Experience

International School of Ouagadougou
• Burkina Faso
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Board Member

  • Aug 2020 - Present


Conflict Management Consulting (CMC)

• Belgium
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• • Apr 2019 - Aug 2020

  Political analysis, development and security policy, monitoring and evaluation in fragile and active conflict areas.

• • Mar 2018 - Sep 2019

  Conflict Management Consulting (CMC) provides M&E, technical assistance and research services in fragile, conflict and post-conflict areas. We work for international organizations, governments and civil society, deploying multi-national and highly specialised teams of experts.



Independent

• Uganda
• International Trade and Development
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Political Analyst and Independent Consultant

  • Aug 2015 - Aug 2020

  I work with bilateral and multilateral organisations, NGOs and the private sector in fragile contexts in Africa. I bring to this work: 1.) research-grade political analysis 2.) operational experience with project implementation in difficult environments 3.) 17 years of professional engagement I work with bilateral and multilateral organisations, NGOs and the private sector in fragile contexts in Africa. I bring to this work: 1.) research-grade political analysis 2.) operational experience with project implementation in difficult environments 3.) 17 years of professional engagement



Political Science, Copenhagen University

• Denmark
• International Affairs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lecturer on the international community in fragile states

  • Aug 2019 - Jul 2020

  MA class entitled "Denmark and the International Community in Fragile States - doctrine, experience, critique". The course is a critical interrogation of recent experiences by the international community in implementing stabilisation, state-building and democratisation initiatives in fragile, postcolonial states. MA class entitled "Denmark and the International Community in Fragile States - doctrine, experience, critique". The course is a critical interrogation of recent experiences by the international community in implementing stabilisation, state-building and democratisation initiatives in fragile, postcolonial states.



Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen

• Denmark
• International Affairs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• • Sep 2014 - Aug 2015

  1. Contemporary approaches to development and security policy, with a focus on good governance and achieving 'stateness'. 2. Dominant critical approaches to development, mainly post-development, and understanding local resistance to state-building.3. Teaching and MA-thesis supervision.

• • Mar 2013 - Oct 2014

  1. Focus on alternative forms of political authority and social order in post-colonial African countries, including on practices of resistance to Western-led state-building. A case study of Kenya.2. Peer reviews, funding proposals, project design, editorial work.3. Frequent contributions to the print and broadcast media.4. Teaching and MA-thesis supervision on

• • Sep 2011 - Oct 2014

  1. Focus on the conflict between constitutional political authority and informal authority structures in the form of social movement in Kenya. Six months of field work in Kenya. Funded by the Danish Council for Independent Research. 2. Teaching and MA-thesis supervision on alternative forms of political authority and social order in post-colonial countries.3. Peer reviews, funding proposals, project design, editorial work.4. Frequent contributions to the print and broadcast media.



Action Aid Denmark - MS

• Council Member

  • May 2011 - May 2013

  The MS Council represents the membership and provides strategic direction and accountability to the executive. In cooperation with Nils Wiese, I initiated the first Council Working Group on social movements, which concretised possible ways of working with social movements as a developmental actor. Our white paper on social movements gave substance to the strategic role allocated to social movements in the "AA International Strategy 2012-2017: People’s Action To End Poverty" The MS Council represents the membership and provides strategic direction and accountability to the executive. In cooperation with Nils Wiese, I initiated the first Council Working Group on social movements, which concretised possible ways of working with social movements as a developmental actor. Our white paper on social movements gave substance to the strategic role allocated to social movements in the "AA International Strategy 2012-2017: People’s Action To End Poverty"



British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA)

• Visiting Political Analyst

  • Feb 2012 - Aug 2012

  1. I was based at the BIEA for six months, where I conducted analysis of contemporary Kenyan politics, non-state actors and social movements. This gave me the opportunity to network extensively with Kenyan stakeholders. 2. I was the initiator and convener in cooperaton with the BIEA and the Centre For Human Rights and Policy Studies of a workshop for consultants, researchers and the broader public in Nairobi to discuss the political challenges presented by the popular movement mungiki. See: https://nairobinow.wordpress.com/tag/mungiki-workshop/ 3. The research and analysis also resulted in presentations for the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi and for ActionAid International's Global Platform in Nanyuki. 4. These activities were made possible by financing from the Danish Council for Independent Research. Show less



Family Sonnichsen

• Paternity dad

  • Feb 2011 - Jul 2011

  Skills achieved: I can perform a complete nappy change in under three minutes. Skills achieved: I can perform a complete nappy change in under three minutes.

• • Aug 2009 - Feb 2011

  1. Focus on methods for political analysis, including context analysis in sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific focus on formation of collective identity. 2. BA and MA-thesis supervision on politics and African development.3. Peer reviews and quality assurance.4. Funding proposals, project design5. Editorial work.6. Contributions to the print and broadcast media.

• • Aug 2005 - Aug 2009

  Title: "Unmaking 'the people'​ - unity and division in post-apartheid South African politics". Focus on the troublesome and partial formation of a democratic social order and the implications hereof for contemporary South Africa.The project challenged the expectation that post-apartheid party formation would reflect a fragmented social base. Instead, formal political fragmentation has reflected collective identities that were formed in the struggle against apartheid. These collective identities continue to exist vibrantly in post-aparthied South Africa. In this sense, even though South Africa is formally beyond apartheid, its primary political divisions are not. Extensive field-work in South Africa with amongst others, the new social movements. Show less



Nordic Africa Institute

• Sweden
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Visiting Political Analyst

  • Jan 2009 - Mar 2009

  Awarded a three month writing scholarship at the Nordic Africa Institute for completion of the manuscript for the Ph.D. This offered me the opportunity of extensive networking with international and African experts in an environment of lively debate about contemporary African challenges. The Nordic Africa Institute also has a very strong library on Africa, which was a fruitful ressource for my work. The scholarship offered full accommodation, office and research library facilities. Awarded a three month writing scholarship at the Nordic Africa Institute for completion of the manuscript for the Ph.D. This offered me the opportunity of extensive networking with international and African experts in an environment of lively debate about contemporary African challenges. The Nordic Africa Institute also has a very strong library on Africa, which was a fruitful ressource for my work. The scholarship offered full accommodation, office and research library facilities.



Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER)

• South Africa
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Visiting Political Analyst

  • Jul 2006 - Dec 2006

  Six-month post at WISER, a top-notch research institute which focuses on contemporary African social and political development. WISER was an excellent platform for networking with African experts and for field work for the Ph.d. Additionally, I had extensive contact with a broad scope of central actors in post-apartheid politics including amongst political parties and the new social movements. Six-month post at WISER, a top-notch research institute which focuses on contemporary African social and political development. WISER was an excellent platform for networking with African experts and for field work for the Ph.d. Additionally, I had extensive contact with a broad scope of central actors in post-apartheid politics including amongst political parties and the new social movements.



Ramboll Management Consulting

• Denmark
• Business Consulting and Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• • 2001 - 2005

  Donor-financed consulting services for capacity building and organisational development of public sector institutions in Africa and Eastern Europe. Included all stages of the project cycle from conception and apparaisals thru evaluation, formation of international consortia with extensive cooperation with local stakeholders, project management and mobilisation of experts. I was really in the machine room of the daily project work, with responsibility for implementation, for securing the professional quality of our project outputs, including securing contractual compliance. My work also included scoping for new opportunities, field trips, extension of our international network. In a nutshell: all aspects of implementation of donor-financed development projects. Selected project examples:• Business Process Re-engineering for the Tanzania Revenue Authority, World Bank• Mid-term evaluation of the European Refugee Fund, EU - DG Justice and Home Affairs• Elaboration of ESF Project Generation Facility, Hungary, EU Phare• Study tour to Denmark for Moldovan Public Sector Executives, Demokratifonden• Development of Governorate Level Health Plans, Egypt, World Bank• Review of Water and Sanitation Program, Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Danida Show less

• • 1999 - 2001

  Hands-on immersion in donor financed development work focussing on capacity building of public sector in recipient countries. Tasks included implementing study trips for public officials, assembling teams of short term and long term experts tailored for specific Terms of Reference, proposal writing, fielding of international and local experts.