Catharine Russell

Director

Catharine Russell is a director at Altai Consulting. She is a research and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEAL) specialist with twelve years of experience managing and consulting on a diverse range of development programmes in the areas of stabilisation, inclusive growth, market systems development, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) across Africa. Catharine started her career as the Africa head of M&E for a multinational ethical food label applying fair and environmentally compliant standards for agricultural supply chains across the world, overseeing research and monitoring on sustainability standards in the cocoa, tea, coffee, flowers and sugar sectors. She then worked as an independent M&E consultant, supporting a range of clients to build fit for purpose MEAL systems in the agriculture, health and conservation sectors. Prior to joining Altai she was the head of MEL for a multi-donor fund for stabilisation in Somalia. Since joining Altai Catharine has been supporting the CSSF East Africa MEL partnership, with responsibility for supporting MEL on the CSSF Somalia portfolio. She has also supported a number of inclusive growth projects including a sustainability assessment of UNHCR’s flagship livelihoods program in Ethiopia, for the IKEA Foundation. Catharine has a passion for gender inclusive development and recently directed Altai’s project on women’s micro-business opportunities in Somalia for UN Women. Catharine holds an MSc. In Industry, Trade and Development from the University of Manchester and a BA in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Oxford.