By Rita Okoye

Billions of people around the world are not able to get social services they need like health, education and financial aid. Governments have to make difficult decisions on where to invest and how to solve these problems that affect the core fabric of society with scarce resources

We spoke to Ella Togun, an international development specialist, whose work focuses on strengthening health and education systems by understanding and addressing challenges communities, countries, and global regions face in accessing quality healthcare and education in an equitable and sustainable way.

Her experience has spanned public, private, non-profit, research and educational institutions across the EMEA region, where she has led high impact programs, consulted for leading organizations, influenced policy and conducted research.

Her work has offered insights and successful solutions even under difficult contexts. Today she shares highlights from her journey and thoughts on how to address some of these problems.

Ella, it’s a pleasure to have this conversation with you. Many are inspired by how your career evolved from molecular biology to leading social development initiatives. Can you describe the moment or experience that initially pushed you towards this path?

Thank you for having me. It’s always great to reflect on the journey. The pivotal moment for me was during my undergraduate days at the University of Lagos, Nigeria when I volunteered for community projects in health and education. I was studying molecular biology and genetics at the time at the University of Lagos, and deeply engrossed in the scientific method and lab work. However, I got the opportunity to work directly with communities through volunteering which exposed me to the harsh realities people faced daily—realities that couldn’t be isolated to just health or education issues. This exposure broadened my perspective and piqued my interest. I saw how intricately linked these issues were and realized that I could apply my scientific background in a way that addressed these broader, interconnected social factors practically.

Your shift was definitely a good move and  led to landmark contributions in various areas. I know you led the inspiring first of its kind virtual classroom that went viral during the pandemic for example, that reached thousands of children. Could you share more details on how you and your team thought about this?

Certainly. The implementation of  our Virtual Learning Program and Africa’s first virtual classroom that simulated a real classroom was a groundbreaking initiative that was born in the heat of the pandemic aimed at overcoming geographical and socio-economic barriers to education which the lockdown caused. At the time it was top of mind to ensure educational gains for the beneficiaries in communities we served were not lost, so we had to get creative rather quickly. And even though we started with a cohort of about 1000 children, the program was designed to be scalable and adaptable and was successfully rolled out to over half a million children and youths across different states. This not only provided access to quality education but also created a blueprint for similar programs in other regions.

A significant part of the project was a community learning program that was meticulously designed to accelerate learning in underserved communities, so we designed a curriculum and method that cut the learning time short to bring learners up to speed quickly especially on foundational topics. This program involved setting up community learning hubs equipped with technology and resources that students in these areas would otherwise not have access to. The goal was to foster an environment where continuous learning could occur outside the traditional classroom setting, and it was immensely successful in reaching underserved populations. While it was initially designed as a supplementary learning program to cover the gaps during the pandemic, it evolved to become an after school program when the lockdown ended, and eventually served out of school children as well preparing them for full time enrollment.

The program was truly inspiring and pushed our imagination on what was possible. If we shift gears a little, it seems your science background has allowed you to dabble into research. I have seen you have some research.

One that caught my eye that I really want to dive deeper on today is the paper you wrote on religion and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. What were some surprising findings?

The research was illuminating on several fronts. We conducted in-depth interviews and social media analyses across different countries to understand how religious beliefs and practice influenced public responses to the pandemic. One significant thing that was emphasized was the role of religious practices and gatherings in shaping preventative measures and vaccine uptake. For instance, in some communities, religious leaders promoted faith-based narratives that sometimes contradicted public health advisories which in some extreme cases led to mass consequences.

However, our study also highlighted positive examples where religious leaders played crucial roles in disseminating accurate health information and encouraging community compliance with health guidelines. We often underestimate the power of faith beliefs and practices to the work we do in public health and broader development. These cases really demonstrated practically  the potential for religious organizations to act as partners in health promotion, which can be crucial in managing public health crises and other routine activities.

As someone who is primarily a practitioner, how do you integrate these insights into actionable health strategies?

Integrating these insights involves a careful balance of respect for cultural and religious norms while promoting evidence-based health practices. I will give an example, one effective strategy has been the inclusion of religious leaders in the early stages of program design and implementation. By engaging with them as stakeholders early, we not only get their buy-in but they provide guidance on how to tailor public health messages that are culturally sensitive and more likely to be accepted by the wider community. They have a duty of care to the people they serve and when they are aligned they are powerful influencers as religion and faith is such a fundamental part of the belief systems of those who practice. The problems we deal with  are extremely complex and there is no silver bullet that can take them away, it has to be a mix of different things.

Given the complexity of these issues, how important will you say an integrated approach in social development?

It’s absolutely critical. The challenges we face in social development are interconnected, involving layers of cultural, economic, environmental, and political factors. An integrated approach allows us to develop solutions that are robust and sustainable. By acknowledging and addressing these multifaceted factors, we can create strategies that are not only effective in the short term but also resilient in the long term. Nothing happens in isolation, I believe it is more efficient to think big picture when dealing with social issues.

You have worked at different levels through your journey, how will you say working at the community for example differs from the more global work you have done?

That’s an interesting question. I find that working at different levels has given me a very rich perspective that I can bring when I interact within levels. For instance when I am working on projects that are more global in scope, my understanding of community dynamics and realities helps me be effective and less theoretical. On your question about what differs, the main things will be scale and objective for the most part. The higher the level you are dealing with many more moving pieces, you are more likely solving for a wider stakeholder group, and you are making sense of insights from different places with their peculiarities which you have to synthesize. That is not to say community practice for example is less engaging, the same principles will apply just in a more targeted sphere.

What do you think are the future challenges and opportunities you anticipate in your field?

A couple of things come to mind. Climate change, globalization, and emerging technology are all double edged swords that present both opportunities if engaged properly or risks. As a human race we haven’t been at this point before, so we are faced with a new set of things to learn which are also constantly evolving.

I believe integration will still be a massive opportunity. Both integration of fields for example climate change and education or technology and health, and integration of stakeholders are going to be critical. Alot of experts who are very niche and traditional may find it challenging at first and resist, but integrating innovative and holistic approaches, especially in settings and fields with deep-seated traditions and norms has proven to be effective in multiple settings. However, this resistance also presents an opportunity to innovate and demonstrate the effectiveness of integrated approaches. As we continue to deal with global issues like climate change, migration, and technological advancements, there will be increasing opportunities to apply our work in new and impactful ways.

Before we wrap up, based on the impressive career you have built, people trying to grow in your field will be curious to know what you have learnt from your journey that can set them up for success.

What advice would you offer to aspiring professionals looking to become leaders in the development sector?

I would say a couple of things. As cliche as it sounds my first advice is to remain adaptable and committed to learning. The field of international development is dynamic, and requires a continuous understanding of evolving issues and the integration of diverse perspectives.The same problem will manifest differently in different settings so it’s important to go armed with what you think you know but be open minded to understand nuances in the area you are working in. Embrace the complexity and strive to see the connections between different areas of human experience. This will not only enhance your effectiveness but also enrich your professional journey. A second thing will be to get the education or certifications that give you both knowledge and credibility. When dealing with humans and social issues like we do in this space, there is so much more than meets the eye. My education both formal and informal has been a weapon that has made me effective. The last one will be to get to work. The more you do, the more you know and understand, and the better you become. A lot of the things you think you know will be challenges when you get deep into the work.