Mirriam Chisha Chimba
Consultant
Lusaka
Summary
A results-driven communications and advocacy consultant with 7+ years of experience spearheading impactful media, community and communications campaigns across the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region. Proven expertise in youth engagement, SRHR, and HIV/AIDS advocacy. Skilled in donor relations, digital advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and stakeholder engagement.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
10
10
Certification
Work History
Committee Member
Zambia National Health Observatory
Lusaka
07.2024 - Current
- Provide guidance to the Zambia National Health Research Authority, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa region, to establish and operationalize the Zambia National Health Observatory (ZNHO) in line with set standards by the Integrated African Health Observatory, to advocate for, and centralize health data collection, analysis, and sharing in Zambia for key decision-making towards the improvement of public health.
Campaign & Resource Mobilization Lead (Volunteer)
Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU)
Kampala, Uganda
01.2024 - Current
- Design and execute a national campaign emphasizing menstrual hygiene management, leveraging PHAU's 11-year expertise in HIV/AIDS advocacy.
Board Chairperson
Girls Pride Zambia
Lusaka
01.2024 - Current
- Develop, implement, and monitor organizational adherence to policies, providing guidance on key advocacy decisions; spearheading national and regional partnerships in the East and Southern Africa regions, facilitating partnerships for the organization's first regional and international funding under the European Union's 'Women and Youth in Democracy Project,' awarded in 2023-2024.
Consultant Grant Writer
Phenomenal Youths Association
Lusaka
02.2022 - Current
- Assess the organization for compliance against donor eligibility requirements and application processes for various grants, monitoring calls, and securing grant funding from UNAIDS for an HIV/AIDS program, improving adherence to treatment among youths living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia, reaching over 1 million people with the 'Chilimba' advocacy project in 2022
Chapter Executive Leader (Media & Communications Coordinator)
Women in Global Health Zambia
Lusaka
01.2024 - 03.2025
- Managed a 33-member communications volunteer team to bolster the chapter's regional and international visibility by executing global health advocacy campaigns, leading participation on national and global advocacy platforms like the Women Lift Global Health Conference, the National Gender in Health implementation strategy development process, and overseeing six thematic group leads, ensuring that all activities align with the chapter's key advocacy objectives.
- Led donor and stakeholder engagements resulting in an international partnership with the Danish Center for Human Rights and Development, supporting the second phase of the 'Confronting unsafe abortion and promoting access to safe abortions and care in Zambia' project, geared towards improved access to SRHR information and services for young people.
Youth Mentor Volunteer
Hearts Inspiration I Sekelela Youth Center I Fix & Flourish Girls Day Out
Lusaka, Zambia
11.2022 - 12.2024
- Advocated for access to SRHR information and services to young women aged 10-25, the majority of whom are teen mothers, HIV+ and faced with cross-cutting vulnerabilities, leading sessions on mental health management and linking over 150 young women to key resources and care between 2022 and 2024.
- Led partnerships for the above three organizations that led to the integration of programming and projects, elevating the mentorship experiences for the girls, leading to a more balanced and holistic approach to their improved health and well-being.
Consultant Event Moderator
Innovations for Poverty Action
Lusaka
06.2024 - 06.2024
- Planned feedback sessions and facilitated impactful discussions at the high-level dissemination event on the 'Impact of Home-based Growth Charts and Nutritional Supplements on Child Stunting in Zambia', contributing to promoting effective solutions for poverty reduction and child stunting in Zambia, resulting in key partnerships from among major donors and stakeholders in child health and nutrition in Zambia.
Consultant Facilitator- 4th Youth Conference
Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers
Livingstone
03.2024 - 03.2024
- Evaluated institutional policies and mechanisms for mental health support services to young workers, with representation from 80% of Zambia's financial institutions and service providers, making recommendations for adoption by member organizations
Consultant Facilitator- Team Building
World Bank
Lusaka
01.2024 - 01.2024
- Led the review of existing policies and procedures for the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), laying out the priorities for the World Bank Group's (WBG's) engagement to support Zambia for the years 2025-2029, refocusing on inclusive and more resilient growth, improved health and job creation.
Communications Officer
Uganda Girl Guides Association
Kampala
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Developed and executed a comprehensive communication strategy for seven projects across eighty districts, impacting over 5,000 school girls.
- Led stakeholder engagement and advocacy campaigns linked to 4 SDGs to promote gender equality, among other key Sustainable Development Goals, fostering youth leadership among girls and young women in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.
- Implemented data-driven strategies to enhance membership recruitment and retention, conducting surveys, building partnerships, and leading community engagement exercises to publicize the movement, resulting in partnerships with relevant institutions of the Ugandan government.
Consultant- Lead Grant Writer
Little Learners Tree School
Lusaka
08.2022 - 09.2022
- Secured grant funding support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program, leading to the extension of services for an effective reading program for children from low- and middle-income countries in Lusaka's densely populated Chilenje area.
Fellow
Global Health Corps
Lusaka
06.2020 - 07.2021
- I participated in a year-long leadership development program, advocating for health equity and social justice as means to improving overall public health, actively participating in fellow recruitment (reading and grading applications, as well as conducting interviews) as an alumnus, and assessing applications for the next cohort of health equity fellows across Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States of America for the last three out of four fellowship years.
Communications Officer
PATH
Lusaka
06.2020 - 07.2021
- Led the documentation of community engagement advocacy campaigns for malaria elimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching over 10 high-prevalence districts in Zambia and leading partnerships across Africa, Europe, and America, which led to continued funding for genomic sequencing research, a first-ever effort in Zambia supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
On-Air Announcer
Q FM Radio
Lusaka, Zambia
06.2013 - 10.2014
- Developed storylines for broadcasts and key messages for public service announcements, engaging listeners and audiences of more than 2 million people, both locally and via online streaming services.
- Fact-checked, edited, and loaded the back-end news website with the latest stories, managed the digital news archive, and organized events, leading outside broadcasting for landmark and sponsor occasions.
On-Air Announcer
University of Zambia Community Radio Station
Lusaka, Zambia
10.2009 - 12.2011
- Collaborated with producers and students in training to select and implement program content, working with Adobe Creative Suite software to edit news, public service announcements, and other programs, broadcasting to an audience of over 2 million people.
- Lead youth engagement and political discourse on key government policies, hosting public debates with decision makers and government officials, engaging over 500 students per live broadcast, reaching over 7,000 students on campus and in surrounding areas, leading to the government's decision to incorporate youth voices in the national decentralization policy.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Library and Information Studies with Public Administration
University of Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia12.2015
MBA - Business Administration
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Business School
Scotland, United KingdomSkills
- Social media management and analytics
- Canva, Adobe Creative Suite
- Data Analysis (SPSS, STATA, EViews)
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Web content management
- Digital advocacy
- Fundraising
- Research methods
- Donor relations
- Policy analysis
- Team leadership
- Policy development
- Multicultural communications
- Project management
Awards
- Team Image and Visibility Award, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, August 2023
- Article published on Gates Notes Insider, January 2021
Certification
- Communicating Gender Responsive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Gender in Health Summer Institute, Department of International Health (2024)
Timeline
Committee Member
Zambia National Health Observatory
07.2024 - Current
Consultant Event Moderator
Innovations for Poverty Action
06.2024 - 06.2024
Consultant Facilitator- 4th Youth Conference
Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers
03.2024 - 03.2024
Campaign & Resource Mobilization Lead (Volunteer)
Public Health Ambassadors Uganda (PHAU)
01.2024 - Current
Board Chairperson
Girls Pride Zambia
01.2024 - Current
Chapter Executive Leader (Media & Communications Coordinator)
Women in Global Health Zambia
01.2024 - 03.2025
Consultant Facilitator- Team Building
World Bank
01.2024 - 01.2024
Communications Officer
Uganda Girl Guides Association
01.2023 - 01.2024
Youth Mentor Volunteer
Hearts Inspiration I Sekelela Youth Center I Fix & Flourish Girls Day Out
11.2022 - 12.2024
Consultant- Lead Grant Writer
Little Learners Tree School
08.2022 - 09.2022
Consultant Grant Writer
Phenomenal Youths Association
02.2022 - Current
Communications Officer
PATH
06.2020 - 07.2021
Fellow
Global Health Corps
06.2020 - 07.2021
On-Air Announcer
Q FM Radio
06.2013 - 10.2014
On-Air Announcer
University of Zambia Community Radio Station
10.2009 - 12.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Library and Information Studies with Public Administration
University of Zambia
MBA - Business Administration
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Business School
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