Spotlighting the people shaping Dev-Afrique’s work across Africa
Our fourth volume features Barakat Tiamiyu, Senior Consultant, whose five-year journey with Dev-Afrique demonstrates the power of collaboration and cross-continental impact. From tracking government funds in Nigeria to mapping sanitation systems across Africa amongst others, Barakat combines planning expertise with adaptive leadership to drive meaningful change throughout the continent.
Can you tell us about yourself and your journey to Dev-Afrique?
I am Barakat Tiamiyu, a project manager, GIS expert, and monitoring and evaluation specialist. I consider myself a social planner passionate about creating positive change. I focus on contributing to society both technically and pragmatically, ensuring my skills and knowledge help transform systems and improve communities.
I hold a BSc in Urban and Regional Planning from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and an MPhil in Architecture and Planning from the University of Cape Town. I’m also a registered town planner in Nigeria, currently working as a Senior Consultant at Dev-Afrique Development Advisors. I’ve been with Dev-Afrique for nearly five years, deeply involved in our various initiatives, particularly in-country implementation and M&E work from the beginning.
What first drew you to development advisory work?
During my time at Obafemi Awolowo University, I collaborated with development organizations in what evolved into an advisory role. While my career path wasn’t clearly defined then, I had a strong desire to contribute to social good that naturally led me toward advocacy. I began by leading several campaigns, including the “Follow the Money” initiative in Osun State, where we tracked government funds from allocation through implementation. This experience sparked my interest in advisory work.
What led you to join Dev-Afrique, and how has your experience here shaped you?
Joining Dev-Afrique aligned with my professional goals. I came aboard when the organization was still fairly new, and have experienced significant growth both personally and professionally since then. Dev-Afrique has expanded my skills and exposed me to diverse development contexts.
I’ve had opportunities to work on meaningful projects in health and agriculture across multiple countries including Burkina Faso, DRC, Kenya, and Zambia. Working with both Francophone and Anglophone teams even inspired me to begin learning French.
I’ve gained valuable insights from every colleague at Dev-Afrique, developing different skills from each person. This collaborative environment has enhanced my capabilities considerably, making my journey here truly rewarding.
Describe a project that has deeply impacted you during your time here.
Under the Dev-Afrique “Public Service Data Systems: Landscaping, Learning, and Technical Assistance” project,”, I led a workstream mapping water and sanitation data systems tools across Africa. Our goal was to identify and analyze the tools supporting effective sanitation service delivery throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
We then highlighted best practices that utilities and municipalities could adopt to improve sanitation outcomes in their regions. This foundational work evolved into the widely recognized initiative; the WSH Data Labs webinar series on sanitation data systems tools across sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Over the past year, the series has hosted 11 sessions with sector-wide participation. We also developed a Sanitation Tools Mapping Dashboard visualizing how various technologies strengthen service delivery along the sanitation value chain.
I’m proud to have helped shape both the webinar series and dashboard—resources that have engaged over 1,000 WASH sector stakeholders and continue to inform implementation strategies.
What skills have you developed while working at Dev-Afrique?
Leadership and collaboration have been my primary growth areas. I’ve led complex multi-country projects from the start, often navigating ambiguous situations and providing needed direction. This has strengthened my critical thinking, planning abilities, and team leadership.
I’ve also enhanced my collaborative approach by working across diverse contexts. Each project has taught me to adapt to different working styles, cultural environments, and stakeholder needs. I’ve become more agile and better at facilitating co-creation in development work.
Dev-Afrique provides space for continuous learning, experimentation, and building the well-rounded expertise essential for effective advisory work.
Is there a part of your role that people might not realize is crucial to Dev-Afrique’s success?
One often overlooked but valuable aspect of my role is working across different areas of the organization. While my title outlines specific responsibilities, I’ve found it meaningful to contribute beyond those boundaries. I regularly work across multiple workstreams—both client-facing programs and internal initiatives. Through involvement in diverse portfolios like the Umbrella Fund for Geospatial Interventions, WSH Data Labs, and the Kimble project, alongside supporting our Monitoring & Evaluation team, I’ve gained perspective on how our different efforts connect. This helps me spot opportunities for collaboration and bring more comprehensive approaches to the challenges we address across the continent.
Another key yet less visible contribution is my role as a project initiator. I often step in when the path forward is unclear, bringing structure and momentum. Currently, I’m doing exactly this as project manager for the Umbrella Fund for Geospatial Interventions program where I navigate the different stakeholder priorities while maintaining focus on its geospatial intervention goals. This ability to create clarity from ambiguity and build functional systems from the ground up has been valuable across many Dev-Afrique initiatives.
How would you describe the team spirit at Dev-Afrique?
Collaborative. At Dev-Afrique, we have a strong culture of teamwork, shared ownership, and mutual support. Whether brainstorming solutions, launching initiatives, or navigating challenges, everyone contributes their strengths toward common goals. This collaborative approach drives innovation and amplifies our impact.
How has working at Dev-Afrique influenced your perspective on development challenges?
Working across Francophone and Anglophone regions has shown me how development challenges manifest differently across African contexts, yet can often be addressed with similar approaches adapted locally. The sanitation data systems tools mapping project demonstrated the importance of sharing effective practices—solutions from one country can often benefit others with appropriate modifications.
My experience as a project initiator has also taught me that beginning is often the biggest hurdle. Many successful initiatives start with someone willing to create structure amid uncertainty. This insight has fundamentally shaped my approach to development work.
What makes you proud to be part of Dev-Afrique?
I’m proud to work where I can contribute meaningfully across different portfolios and see tangible results. The opportunity to launch initiatives like the WSH webinar series and watch them grow into continent-wide programs engaging over 1,000 stakeholders is deeply fulfilling. Dev-Afrique has given me a platform to combine my technical skills with my passion for social growth, enabling me to help transform systems across Africa.
Barakat’s journey reflects the collaborative spirit and regional impact that define Dev-Afrique’s approach. Her progression from local advocacy campaigns to leading Africa-wide initiatives highlights the growth opportunities and leadership development within our organization. We celebrate professionals like Barakat who bring initiative, expertise, and commitment to our shared mission of African-led development solutions.
