Professional Experience:
Marcel Yanogo is a seasoned development professional with more than fifteen years of progressive experience in program management, monitoring and evaluation, and partnership development across West and Central Africa. His work has spanned diverse sectors including agriculture, livelihoods, WASH, nutrition, governance, and gender equality. Marcel has held senior leadership positions with renowned international NGOs such as Farm Radio International (FRI), Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), Lutheran World Relief (LWR), World University Service of Canada (WUSC), and Counterpart International, where he successfully managed multi-country programs funded by major donors including USAID, GIZ, GAC, USDA, and the World Bank.
As Regional Program Manager for West and Central Africa at Farm Radio International, Marcel leads regional and multi-country projects promoting communication for development, gender inclusion, and agricultural transformation. He oversees strategic planning, program implementation, and learning, ensuring quality delivery and strong coordination among regional teams. Previously as Senior Program Officer, he managed nine multi-sectoral projects across five countries, ensuring compliance with donor standards and supporting local partners through participatory approaches. His work emphasized women and youth participation, evidence-based learning, and sustainability.
Before that, as Regional Program Officer for the RECOVER Project (funded by GIZ), Marcel revised project strategies, introduced a social franchise model for FRI’s sustainability, managed a team of three, and contributed to strategic planning and proposal development. His promotion after only two months reflected his capacity for leadership and innovation.
At CNFA, Marcel served as Monitoring and Evaluation Manager for the USDA-funded PRO-Cashew Project across five countries. He developed performance monitoring tools, managed data collection for over 90,000 beneficiaries, trained staff in digital data systems, and ensured rigorous quality control of reports and evaluations. His strong analytical skills and attention to detail supported evidence-based decision-making and donor accountability.
Earlier, at Lutheran World Relief, he coordinated the monitoring and learning framework for the SESAme project in Burkina Faso, leading surveys of over 1,000 producers, conducting impact assessments, and developing harmonized reporting systems. As Regional MEL Advisor for WUSC’s WAGES Project, Marcel supported three country teams and coordinated research on community well-being in mining areas, strengthening governance and local development processes.
During his tenure with Counterpart International, Marcel designed M&E systems and tools for a USDOL-funded child labor project, supervised staff and consultants, and contributed to national policy development through studies on school dropout and child labor. At The Hunger Project Burkina Faso, he managed data systems, baseline studies, and evaluations across integrated rural development programs, including food security, microfinance, and health/nutrition.
Marcel’s career began with M&E roles in projects supported by the World Bank and LuxDev, where he developed his expertise in participatory planning, data management, and results-based reporting. Over the years, he has built a reputation for rigor, integrity, and collaboration, working effectively with governments, donors, and civil society partners.
With a unique blend of technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills, Marcel brings strategic vision, analytical depth, and operational excellence to every assignment—consistently ensuring that programs deliver measurable impact and contribute to sustainable development across the region.