Dennis Pain, Ph.D., M. Soc. Sci.
Address:
Regfell House, Midville Lane, Stickney, Boston, Lincs PE22 8DW;
Office: +44(0)1205 481285
House: +44(0)1205 480258; mob: +44(0)787 3205 806
e-mail: dennis-pain@acts-consultancy.com
Skype: dennis-pain
Education:
M.A. Social Anthropology (Cambridge 1968)
Ph.D. Urban Anthropology (Cambridge 1975)
Cert Theology (Birmingham 1980)
M.Soc.Sci (Social Work – Birmingham 1982)
Creative thinker and inspiring leader; experienced social sector policy advisor, practitioner and
trainer in UK, India and Africa with track record of identifying underlying structures of inertia
and providing leadership to address these sustainably and to inspire working partnerships for
change, particularly for the marginalised and those in conflict-affected areas.
Areas of Expertise:
Political economy of change; performance incentive structures; accountability &
responsiveness of service providers; monitoring & evaluation, including community-based
monitoring and triangulation; conflict analysis and resolution, traditional justice and
reconciliation mechanisms; equity analysis and social exclusion; transformation of gender
power relations; social policy and social protection system development; leadership training;
culture and structure in Africa and South Asia
Strengths:
Examples of personal leadership: setting strategy of key stakeholders for eliminating female
genital cutting in complex socio-political environment in Liberia (2012); conflict analysis with an
education lens, leading to design of a national Peacebuilding & Education programme in
Liberia (2012); leading on defining social policy agenda for Africa’s economic integration
(2010); bringing together women’s movement across Africa to develop a strategic approach to
gender transformation (2010); through leading DFID’s social protection agenda, bringing
protection of the poorest to forefront of G20 (2009) and aligning international agencies behind
country-defined social protection floors for Africa (2010); design of the Performance, Evidence
and Accountability programme of support to Government of Malawi (2007) and initiating, with
government and civil society, national community based monitoring of services; generated
evidence and strategy for influencing Government of Malawi to focus on early primary to
impact girls education (2008); devising social equity auditing and changing bureaucratic
incentives to focus on the marginalised in the major national health and education programmes
of India (2003-2005); outline for peace in N. Uganda and initiating the amnesty provision
(various from 1997); changing service provision for Asian elderly in UK (1980s).
Overall: 40 years cross-cultural social development experience focusing on direct and policy
work with the poor in UK and overseas, including defining social policy for impact on growth
and development; cutting edge work on policy reform and service delivery, drawing on
evidence and micro-macro linkages; incentivising outcome performance and capability for
service provision, with particular focus on maternal health; demand-side articulation matched
by state accountability & responsiveness; inclusive policy formulation & implementation;
poverty research & analysis for empowerment; political economy and social exclusion analysis
and social impact analysis at the policy level; community monitoring; conflict management &
resolution, particularly the contribution of Track 3 initiatives; reconciliation work and “amnesties
without impunity”; negotiating skills at Ministerial/Permanent Secretary and community levels;
training and mentoring.
Employment History:
Development Consultant, Acts Consultancy, Sep 2011 to date: policy and action for social
inclusion and social protection, conflict resolution, gender equality and maternal health, with
increased accountability to the poor and changed political incentives to deliver transformation;
mentoring international development practitioners. Sep 2011 to Oct 2012: advising UNICEFLiberia and Government of Liberia on its Poverty Reduction Strategy, Situational Analysis of
Women & Children, Equity Analysis, UNICEF’s new country programme, conflict analysis for
design of new peacebuilding programme; community based monitoring. Feb 2012 to Mar
2013: report and data update for African Union on harmful practices affecting girls and women;
design of Liberia Education & Peace-building programme; advising AUC Dept for Social Affairs
on the post-2015 agenda and on generating an African Wellbeing Index.
DFID Senior Gender & Social Policy Adviser, Africa Region, (Addis Ababa) Nov 2009 to
Aug 2011: Bridging the gap between policy and implementation in support of AU, sub-regional
and national agenda for transformation of gender relations, social policy and social protection
systems development; coordinated Africa Regional Strategic Gender Transformation planning
workshop and subsequent design of a new multi-donor AWDF gender transformation fund
(2010); external member of World Bank Africa Social Protection Strategy Review and
contributed to African Development Bank social protection approach paper (2010); brought
alignment of UN Social Protection Floor with AU Social Policy Framework for Africa behind
country-defined and implemented approach; drafted AU social policy implementation strategy;
advising regional DFID design team on demand side approaches for a new maternal health
evidence and advocacy programme; and (since May 2011) synthesis of gender-related outputs
from DFID-funded research on growth and on governance, conflict and social development;
design of participatory research on social protection
DFID Social Protection Team Leader, (Policy & Research Division, London) Aug 2008 to
Nov 2009: Strategic networking to raise profile of social protection in G20 and White Paper,
generating evidence of household level impact of the financial crisis on the poor; Leading
DFID’s analysis of affordable social protection policies and strategies to address needs of the
most vulnerable; leading DFID’s response to the UNSG High Level Task Force’s
“Comprehensive Framework for Action” identification of strengthening social protection
mechanisms in relation to the food price crisis.
DFID Deputy Head (Country Policy & Social Sectors), (Malawi) 2005 to 2008: Developed
DFID Country Assistance Strategy Performance Framework; multi-donor budget support
Performance Assessment Framework; social & governance programme quality/results
monitoring; risk registers; political influencing strategy; engaged across political spectrum to
generate mediation possibilities; initiated new programme to change incentives towards
service delivery for changed outcomes for the poor; initiated inter-church theological analysis
relating to HIV pandemic; social transformation agenda based on analysis of political and
social interests and a long-term perspective.
DFID Senior Social Development Adviser, (India) 2001 to 2005: quality control of social
development advice in sector & budget support & strategies. Led on:- political-economy and
poverty analysis; civil society and advocacy; India-Pakistan Conflict Strategy; 3 Strategic
Conflict Analyses; strategic partnerships including ILO, UNDP, UNICEF, INGOs & Government
focusing on social exclusion, achieving re-focus of $10 billion national health programme;
social equity auditing, initiated to assess post-tsunami response, but applied to social sector
programming; Influential contributions to DFID-India & HQ policy on Diversity, Difficult
Environments, Reaching Very Poorest
DFID Social Development Adviser: (Africa, Great Lakes & Horn Department) 1999 – 2001:
mainstreamed poverty & conflict reduction strategies, drafted new approach papers on working
on conflict; Lead Adviser on: gender programmes in Rwanda; participation in Rwanda/Ethiopia
PRSPs, introducing direct participation of the poor in policy and programme options; Luanda
Urban Poverty Programme; Angola De-mining; Strategic Conflict Assessments; initiated AllAfrica Conference on African Principles of Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation
DFID Social Development Adviser (Natural Resources Division & Africa, Great Lakes & Horn
Department) 1998 (Jan) –1999: assured poverty focus to Natural Resources Research;
Sustainable Livelihoods; Land Tenure; Biodiversity; Participatory Forestry. Assured strategic
poverty focus to cross-Africa initiatives. Contextualised social development advice for
programmes in conflict countries, including contributing to Rwanda Unity & Reconciliation
Commission
Freelance Consultant 1996-1997 (Dec): e.g. Leadership & Team-building (National
Committee of corporate/public-service/military/voluntary-sector's "Leadership 2000");
Voluntary sector training needs; “Finger Millet” production & processing in India/Africa; conflict
resolution (Uganda) - generating Government, civil society and rebel agreement to Report
“The Bending of Spears” on the route to peace & reconciliation
Director, Dunford House 1990 – 1996: led management team of a national quality
conference & training centre; created training initiatives in management/leadership; directed
conference/training programme with focus on inclusion issues; providing focus for Christian
critique of work of YMCA
Centre Manager, St Alban’s Community Centre 1987 – 1990: managed & developed
services in multi-cultural community centre that acquired a regional reputation; increased
participation of Asians and those with disabilities; responsible for financial sustainability &
negotiating with local authority & other organisations for additional funding/staffing
OXFAM Country Representative for Uganda, 1984 – 1987: High level influencing and
responsibility for all finances/admin/staff of Oxfam programmes (both emergency/development,
direct/indirect); leading on drought and conflict responsiveness in Karamoja, Luwero and West
Nile; developing partnerships under strategic aim to reach the poorest; leading on
UNICEF/GoU/INGO alternative community approaches to orphans; restarted National Nutrition
Committee
Senior Community Worker, Birmingham Social Services, 1982 – 1984: initiated inter-agency
& inter-community responses (Asian/Afro-Caribbean/English) for: e.g. mental health; elderly;
disabled; cross-cultural adoption/fostering. Supported Afro-Caribbean cultural arts promotion &
micro-enterprise
Masters Programme, Birmingham Social Services/ Birmingham University 1980 – 1981:
M.Soc.Sci. research in India on community participation, with cross-learning for UK urban
policy & practice; professional social work training
Senior Community Worker, Birmingham Social Services, 1978 – 1980: leading
neighbourhood centre in Punjabi Sikh & Afro-Caribbean area; initiated participation &
community response to social need; preventative social work; built capacity of nonprofessionals to control & manage own organisations; led on legal advice work
Tutor in Charge, Overseas Social Workers Course, Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham 1975 –
1978: Developed: radically new course on structural analysis of and response to poverty;
modules in Development Studies and in Mission Studies, special courses on social work in
multi-cultural environments; work with “battered wives”; training programme for Namibian
SWAPO social welfare assistants
Freelance Researcher 1975: Women’s roles in third world countries; Provision of services for
“battered wives” in England
PhD, Cambridge University, 1971 (Jan) – 1975, on the political economy of class and ethnic
identity in Uganda: Set up & financed research programme to inform design of large urban &
rural programme in N. Uganda; recruited & trained assistants; field research in low-income
urban area; secured German programme funds; supervised post-graduate overseas students
in Cambridge
Teacher, Sir Samuel Baker School, Uganda 1968 – 1970 (Dec): achieving more “A” level
Maths passes in one year than total in previous 8 years; led extra curricula activities, including
voluntary work camps
Personal: d.o.b. 9th Feb 1946; British Citizen; Brought up in Uganda; educated in Uganda and
UK; activities – sport, painting & church life, established Timothy School of Ministry; Married
with three children
Languages: Reading
English
Excellent
French
Fair
Acholi
Writing
Excellent
Weak
Speaking
Excellent
Weak
Weak
Publications:
“Harmful Traditional Practices Towards Women and Girls in Africa - a report to make a
difference for the future of all girls and women” with Alina Meyer, for African Union, April
2012.
“The Situation of Women and Children in Liberia 2012” with Maggie Black, for UNICEF,
April 2012
“The Role of Women and Civil Society in Conflict Reduction in Africa: the challenge for
Sudan” paper delivered at “Sudanese Women for Peace” Conference at Maastricht, April
2000.
“The Bending of Spears: producing consensus for peace and development in N.
Uganda” International Alert, Dec 1997.
“Disability is in the Mind of the Beholder” Social Workers Christian Fellowship Broadsheet
Autumn 1991.
“Acholi and Nubians: economic forces and military employment” in Beyond Crisis:
development issues in Uganda, ed. C.P. Dodge & P.D. Wiebe, M.I.S.R./A.S.A., 1987.
“Attitudes to Fostering and Adoption from Indian Sub-Continent” (jointly with S. Clair) in
Ethnic Bulletin of W. Midlands Probation Service No.9 1983.
“Panchayati Raj in India: Community Power and Preventative Social Work” M.Soc.Sci.
dissertation of University of Birmingham, March 1982.
“An Integrated Development Programme in Uganda: recommendations for
consideration by Euro-Action Acord” 42pp, Sept 1979. Consultancy report, jointly with A.B.
Baillie, available from Acord, London.
“Battered Wives” (jointly with N. Miller and A. Webb) in Social Work Service No.16 D.H.S.S.
July 1978
“Incorporation, Participation and Division in Northern Uganda” – Cambridge University
PhD thesis
“The Nubians” in The Expulsion of Asians, ed. M. Twaddle, 1975 Athlone Press.
unpublished papers such as:
“Consultation Report – Conflict, Peacebuilding and Education – Liberia” for UNICEF,
Sep 2012
“Liberia - Equity & Inclusion: a presentation of analysis” Feb 2012
“Conflict Reduction Strategies & Poverty Reduction” for DFID 1999
“FEFC Funding for Adult Education” for Church 1996;
“Guidance on Dealing with Child Abuse in the UK” Church of God of Prophecy (UK) May
1995.
“Biblical Patterns of Ministry” Report commissioned by Church of God, Cleveland,
Tennessee 1995.
“A Process Approach to Equal Opportunities” for YMCA 1991;
“Academic Programme: cadre training and support for African agriculturalists”, 87pp,
CITYTRUST Report 1988.
“Avoiding Racist Structures” for Oxfam 1987;
Referees:
Isa Crowley, Country Representative, UNICEF-Liberia, Monrovia; icrowley@unicef.org or
isabel.crowley@gmail.com +231(0) 886 70 22 81
Dr Johnny Strijdom, Deputy Director, Department for Social Affairs, African Union;
strijdomj@africa-union.org +251 (0) 11 551 7700 ext 279
Dr. Charlotte Heath, formerly Head of Social Development, DFID; heath.c@btopenworld.com
Mob: +44(0)796 0215 939
Nick Dyer, Director for Policy, DFID, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE;
n-dyer@dfid.gov.uk +44(0)207 023 0905
Barney Afako, Independent Legal Adviser, Transitional Justice Expert, 24 Anna Pavlova Close,
Abingdon, OX14 1TE, UK; rmafako@yahoo.co.uk +44(0)1235 534686