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Regina Mamidy Yillah is the Founder and Director of Institute for Development (IfD). With over thirty years of exemplary leadership, she is an expert in public health and education, specializing in international development. During her tenure as the Country Director at Health Poverty Action, Regina identified a critical gap in sustainable expertise for project evaluations. This insight inspired her to establish IfD. She is deeply passionate about leveraging artificial intelligence in research and leads the IfD team in developing bespoke Sabi AI repositories.
alib Deen is the HR & Admin Officer. Prior to joining IfD he spent 8 years and the HR Manager for an international NGO. He also has diverse business and IT experience. In 2023, Talib received training on Research Administration and Management Programme sponsored by the ReBUILD programme.
The Finance team also sits within the Operations unit consisting of a Finance Consultant and a Finance Officer. Melrose Jones- Asgill is the Finance Consultant. She is an ACCA qualified Accountant with over 30 years experience in the UK and Sierra Leone. She has a wealth of experience in setting up and managing finance departments of start-ups. She loves designing efficient systems which enables organisations to grow
Oluwole Adrian Pratt is an accounting technician with years of experience in the subjects of finance and accounting throughout both study and work-life in the past. Additionally, possessing acute skills in Digital Information Systems and computer science helps make organisational decision-making fun and accurate with the use of computer aided and interactive illustrations backed by prudent financial statistics. Furthermore, adaptability and innovation shaped an interest for him in coding and development lending to skills in frontend presentations, websites, and databases.
Research Project Manager: Dr. John Alimamy Kabba holds a BSc (Hon) in Pharmacy from the University of Sierra Leone, an MSc in Pharmacology from China Pharmaceutical University, and a PhD in Pharmacy from Xi’an Jiaotong University in China. He began his career as an inspecting pharmacist at the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone and later transitioned to a pharmacist/research & policy lead role after completing his Ph.D.
Research Coordinator: Muallem Kamara brings a wealth of expertise to our team, holding a Masters in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. Currently pursuing a Masters in Research and Public Policy, his critical thinking skills are honed from over a decade of experience in research, monitoring, evaluation, and project implementation within the health sector.
Tima Brewah: Tima holds a master’s degree in Public Health and a BSc in Pharmacy (Hons). Tima has worked with UNICEF and WHO on several projects.
Researcher: Henrietta Koroma is a certified adult Educator and holds a Masters in Gender Studies. With her extensive experience in action research, she adds depth to our team’s capabilities, particularly in the realm of gender studies.
Researcher: Richard Pambu holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy, complemented by a first degree in Language Studies. He has taught French at all levels for almost a decade.
Anaïs Bash-Taqi is a researcher and communications officer at the Institute for Development (IfD), where she contributes to study design, data collection and analysis and research write-ups. In her communications role, she leads the development of content strategies ensuring that key audiences are engaged. She also manages IfD’s digital presence, including its LinkedIn page, the affiliated YouTube channel Dr Dee, and the IfD blog. She holds a BA in Geography from the University of Cambridge, where her undergraduate dissertation examined how race, nationality, and gender shape power dynamics between a leading Northern development organisation and its Southern partners. Her academic work reflects a strong commitment to intersectionality and decolonising aid, a focus she continues to pursue through an MSc in International Development at SOAS, University of London.
Stakeholder & Engagement: Emmanuel Foray is an accomplished educator and leader with a r with over 10 years of diverse experience. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Education Leadership and Management at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Emmanuel’s journey in education began with his Diploma and Bachelor of Education with Honors in Early Childhood Care and Education from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, a Certificate in Foundational Learning in Early Childhood Care and Education from BRAC University in Bangladesh.
Augustus is motivated public health researcher with extensive experience in health systems strengthening, adolescent health, maternal and child health, mental health, and women’s health in fragile and resource-limited settings. Currently serving as a Research Fellow at the institute for development in Sierra Leone, he has investigated multidisciplinary projects producing actionable insights that have informed health policies and interventions. Augustus holds an MSc in Public Health and a BSc in Biological Sciences from Njala University and has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, contributing to global health discourse. His expertise spans advanced statistical analysis (STATA, SPSS, R), qualitative research (NVIVO, MAXQDA), and geospatial mapping (ArcGIS), with a proven track record of translating complex data into evidence-based solutions. He has guided students and research assistants, fostering academic growth and research excellence. With commitment to equity and inclusion, he aims to leverage his skills and experience to address global health challenges through innovative, policy-driven research.
Dr Ayesha Idriss is.a highly accomplished pharmacist and multidisciplinary researcher. Dr Idriss was a key member of the team that conducted the Sierra Leone Trial to introduce a vaccine against Ebola and she has contributed significantly to the NIHR Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility (RUHF) project.
Sheku Wulladeh is a researcher at the Institute for Development (IfD), where he contributes to evidence-based work that supports community development and policy change. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Financial Services at the University of Sierra Leone, combining academic knowledge with hands-on experience in the financial and development sectors. Before joining IfD, Sheku served in various roles that built his expertise in finance, field operations, and marketing. He worked as a cashier at Vista Bank, a field officer at OYA Microfinance, and a sales agent at Africa Marketing Sierra Leone
Kandeh Paul Kamara is a dedicated development practitioner with expertise in community development and social impact initiatives. He has extensive experience working on projects focused on gender empowerment, youth engagement, and sustainable development. Kandeh is passionate about creating inclusive opportunities and driving positive change in local communities.
Erica Ruth Esther Bangura is a Researcher at the Institute for Development (IfD) Sierra Leone, with a B.Ed (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education. Formerly Production Manager at Hands of Hope Radio 100.5 FM and a two-time Human Trafficking Reporting Fellow, she combines research and media expertise to deliver impactful development-focused work.
Mohamed Juma Jalloh is a mixed qualitative and quantitative researcher with a solid background in peace and conflict resolution, records and information management, and human resources management.
Philip Amara – holds an MPH, MSc in Survey Methodology and MSC in Statistics. He is proficient in data analysis with over 20 years of experience in the analysis of national level household survey data with complex sample design features and the application of parametric and non-parametric methods for hypothesis testing using advanced statistical software such as SPSS, or SAS.
Dr Haja Wurie: formerly Research Lead ast. IfD, Dr Haja Wurie holds a PhD in Medicine. She is a highly experienced and skilled multidisciplinary researcher with over 40 academic publications.
Dr Sami Bajwa: Dr Bajwa is currently an Associate Professor and Director for the Centre for Multidisciplinary Research at the School of Business and Economics of the University of Management and Technology (UMT) In Pakistan. Dr Bajwa has served United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as National Expert for Investment Promotion, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) Government of Pakistan
Tania Fraser: Tania has several years’ experience working at the interface of gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights. She has led technical programs on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), social and behaviour change communication (SBCC), HIV and AIDS, gender-based violence, and governance. She was one of the contributors to the revision of the advocacy guide, ‘Roots of Change: A step-by-step guide to expanding access to safe abortion by Ipas. She is also the founding Chair of the People’s Alliance for Reproductive Health and Advocacy (PARHA) Coalition, a coalition of stakeholders working on reproductive health reform in Sierra Leone.Tania holds a Masters degree in Anthropology.
Dr Bintu Mansaray – Social Science Researcher (PhD), medical doctor, and public health specialist with 6+ years of experience in conducting women’s and children’s sexual violence research with multiple learning institutions and research organisations. Bintu is also safeguarding expert.
Beryl Reindorf: Beryl holds a master’s in international public health. She has strong knowledge in qualitative and quantitative research, women and children’s health, health systems, surveys, data analysis and monitoring and evaluation.
Researcher: Andrew Dauda holds a bachelor’s degree in social work. He has five years’ experience of working in research in various international organisations. Andrew is currently studying for a dual postgraduate degree in Master in Global Health Policy and Management with concentration on Health Systems strengthening and Master in Sustainable International Development at Brandeis University in the US.
Comms: Christiana Banja is a committed scholar and advocate with a varied academic background, including a Bachelor of Social Science in Social Work. She is close to finishing her Master of Philosophy in Gender and Development Studies and is simultaneously pursuing a Bachelor of Law degree at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Christiana’s interests encompass public policy, development communications, and social science research, reflecting her passion for justice and equity. Dedicated to leveraging her knowledge and skills, she aims to contribute significantly to advancing social justice, gender equality, and sustainable development.
Saidu Wurie Jalloh is a researcher at the institute for Devlopment (IfD), where he leads the development of data collection tools for quantitative research. He contributes to data-driven approaches by managing mixed-methods data processes, supporting baseline analyses, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver research-related outputs. He also works at the intersection of research and systems strengthening, with a focus on improving internal workflows and data management practices. Saidu holds a master’s degree in mathematics (Data Science option) from the Pan-African University in Kenya.
Mahmoud Gbessay: holds a First Class Honours degree in Computer Science from Njala University. Has a strong passion for programming with foundations in Internet of Things, Software Engineering, Data Science and Health Informatics. He has a passion about using technology to address real world challenges.
