validity of research tools (language and cognitive understanding of questionnaires) for future research projects on HIV status disclosure, stigma and discrimination amongst young people living with HIV. Determined the effectiveness of specific videos produced by Zvandiri to reduce stigma and encourage HIV testing and counseling services amongst young people

Research Consultant

  • Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) Zimbabwe: 2014 – 2016: Conducted an evaluation of a Grief Intervention project performed with young people living with HIV; Coordinated and supported REPSSI’s Head of Research on a project examining the efficacy of a peer led grief support intervention for adolescents living with HIV; Supported application and submission of documents to the national ethical review board; Administrative Support for the Certification Course in Community Based Work with Children and Youth offered in 11 countries with approximately 1200 students across sub-Saharan Africa

Project Manager

  • Chiedza Trust Zimbabwe: 2009 – 2015: Managed, facilitated, and documented health facility-based psychosocial and clinical support sessions with adolescents living with HIV; monitored effectiveness of sessions through focus group discussions. Trained and supported peer supporters’ team. Conducted resource mobilization, led media participation, and developed project proposals

Research Consultant

  • MHPSS Sri Lanka: 2014: Conducted desk research of online and social media networking to identify emerging and future trends that would inform MHPSS’ strategic planning, particularly in using online and social media to provide services

Associate Research Consultant

Q Partnership and Target Research (Pvt.) Ltd, Zimbabwe: From July 2013: Prepared draft and conducted interviews on involving key affected populations (KAPs) in Global Fund activities in their new funding model, Trained field researchers; Acted as liaison between field researchers and office staff, monitoring and providing information for and from both parties that ensured accurate data collection and input

*Anthroconsultancy is a subsidiary of the Michael Nelie Group