One Project, A Million Lessons: My Journey of Growth and Grit as a Young Female Evaluator through the Daara Innovation Fund

By Charlotte Ndum, Research Fellow, eBASE Africa.

Some journeys begin with a checklist and a plan, mine began with a ferry, a pounding heart, and a silent prayer. I didn't know fear until I found myself standing on a shaky pantoo (ferry), crossing the river from Kpando into Krachi in Ghana’s Oti Region. Beneath me, the water looked like it could swallow me, above me, the sun was doing the absolute most, and around me, everything was foreign, language, landscape, expectations. And within me? Panic. I was en route to supervise endline data collection for a project I had recently joined, and now, I was coordinating its entire evaluation. Three months in, it was both an opportunity and a serious responsibility.

This was my first time leading an evaluation of this scale. Although I hadn’t been part of the project from inception, I was given the necessary support and entrusted with guiding the evaluation process for the 'AI Teachers Project', funded by the Daara Innovation Fund. The project, implemented by Lead for Ghana and Shule Direct in Tanzania, focused on improving foundational numeracy through an AI-driven assessment program, with eBASE Africa leading the evaluation. It was a huge learning curve, but also a chance to step up and contribute meaningfully. Getting up to speed required intentional effort. I immersed myself in understanding project goals, the theory of change, evaluation framework, tools, indicators, and datasets. I spent long hours reading through documentation, asking clarifying questions and reviewing past reports. While there were moments of uncertainty, I also found moments of clarity and deep insight that strengthened my confidence. I took every opportunity to learn and grow. 

 One of my key responsibilities was refining our data collection tools. This went beyond form design, it required appreciating the nuances of education systems in Ghana and Tanzania, adapting tools to local contexts, and ensuring methodological rigor. I worked to align pre- and post-test tools with project outcomes and to ensure that indicators reflected meaningful learning changes. This experience taught me that evaluation isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about asking the right questions and capturing insights that matter.

Pictured, Charlotte with the Lead For Ghana Team and some Teachers on the field during Endline Data Collection

Cross-country collaboration brought its own lessons. Coordinating between partners in Ghana and Tanzania, navigating different schedules, time zones, and education calendars required patience, strategy, and above all, clarity. I learned to communicate with precision. I learned how to schedule follow-ups without sounding pushy, how to facilitate meetings where every voice was heard, and how to respond when data didn’t come in as planned.

There were moments of true frustration, when a partner misunderstood a tool, when data came in with missing values, when we had to revise timelines because of unforeseen field constraints. But I also started seeing the big picture. I began to grasp how all these moving parts fit together. With each problem, I discovered new ways of thinking. I started anticipating issues before they happened. I created tracking templates, revised fieldwork guidance notes, and led internal review sessions with partners. I was becoming someone the team could rely on, not just to execute tasks, but to lead and adapt.

One moment that stands out vividly is my visit to one of the pilot schools while in Ghana. I observed a teacher use the AI-powered feedback tool to adapt his lesson, based on learner performance. The precision with which he identified learning gaps was incredible. And what moved me most was his excitement when he realized it was effective. He said, “Now I can understand what my learners need, even before they speak it.” That moment stayed with me. It validated everything, the stress, the revisions, the back-and-forth. It reminded me that our work wasn’t theoretical. It had a real impact.

This experience didn’t just enhance my technical skills, it reshaped the way I see myself and my role as a young evaluator. I developed a stronger analytical mindset. I now approach problems with more confidence, breaking them down into components and systematically thinking through solutions. My writing improved significantly. I learned how to frame findings for different audiences, donors, educators, community members, and how to strike the balance between technical depth and accessibility.

I became more grounded in participatory approaches. I actively sought feedback from partners, reviewed translation protocols to ensure questions made sense in local languages,(case of Tanzania) and began to view data as a conversation rather than a transaction. I realized that evaluation is not about being the expert who arrives with answers, but about being the listener who asks the right questions. And yes, I made mistakes. There were tools I revised too many times. Reports that had to be redrafted. Graphs that didn’t quite tell the story. But each mistake was a lesson, and I was fortunate to have a team that encouraged growth, not perfection. Every challenge became an opportunity to refine my skills.

By the end of the project, I could confidently design MERL frameworks, develop outcome and process indicators, and manage complex stakeholder dynamics. I have gone from a young woman unsure of her place in the project, to a young evaluator who can lead with purpose and clarity. As such, the Daara Innovation Fund didn’t just fund an evaluation, it funded my transformation. It created space for a young African woman to step into leadership, to learn through doing, and to build competence through trial and reflection. It allowed me to sit in meetings I once felt unqualified for, and leave those meetings with clarity, action points, and, sometimes, even answers.

A heartfelt thank you to my collaborators, Charles from Shule Direct, and Grace and Peter from Lead for Ghana, for making cross-country collaboration feel seamless, even when the road was anything but so. Yes, there were challenges and hiccups, but your professionalism made all the difference. 

To my colleagues working on other Daara Innovation Fund projects at eBASE, thank you for having my back. As the new girl navigating unfamiliar territory, your tips, nudges, and quiet guidance helped me find my footing. A special shoutout to Myra Ndum, your support meant more than you know.

To Rigobert Pambe, your supervision truly made all the difference. Thank you for trusting me with this responsibility and for never doubting my ability to rise, even when I wasn’t so sure myself. Your guidance was steady, your feedback always thoughtful, and your patience remarkable. Even when my ideas were half-baked or my drafts needed serious work, you responded with kindness and constructive insight. For that, I’m deeply grateful

To Julie from Better Purpose, thank you for your thoughtful reviews, they sharpened my thinking in ways I’ll carry forward. Your comments challenged me to be precise, intentional, and clear. Your attention to detail is impeccable. Honestly, your brain is elite, you have the kind of brain I want to have when I grow up.

To Patrick Okwen, our Team Lead, thank you for carrying this vision with such conviction. Through your leadership, you’ve inspired a culture that truly nurtures growth, learning, and bold ideas at eBASE. 

To every young woman stepping into her first big challenge, you may start uncertain, overwhelmed, or afraid. But you’ll grow. You’ll stumble and you’ll learn. You’ll adapt, lead, and succeed. You don’t have to know everything on day one, you just need to be willing to learn every day after.