Blue Sky Revolution
An International Development Company
Jiunganishe na Mapinduzi

Services

Capacity Building & Training

At the heart of development and the heart our business. We work with individuals, organizations and societies to develop the skills to achieve their own development goals.

Research & Data Analysis

In the data landscape of increasing volume and variety, new problems are introduced. We don’t need more information, we need better information. We provide informed, high-impact development programming driven by real data.

Environmental & Social Impact

We assess the effects resulting from the interaction between a program’s activities and the local community and environment and provide strategies to mitigate negative impact.

Value Chain Development

We identify the weaknesses in the movement of goods to market and work to strengthen the partnerships to increase competitiveness and ultimately benefit the smallholder.

ICT For Development

Blue Sky Revolution has deep roots in implementing technology solutions for development. We build the partnerships that drive collective impact on the way to an inclusive digital economy.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

Our deep roots in research and data analysis provide the foundation for designing and implementing MEL and data collection strategies with a focus both on accountability as well as improved development outcomes.

Sectors We Support

Economic Growth & Trade
Governance
Agriculture & Food Security
Education

Health
Vulnerable Populations
Environment & Climate Change
Gender

Past and Present Work

Blue Sky Revolution is not the prime contractor on projects below. Click a project to learn about our specific work on each.

Customs Reform Project

Timor-Leste

Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Activity

Bangladesh

East Africa Trade and Investment Hub

East & Central Africa

COMESA Trade Facilitation Study

Eastern & Southern Africa

Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Program

East & Central Africa

About

Download the Blue Sky Revolution brief

Based in the USA, Blue Sky Revolution is a Woman-Owned Small Business that provides technical and management consulting services for development projects worldwide. BSR formerly held permanent offices in Nairobi, Kenya and has provided services in The United States, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Bangladesh and Timor-Leste.

Partner With Us

The success of a development program is largely driven by the quality of the technical people on the ground. This quality is not only measured in technical expertise, but in perseverence, building trust and relationships, cultural awareness and integrity. Blue Sky Revolution’s complete consideration approach to development is based on establishing the environment that enables development to take root and thrive.

Our Team

 

Helene Smith

Owner & CEO (DRR)

Helene is the owner and CEO of Blue Sky Revolution. She has over 13 years of international experience in the humanitarian and development sectors. Helene has worked with the United Nations, USAID and other international donors, and various high profile NGO’s including the Norwegian Refugee Council. She has experienced the successes and shortcomings of organizations, management practices, project strategies and implementations firsthand. It is this experience that drives her to lead Blue Sky Revolution not only as an innovative force in development but also as an example of best practices and dedication to promoting meaningful change. Helene’s areas of technical expertise include: environmental and social impact, data collection and analysis, capacity building, Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Response. Helene has an MSC in Sustainable Development from the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands and a Master in Business and Economics from the Norwegian School of Business and Management as well as an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from the Center for International Humanitarian Cooperation (CIHC) in New York. She holds dual citizenship in Norway and The United States.

Michael Smith

Trade Facilitation and Technology

Michael combines a technical background in mathematics and computer science with over 17 years of professional experience. His focus is on developing and implementing environmentally viable and inclusive technology programs through a collective impact approach. Michael’s last 13 years in international development, management and technical fieldwork position him to provide high level strategic analysis and oversight and also to evaluate a complex, technical deliverable. Since 2009, he has worked as an independent consultant and contributed to numerous multi-sector proposals including the five-year, 80 million dollar, USAID COMPETE Program in East Africa. His experience includes organizing multicultural partnerships with governmental and regional bodies and leading diverse teams of international workers in Asia and more than 9 different Sub-Saharan African countries. His work has been featured in publications by the World Bank, World Customs Organization and various business and trade journals.

Finn Holm-Olsen

Economic Growth & Trade

Finn Holm-Olsen, a US national, is a seasoned international trade expert with 25 years of professional experience in a developing country context, with particular expertise in Africa. During this time, he has designed and managed enterprise development and capacity building programs; advanced U.S. trade policy interests in Africa; and promoted U.S African business ties under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Mr. Holm-Olsen lived and worked in Kenya for 14 years, during which time he served as the AGOA Director for three consecutive USAID Trade Hubs in East Africa. Mr. Holm-Olsen served previously as the Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya; and as the Senior South Africa Analyst at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, where he coordinated U.S. commercial policy towards South Africa. He holds an M.B.A. in International Business and a B.S. in Marketing Management.

Sandra Walton-Ellery

Humanitarian and Development

Sandie, an Australian national, has more than 15 years of international experience working within the fields of humanitarian response and international development. She is a dedicated and determined professional, with proven skills in forging relationships and building partnerships, quick to learn new content and experienced in communicating messages to different audiences. She has a particular interest in qualitative data and giving voice to people. Bringing stakeholders around a common purpose is a hallmark of her experience. Deployments to humanitarian emergencies, for disaster preparedness, longer-term development, capacity building and training highlight her flexibility. She has experience working with a multitude of stakeholders including donors, UN, INGOs and NGOs. Her core competencies include humanitarian response, early recovery and development; humanitarian needs assessments; training and workshop design and delivery; mentoring; research, analysis and writing; project design; and monitoring, evaluation and learning. She has in-country experience from Kenya, Fiji, PNG, Nepal, Ukraine, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Ukraine and Kosovo.

Edward Turvill

Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation

Edward has over 18 years of experience working in the areas of disaster risk reduction, disaster resilience, climate change adaptation, humanitarian and development program management. He has a strong knowledge of DRR and climate change, having worked at the policy development level with both the UN, NGOs and donors, as well as having implemented projects in the field, and organized capacity building and training. Other key areas of expertise include disaster risk analysis and gender, climate finance and climate risk management. He has a law degree in addition to two Master degrees: Master in International and European law and Master International Humanitarian Aid. Edward has in-country experience from Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Iraq, Bangladesh, Philippines, Fiji and Vanuatu in the Pacific.

Julia Stanfield

Sustainability and Climate

Julia, a Canadian and French national, has over six years of international experience working in the area of climate change mitigation and sustainability with the United Nations. Her major areas of expertise are sustainable energy (renewable energy and energy efficiency) and sustainability (sustainable consumption and production). She holds an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology and has experience with climate change technologies, climate finance, project management, research and analysis, report writing, and conference and workshop coordination. Julia has in-country experience from Kenya, Thailand and China, and speaks and writes English and French fluently.

Rehana Shaikh

Gender and Social Development

Rehana has over 20 years of experience working in the fields of public policy, gender, education, monitoring and evaluation, training and facilitation, and management. She holds an MSc in Public Policy and Management and Master in Rural Development. She has served in rural and urban settings, all over Pakistan and has also worked in Bangladesh and Afghanistan. She has experience working with donors, NGOs and UN, and organizations she has worked with include, British Council/ DFID, Save the Children (UK), Agha Khan Foundation, Raasta Development Consultants, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (A World Bank Project), Sungi Development Foundation, Oxfam, Troicare, Plan Pakistan, Asia Foundation, Asian Development Bank, UNICEF, CIDA, ILO, and various other National and International NGOs. She speaks, reads and writes English, Urdu and Sindhi.

Froydis Archer

Development Consultant

Frøydis, a Norwegian national, has 19 years of experience from Africa, including Kenya, Uganda and Ivory Coast. She has worked in both development aid and private sector, for the United Nations (UNOCHA and WFP), African Development Bank, Norwegian Embassy, as well various private institutions. In Kenya she established, run and exited successfully her own business, which supported the employment of under privileged women. She has extensive project management experience and holds a Masters degree in Development Studies. Supporting entrepreneurship is another key area of expertise, and she has provided mentoring and training in entrepreneurship to university students in Kenya.

Asma Alam

Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation

Asma, a Bangladeshi national, has more than 18 years of international experience from Southern Asia (with the main focus in Bangladesh). Her main areas of expertise include Monitoring and Evaluation, Development of Proposals, Policy Review, Organizational Development, Economic and Social Development, Migration and Development, Disaster Management, and Gender. She has extensive experience working in various sectors and fields, including Agriculture, Livelihoods, Human Rights, Humanitarian response, Governance, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, and Migration. She holds two Master Degrees (Mphil and MSc) in Zoology and has worked with a multitude of stakeholders including the World Bank, IOM, Governmental Ministries, and various NGOs.

Heather Grieve

Nutrition & Food Security

Heather, an Australian national, has over 26 years of experience working in the field of nutrition and public health, of which the last 11 have been in South East Asia and the Pacific. She has worked with the United Nations, various donors, National Governments, and international as well as local NGOs. She has been program manager for various nutrition projects across South East Asia, been a lecturer for indigenous students, supported the development of nutrition policies, and planned and undertaken monitoring and evaluation activities on a multitude of projects. She holds a Master’s degree in public health and a Master in nutrition and dietics and speaks English, Thai, Lao and Tetum.

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