Sumali Ray-Ross

About Sumali Ray-Ross

Seasoned international public health and development professional with over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, design, facilitation and training, capacity building, resource mobilization, grant and project management, and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of multi-million dollar global health programs and teams. I have worked with diverse stakeholders, including the U.S. Government (USAID, and the Departments of State and Agriculture), UN agencies, host governments, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund), academia, private sector, and non-governmental organizations. My expertise includes public health, gender, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), disability, youth and women’s empowerment, marginalized populations, anti-trafficking, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), documentation and human resource development. I am known for my inclusive, collaborative intercultural working style and strong strategic partnering skills in diverse cultural settings. Country experience: Bangladesh, Cambodia, El-Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, South Africa, Timor-Leste, USA and Vietnam I am the Founder of Sumali Ray-Ross, LLC, a women owned small business working on consulting, coaching, advocating and speaking in the areas of health, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA), transition, empowerment and post-COVID issues. My mantra is \"client, client and client and I meet you where you are in your life and wellness journey.

Experience

1. Senior Business Development Strategist

   Engenderhealth

   Dec 2023 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Managed and secured $16.25 million from the Gates Foundation for an Integrated Reproductive, Maternal Neonatal and Child Health, and Postpartum Family Planning project in Ethiopia. Facilitated and co-designed a virtual Global Leadership Meeting for 80 Leaders from Africa and Asia, and headquarters. Serve as the Business Development Focal Point for Ethiopia and Bangladesh. Develop proposals, concept papers, briefing documents and reports. Served as the Donor Engagement Advisor and Focal Point for bilateral (USAID and European) and multilateral donors and foundations. Wrote and updated donor profiles. Led an in-person training workshop, in India, for the Country Office on business development, resource mobilization and donor and strategic partner engagement. Led donor engagement and outreach meetings with the United Nations and the Government in Bangladesh to expand the organization\'s operations in Asia. Coached Country Directors, staff and consultants in Africa and Asia on business development, resource mobilization, donor engagement, and concept paper and proposal development. Managed the data collection and the preparatory phase of a $30 million West Africa Regional Opportunity. Coordinated with program staff in Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cote \'Ivoire, Benin, Tanzania and the U.S.

Education

• The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

  Certificate, Global Health and Disability

  2018 — 2018

• Columbia University

  Masters of Public Health, Reproductive Health and Family Planning

  1986 — 1988

• Columbia University

  Masters in International Affairs, Economic and Political Development

  1986 — 1988

• Royal Tropical Institute, KIT, Amsterdam, Netherlands

  Certificate in Gender Studies

  2000 — 2000

• Yale University

  Certificate, The Science of Wellbeing

  2020 — 2020

• The Johns Hopkins University

  Certificate, Confronting Gender-based Violence

  2020 — 2020