Email Della McMillan: Dellamcmillan@aol.com
LinkedIn: (opens in new tab)
linkedin.com/in/della-mcmillan
Website: (opens in new tab)
https://people.clas.ufl.edu/dellam/
Executive Profile
Senior social scientist with 30+ years of experience supporting USAID and donor-funded programs in 28 countries, specializing in MEAL systems strengthening, adaptive management, applied qualitative research, and context-responsive program design. Extensive experience mentoring local partners, leading mixed evaluation teams, and guiding evidence-informed program adjustments in complex and high-risk environments. Deep technical expertise in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) and West Africa (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo) as well as fieldwork experience in the Horn of Africa (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda), Angola, Georgia, Suriname, Russia, Iraq, and Myanmar.Core Competencies
MEAL systems strengthening • Performance Indicator Tracking Table development and indicator tracking • Adaptive management in complex and high-risk contexts • Pre-evaluation planning and execution of project mid-term and final evaluations • Mentorship for local consultants, NGOs, universities, and research firms • Social inclusion analysis and strategy development • Strategic planning and program redesign • Workshop, training, and conference facilitation • Leadership of mixed national/international evaluation teams • Stabilization and transition programming (in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, Angola, Myanmar, and Iraq) • Applied qualitative research, analysis, and synthesis reportingSelected Achievements
- Consultant, USAID/SRO-funded LCapS Activity implemented by ACSD (Burkina Faso, Senegal) (2024–2025): Supported Burkinabé research teams to design, analyze, and produce the first USG-supported Sahel partner mapping; the resulting analysis informs current USG investment strategies and is now used as a replicable participatory methodology for bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector engagement across the Sahel.
- Consultant, USDA/FAS Cooperative Agreements implemented by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Cape Coast, the Council for Scientific and Indutrial Research-Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, and The Fund Georgian Center for Agribusiness (Ghana, Georgia) (2016–2025): 1) Mentored national NGO, university, and research institute-led teams to strengthen MEAL systems—including PITT, routine reporting, evaluation planning, and close-out processes—for USG-funded programs; improved report quality, timeliness, documentation standards, and compliance across multiple implementing partners; 2) Team Leader on external evaluations and final reports for donor-funded projects.
- Consultant/Team Leader/Team Member, USAID Short-Term Assignments, via contracts with USAID/BFS, Africare, ACDI/VOCA, CARE, CRS, CNFA, IRD, Land O’Lakes, IGAD, Mendez English & Associates, Purdue University, and others (1980–2025): Led or contributed to 72 assignments (+/- 100 contracts) supporting the design, performance monitoring, evaluation, adaptive management, and stabilization programming of USG-funded development interventions across Africa, the Middle East, and Eurasia.
- Faculty and Consultant, U.S. Land-Grant Universities (Iowa, Kentucky, Florida) (1981–2015): Served in interdisciplinary roles to strengthen university capacity for donor-funded international development programs at Iowa State University (CSRL Program), University of Kentucky, and University of Florida; contributed to program design, applied research, student training, and international partnerships.
- Gender Expert, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), MCA/BF, Mali, Niger (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, United States) (2008–2012): Provided backstopping on RAPs and contributed to SOWs for the national Resettlement Policy Framework; supported gender integration, designed training modules, and developed annotated ESA bibliographies used across MCC.
- Deputy Team Leader and Consultant, World Bank (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, CI, Ghana, Senegal, Togo, United States) (1989–2004): Served as Team Leader and consultant for numerous portfolio assessments, environmental reviews, and resettlement/gender analyses; served as Deputy Director for a major two-year 11-country impact study of the River Blindness Control Programme (OCP) in West Africa.
- Team Leader and Consultant, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (CAR, the Gambia, Nigeria) (1991–1997): Led independent final evaluations in the Central African Republic and the Gambia; represented UNSO in developing a new five-year UN program in northern Nigeria.