Donell is a Community Empowerment Advocate with over 25 years of experience in participatory development. She specializes in youth development, women's empowerment, and institutional transformation. Her work has significantly influenced government policy in Guyana, particularly regarding housing conditions for vulnerable and geographically isolated hinterland households.
Hi, I’m
Donell Bess-Bascom
Deputy Director, Community Development
Providence, East Bank Demerara
Summary
Overview
16
years of professional experience
3
Certifications
2
Languages
Work History
Shenandoah Valley Farmers' Market, Virginia, USA
08.2015
Job overview
- An example of sustainable Economic development.
Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Case Studies of Community Based Climate Resilience Initiatives
01.2014
Job overview
- Site visit and workshop sessions aimed at developing an understanding of the intersection of protected areas and local communities.
Share and Care, Nepal
01.2014
Job overview
- Observing the impact of participatory development on health, women’s and youth empowerment, health and education in local communities
Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio Resources (ANSAB), Nepal
01.2014
Job overview
- Site Visits, lectures aimed at developing an understanding of efforts aimed at improving livelihood and biodiversity conservation in rural Nepal and other parts of South Asia.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Research Consultant - Guyana
12.2009
Job overview
- Mid Wives Association Capacity Assessment Tool
- Conducting Analyses of qualitative data
- Preparation of Report on Findings inclusive of findings
EveryChild Guyana
06.2009
Job overview
- Programme Evaluation (2007-2008) OneLife Project
- Participated in the design of the data Collection tool
- Review of project documents and records
- Conducting In Depth Interviews with relevant partners and stakeholders
- Facilitating focus Group discussions with partners and stakeholders
- Analyzing quantitative as well as qualitative data
- Presentation of Preliminary Findings and Final Report
Help and Shelter in collaboration with EveryChild Guyana
05.2008
Job overview
- A Study of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) in Sophia regarding Child Abuse
- Participated in the design of the data Collection tool
- Conducting documentary review of previous written work on the subject area
- Conducting In Depth Interviews
- Facilitating focus Group discussions
- Presentation of Preliminary Findings
- Participated in the compilation of Final report with recommendations
EveryChild Guyana
01.2008
Job overview
- Programme Evaluation (2006 – 2007): OneLife Project
- Participated in the design of the data Collection tool
- Review of project documents and records
- Measuring project progress in relation to Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
- Conducting In Depth Interviews with relevant partners and stakeholders
- Facilitating focus Group discussions with partners and stakeholders
- Analyzing quantitative as well as qualitative data
- Presentation of Findings and preparation of final report with recommendations
National Commission on Women
12.2007
Job overview
- Women and Human Rights in Guyana (updated Version)
- Conducting documentary review of previous report and updated the previous version.
- Reviewing other writings in relation to the subject matter
- Conducting in depth interviews
- Analyses of data
EveryChild Guyana
07.2007
Job overview
- Programme Evaluation (2005 – 2006): OneLife Project
- Participated in the design of the data Collection tool
- Review of project documents and records
- Conducting In Depth Interviews with relevant partners and stakeholders
- Facilitating focus Group discussions with partners and stakeholders
- Presentation of Preliminary Findings
- Participated in the compilation of Final report with recommendations
EveryChild Guyana
06.2007
Job overview
- A Study of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) in relation to violence towards Orphans and other Vulnerable Children
- Participated in the design of the data Collection tool
- Conducting documentary review of previous written work on the subject area
- Conducting In Depth Interviews
- Facilitating focus Group discussions
- Analyzing quantitative as well as qualitative data
- Presentation of Findings and compilation of Final report with recommendations
Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)
Deputy Director, Community Development
01.2010 - Current
Job overview
- Strategic Policy & Mainstreaming
- Aligning National Planning: Lead the integration of social safeguards and community-based indicators into national housing programs, ensuring alignment with international best practices and multilateral frameworks (e.g., IDB, World Bank).
- Evidence-Informed Approaches: Oversee the collection and analysis of socio-economic data to inform policy shifts, focusing on vulnerable demographics and youth-headed households in informal settlements.
- Resource Mobilization: Formulate high-level project proposals and technical reports that secured multi-million dollar funding for community and urban accessibility programs.
- Governance & Institutional Strengthening
- Capacity Building: Direct the strengthening of local governance structures by providing technical assistance to Community Development Councils (CDCs), mirroring the Secretariat’s goal of building national youth governance capacity.
- Strategic Partnerships: Facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration between government ministries, NGOs, and international agencies to synchronize community development goals and reduce duplication of efforts.
- Policy Advocacy: Serve as a primary advisor to the Board and Ministry on institutional transformation, specifically regarding participatory methods and gender-sensitive planning.
- Knowledge Management & Communication
- Best Practice Dissemination: Document and promote "Hinterland Housing" and "Urban Accessibility" success stories through professional seminars and international case studies (India, Rwanda, USA) to influence regional development agendas.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Design and implement communication strategies that increase awareness of community initiatives among public/private agencies and marginalized groups.
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Technical Oversight
- Programmatic Supervision: Provide senior-level oversight for the execution of complex social programs, ensuring they meet rigorous Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) and performance indicators.
- Data Utilization: Utilize SPSS and advanced monitoring tools to track program impact, providing the "strengthened use of data" required to inform regional youth and community indices.
Guyana Judiciary (Georgetown Children's Court)
Consultant
02.2020 - 03.2020
Job overview
- Juvenile Offenders' Introductory Life Skills Project
- The objective of the consultancy was to support the Guyana Judiciary in the design and implementation of an introductory life skills programme for Guyanese Juvenile Offenders. The project aimed to enable youth who have passed through the court system to be able to transform their attitudes and behaviors away from criminal and violent activity and to develop respect and trust for authority.
- Duties and responsibilities included:
- Design and Preparation of Training Plan/Outline
- Preparation of Training Modules
- Providing guidance and support to specific Judiciary staff as well as staff of the Ministry of Social Protection in effectively mobilizing participation from Juvenile Offenders
- Delivery of 6/12 hours to training to Juvenile Offenders
- Provision of regular updates on sessions
- Coordinating logistics regarding participants attendance, etc.
- Management of attendance Register
- Conducting evaluation of participants’ learning
- Recommendations for next steps regarding Life Skill and Job Readiness sessions aimed at reducing Youth Violence
- Submission of Final Report
ChildLink
Research Consultant
01.2016 - 05.2016
Job overview
- An analysis of Institutionalization of Children: An Understanding of the Nature and Extent of Institutional Care in Guyana
- Conducting desk review of existing literature on Institutionalization of Children in Guyana
- Preparation of Research Design
- Identifying participants and Conducting Focus Group Discussions and Key informant Interviews
- Data entry, cleansing, and analysis
- Presentation of Findings and facilitating discussion
- Preparation of final report inclusive of recommendations
Housing and Women's Empowerment
Researcher
03.2015 - 09.2015
Job overview
- A Case Study of the Hinterland Housing Pilot in Guyana
- Conducted qualitative study across 3 hinterland communities in Guyana to determine the impact of the hinterland housing pilot on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
- Conducting Focus Group Discussions and Key informant Interviews
- Data entry, cleansing, and data analysis
- Preparing of final report inclusive of recommendations to government on gender mainstreaming for the housing sector
- Presentation of findings to housing sector
Citizens' Security Programme (CSP)
Consultant
08.2011 - 12.2011
Job overview
- Youth Violence Prevention Life Skills Programme, Region 6, Guyana
- The objective of the consultancy was to assist the Ministry of Home Affairs to begin to inspire change in in the attitudes and behaviours of Guyanese youth from criminal and violent activity, and make citizens more receptive to partnering with the authorities to prevent and fight crime.
- To achieve this objective, the consultant was required assist the CSP by delivering training on the strategies for the prevention of youth violence. The participating communities included Angoy’s Avenue, Glasgow, Rose Hall Port Moraunt and Kilcoy/Chesney/Fyrish.
- Duties and responsibilities included
- Developing a plan for training delivery
- Developing training module(s)
- Conducting training seminars in the communities mobilized for the programme.
- Make suggestions with regards to the sustainability of the training outcomes in the community
- Completion of a report on the training conducted for each community
- The creation and distribution of a feedback form to be completed by each participant at the completion of training
- Provision of appropriate training materials
- Provision of follow-up actions for post-training sustainability
- Train youth Peer Educators from among those who participated in the Youth Violence Prevention Life Skills Programme
- Preparation of a Train the Trainers manual
- Coaching of Youth Trainers
- This process resulted in the sensitization sessions extending far outside of the CSP programme participants. A total of 1,729 Youths were sensitized and trained across regions 5 and 6 (including In School Youth) in the modules designed for the programme. Of these, 32 were trained as Peer Educators and coached by the consultant and team in the facilitation of sensitization sessions with youth in organized and unorganized settings in regions 5 and 6.
Education
Project Management Institute
Project Management Professional (PMP)
01-2020
University Overview
Future Generations Graduate School
Master of Arts from Applied Community Change (Peace Building)
01-2015
University Overview
University of Guyana
Bachelor of Social Science from Sociology
01-1999
University Overview
Skills
Computer Skills
Able to use SPSS software
Microsoft Projects
Proficient in the use of :
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel Spread Sheet
Microsoft PowerPoint
Internet
Certification
Diploma in Project Management _ Project Management Institute (USA)
Timeline
Environmental and Social Policy Framework Workshop (Barbados) - Inter American Development Bank (IDB)
05-2025
Advanced Certificate In Monitoting and Evaluation - ABMA Education (UK)
01-2025
Diploma in Project Management _ Project Management Institute (USA)
02-2020
Consultant
Guyana Judiciary (Georgetown Children's Court)
02.2020 - 03.2020
Research Consultant
ChildLink
01.2016 - 05.2016
Shenandoah Valley Farmers' Market, Virginia, USA
08.2015
Researcher
Housing and Women's Empowerment
03.2015 - 09.2015
Case Studies of Community Based Climate Resilience Initiatives
Chitwan National Park, Nepal
01.2014
Share and Care, Nepal
01.2014
Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio Resources (ANSAB), Nepal
01.2014
Consultant
Citizens' Security Programme (CSP)
08.2011 - 12.2011
Deputy Director, Community Development
Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)
01.2010 - Current
Research Consultant - Guyana
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
12.2009
EveryChild Guyana
06.2009
Help and Shelter in collaboration with EveryChild Guyana
05.2008
EveryChild Guyana
01.2008
National Commission on Women
12.2007
EveryChild Guyana
07.2007
EveryChild Guyana
06.2007
Future Generations Graduate School
Master of Arts from Applied Community Change (Peace Building)
University of Guyana
Bachelor of Social Science from Sociology
Project Management Institute
Project Management Professional (PMP)
Technical Skills & Voluntary Work
Technical Skills & Voluntary Work
- Software Proficiency: Competent in SPSS for data analysis and Microsoft Projects for planning.
- Community Leadership: Actively involved in faith-based and community organizations, serving as a Worship Leader, Youth Leader, and Vice Chairperson for the Kuru Kururu Community Development Council.
- Creative Talents: Lead vocalist and songwriter for the Vision All-Female Band.