Samuel O'Keefe
Bangkok, Thailand
Summary
Dynamic, results-oriented evaluation and research practitioner in global adolescent development and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Diligent, empathetic, multi-lingual global health specialist, who works at the intersection of the social and implementation sciences. Special interests and background in behavioural sciences, social and behavioural change communication, community and reproductive health in urban environments, and migrant health. Track record in collecting and leveraging qualitative and quantitative evaluation and research findings to inform program development and scale-up strategies for grassroots organizations, driving impactful outcomes for community and youth-focused development organizations in the Asia- and Indo-Pacific and beyond. Proven experience in the provision of various technical assistance to institutional research, programme and impact evaluations in Cambodia, Madagascar and resource-limited and conservative contexts. Specific training in monitoring and coordination, capacity-building for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), and tactful internal and external reporting and dissemination modalities.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Abstract Reviewer
International Conference on Family Planning
Remote
04.2025 - Current
- Critically review programmatic, research, and advocacy-based abstract submissions for the International Conference on Family Planning 2025 submission cycle
- Evaluate 20 conference submissions originating from a variety global contexts related to thematic areas of adolescent and youth health, gender and power, and social and behavioural change communication
- Read, assess and score abstract submissions according to conference and chosen track relevance, objective and rationale, methodology, results, implications and innovation, analytical soundness and coherence
Research Consultant
Menaswell
The Hague, Netherlands
09.2024 - 11.2024
- Conducted a focused literature review consulting 20+ sources on intimate partner violence (IPV) facing male-identified persons of hetero- and non-heterosexual orientations, consolidating evidence on causal pathways and socio-ecological determinants of the issue, producing 3 evidence-informed recommendations for practitioner and lay person solutions to address male-involved IPV in the Netherlands
- Formulated several external communications ideas based on the literature review content, informing the development of incisive visual materials that augmented understanding of male-involved IPV victimization for the organization's donors and 50+ practitioners in the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) field
Research and Learning Consultant
Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs
Remote
05.2022 - 04.2024
- Critically reviewed quantitative and qualitative research and program case study manuscripts spanning 4 country contexts in Africa and South Asia, providing constructive feedback on article coherence and analytical soundness, enabling the refinement and publication of 5 articles focused on institutionalization of high-impact, low-cost solutions for adolescent contraceptive uptake in urban settings
- Collaborated on a published article synthesizing wider findings from 5 case studies, communicating to a global readership 4 key, multi-sectoral approaches for municipal governments to promote and scale contraceptive use and attain adolescent reproductive health objectives among young people in resource-constrained and conservative contexts
Research and Development Associate
Projet Jeune Leader
Fianarantsoa
10.2021 - 05.2023
- Prepared and co-coordinated a 15+ module pilot teacher-training programme as part of an NGO-government partnership holistic CSE model, enhancing gender equality and SRHR knowledge and motivations of 114 teachers, leading to net increases in SRHR knowledge for 25,000+ adolescents and support for youth CSE amongst 5 regional and national decision-makers and 110 school administrators to support scale-up planning
- Conducted and co-coordinated interviews and debriefs with 3 NGO technical staff, 3 government partners, and 20+ public teacher-trainers, enabling qualitative, real-time monitoring and assessment of pilot CSE scaling programme published in internal report and programme planning documents
- Produced a 50-page systems analysis report on adolescent sexual health and education programme and monitoring development in Madagascar, mapping systems and stakeholders by consulting 50+ technical, academic, media and policy documents, increasing evidence base and justifications for CSE programme and monitoring scale-up in national and public education systems
- Devised customized training manuals and monitoring protocols for 3 evaluation projects focused on measuring horizontal and vertical scaling of a local comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programme, integrating participatory and human-centred design techniques, augmenting institutional knowledge on 12 teachers' local advocacy strategies, health systems needs in 100 rural areas, and barriers and facilitators to 114 teachers' implementation of CSE programming
- Synthesized and packaged 500+ pieces of quantitative and qualitative data from 2 evaluation datasets spanning 8+ years of programme implementation, producing 1 published journal article, 2 accepted conference posters, 1 blog post and 2 learning briefs, reaching 200+ practitioners and researchers
Research and Evaluation Mobilization Intern
Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
03.2021 - 03.2022
- Established a functional feedback mechanism during COVID-19 pandemic, collecting and analyzing quantitative and written responses from 50 community health workers and 100 HIV-affected key populations on material needs and program recommendations for care delivery and community involvement, thereby increasing beneficiary and partners' trust and evidence-informed recommendations for advocacy with Ministry stakeholders on localized care modalities
- Prepared and enhanced 2 incisive donor reports and various external communications materials reaching USAID funders and regional practitioners and decision-makers with accurate, strategic information on KHANA's work and impacts, strengthening its credibility as a leading, innovative local HIV/AIDS and TB response organization in Southeast Asia
- Co-drafted and strengthened grant proposals and planning documents for urgent and long-term programme and advocacy needs, procuring grant awards amounting to $20,000
Executive Assistant
The Haiti Project
Poughkeepsie, NY And Chermaître, Haiti
01.2018 - 12.2020
- Organized and documented stakeholder dialogues and strategic development workshops with 15 medical and education partners and 20-member student Executive Boards in rural Haiti and New York over 2-year period, contributing to knowledge management needs for sustainable community development planning for a solar-powered medical clinic serving 3,000 patients annually, primary school financing and water purification projects in Haiti
- Prepared a 20-page manual detailing The Haiti Project’s youth empowerment strategy, consolidating institutional knowledge with community feedback on prospective local partners, draft facilitation materials, and recommendations for initiative piloting, enabling future implementation
- Conceived and coordinated 3 fundraising and marketing campaigns, Haitian art sale event invitations and follow-ups, mid- and end-year reports, and faculty and student alumni engagement strategies, thereby augmenting customer and partner buy-in and sales and donations totaling $30,000
Research and Integration Support Intern
URACA Basiliade
Paris
05.2019 - 07.2019
- Prepared and led andragogical workshops and educational materials to promote migrant persons’ literacy on media, digital privacy rights, and health and well-being information and support their integration in France
- Documented, analyzed and packaged migrant persons’ migration, social and healthcare experiences to support program planning, resource mobilization, and advocacy strategies for migration-related policies in France
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Beginner And Intermediate Thai
Thai Solutions Language School
Bangkok, Thailand12-2025
Master of Science - Medical Anthropology And Sociology
University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands08.2024
Conference Course - Scientific Writing, Mentoring And Coaching
World Health Organization
Geneva, Switzerland11-2023
Bachelor of Arts - International Development; French Studies
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY05.2020
Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Airtable
- OneDrive
- Qualitative Thematic Analysis
- Literature Review
- Qualitative Interviews
- Systems Analysis
- Quantitative Descriptive Analysis
- Evidence-Based Systems for Innovation Support
- Human-Centred Design and Participatory Research
- After-Action Reviews
- Gender-transformative programming
Research Projects
- Feb 2025 - Present: Co-Author: "30 Lessons Learned for Promoting Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights" - Contribute background research and writing to a set of papers focused on 30 lessons learned for promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive rights, including on comprehensive sexuality education with Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli
- June - Aug 2018: Principal Investigator and Author: "Examining the Need for Heightened Integration of Spiritual Institutions and Psychological and Psychosocial Support Services in Rural Cambodia": Conducted original primary and secondary research in Cambodia. Produced a comprehensive 50-page research report, including literature review, research aims, methodology and sampling, participant trust-building, results, and research and policy recommendations, formulating 7 evidence-informed recommendations for public and NGO-led efforts to integrate Buddhist praxis and social capital to improve cultural competency and equity of psychosocial healthcare for rural populations in Cambodia
Teaching Experience
*English Teaching Assistant, The Fulbright Program, International Institute for Education
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 01/2021 – 09/2021
- Delivered 2 continuous professional development (CPD) workshops and in-class demonstrative training sessions on participatory pedagogy and project-based learning to English teachers, guiding English curricula development and stewardship for a public-funded, selective school innovation model (New Generation School)
- Facilitated 20+ weekly, 1-hour virtual sessions with 60 secondary students, incorporating lecture and assessment review, and checks for understanding through participatory games and exercises, increasing 60 students' speaking confidence, classroom engagement, and reinforcement of learnings
- Co-launched three new extracurricular clubs (debate, public speaking, conversation) reaching 100+ students with engaging activities to apply and strengthen English skills
- Prepared and delivered 10+ 1.5-hour academic and professional development workshops, reaching 500+ students and young professionals with skills-building sessions on various topics (CV and cover letter writing, English writing conventions, interviewing, personal development and self-care)
*University French Tutorial Teacher, French and Francophone Studies Department, Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York, 09/2019 – 05/2020
- Created and facilitated weekly conversation classes for beginner- and intermediate French students
- Improved students’ French grammar and writing conventions and knowledge of French and Francophone topics through individualized tutoring sessions during weekly office hours
- Augmented student engagement in French/Francophone Studies Department activities and study abroad programs through organizing French cultural events and career development information
*English and French Tutor, Language Connect for Ukraine, Educational Institute for Equality
Remote, 02/2025 – Present
- Provide individualized, on-demand tutoring support via weekly 1-hour sessions combining free-flowing conversation with activity-based learning with 6 Ukrainian persons, enhancing their oral fluency, conversational skills and vocabulary
Publications and Invited Presentations
- O’Keefe, Samuel. 2025. “(En)Gendering Migrant Belonging: An Ethnography of African Migrant Masculinities and Femininities in Paris, France.” Accepted abstract, IMISCOE Annual Conference on De-Centering Migration Studies, Paris-Aubervilliers, July 2025.
- O’Keefe, Samuel. 2024. “(En)Gendering Migrant Belonging: An Ethnography of African Migrant Masculinities and Femininities in Paris, France.” Presentation, Linking Research, Policy and Practice (LRPP) Conference, ShareNet Netherlands, The Hague, Netherlands, November 7, 2024.
- Finkle, Clea, Yacine Bai, Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli, Samuel O’Keefe et al. 2024. “The Challenge Initiative: Lessons on […] and Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.” Global Health: Science & Practice https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-24-00153
- O’Keefe, Samuel, Mihaja Raonivololona, Maia Ramarosandratana, Tahiry Anjarasoa, and Laura Leeson. 2024. “‘My life would not be the same’: A qualitative, retrospective evaluation of the post- programme outcomes of an in-school comprehensive sexuality education programme in Madagascar.” Sex Education: Sexuality, Society and Learning. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2023.2289423
- O’Keefe, Samuel. “Youth-driven ‘positive disruptions’ in Madagascar: Collaborative film-making research on how to influence community support for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE).” Poster presentation, International Conference on Family Planning, Pattaya, Thailand, November 15, 2022. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uKBD9ZfHLwWennkb7Qz6AaGDf3gwacCC/view?usp=sharing
- O’Keefe, Samuel. “Scaling from the bottom-up: Community-driven and interpersonal communication approaches to expand comprehensive sexuality education across rural Madagascar.” Poster presentation, International Conference on Family Planning, Pattaya, Thailand, November 15, 2022. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YVR8GDB0oy6cvWkqUwSI40_LWg9geAsj/view?usp=sharing
- Stirling F, Bitzan L, O'Keefe S,Redfield E, Oliver JWK, Way J, Silver PA. Rational Design of Evolutionarily Stable Microbial Kill Switches. Mol Cell. 2017 Nov 16;68(4):686-697.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2017.10.033. Erratum in: Mol Cell. 2018 Oct 18;72(2):395. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.10.002. PMID: 29149596; PMCID: PMC5812007.
- Stirling F, Naydich A, Bramante J, Barocio R, Certo M, Wellington H, Redfield E, O'Keefe S, Gao S, Cusolito A, Way J, Silver P. Synthetic Cassettes for pH-Mediated Sensing, Counting, and Containment. Cell Rep. 2020 Mar 3;30(9):3139-3148.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.02.033. PMID: 32130913.
Languages
• English (Mother Tongue)
• French (C1 - Oral and Written Fluency)
Certification
- Non-Violent Communication (Mediation and Conflict Resolution), Beginner-Level, 20 hours, Crisler Coaching
- Fundamentals of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), 60-hours, TESOL International Association
References
- Mrs. Maia Ramarosandratana, MPH, Former supervisor, Projet Jeune Leader: maia@projetjeuneleader.org
- Dr. Elizabeth Bradley, Former professor and academic advisor, Vassar College: ebradley@vassar.edu
- Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli, Former supervisor, Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Consulting: chandramouli@bluewin.ch
Timeline
Abstract Reviewer
International Conference on Family Planning
04.2025 - Current
Research Consultant
Menaswell
09.2024 - 11.2024
Research and Learning Consultant
Johns Hopkins Center for Communications Programs
05.2022 - 04.2024
Research and Development Associate
Projet Jeune Leader
10.2021 - 05.2023
Research and Evaluation Mobilization Intern
Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance
03.2021 - 03.2022
Research and Integration Support Intern
URACA Basiliade
05.2019 - 07.2019
Executive Assistant
The Haiti Project
01.2018 - 12.2020
Some College (No Degree) - Beginner And Intermediate Thai
Thai Solutions Language School
Master of Science - Medical Anthropology And Sociology
University of Amsterdam
Conference Course - Scientific Writing, Mentoring And Coaching
World Health Organization
Bachelor of Arts - International Development; French Studies
Vassar College
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