About Sarah Blin, Partage Consulting’s founder

My journey started in war-torn Burundi where I managed two unique programmes that were fully embedded in the national health and social service provision, challenging the dominant approach to stand alone foreign-led programming.

Later, I was at the heart of the decentralisation reform in Mozambique and ensured that the voice of communities could be a full part of planning and budgeting choices and created bridges with the first post-war conversations on social protection reform.

In Nepal, I brought together the main actors on social protection to better grasp the issues and gaps in universal social protection for persons with disabilities.

In Zimbabwe, I led a major digital cash plus programme and established the necessary linkages with nutrition and child protection programming.

In Kenya, I supported social workers in ultra-poor urban dwellings to bring forward their experience as part of discussions on early childhood development and prevention of violent extremism.

Across West Africa, I supported the strengthening of the care workforce to address the gaps in supporting people living with disabilities.

I believe that the benefits for the most vulnerable come when we fully grasp complexities (multi-sector, multi-actor, multi-subsidiarity). Universal social protection is a game changer for lower income countries and for the way in which we design ‘aid ‘programmes. That change will happen if connections with other care and support services are made and continuity in support along the lifecycle is organised. It will happen if good governance across the sector is in place.

My expertise is also built on the continuous learning that accompanied my practice: public health, public policy and administration, migration, social protection policy. I keep up to date with the latest research and publications on these issues. This is a field that is constantly evolving, and I am avid hunter of the ‘approaches that work’.