Valérie Assoi
Ottawa
Summary
A creative, dynamic and strategic leader, with over 15 years’ experience managing and implementing strategies, projects and programs; specialized in collaborative inclusive partnerships with a participatory approach, working with and training civil society organizations, private sector, government, research and donor stakeholders, in anti-oppression policies, conflict prevention and organizational governance. Regional representative with inter-governmental organizations (European Union and Economic West African States). Extensive experience working in Canada and West Africa; participated in over 100 conferences in 20 countries and gained strong cultural awareness. Hard worker, highly analytical, works well independently and as part of a team. Able to quickly and organically build strong relationships, leverage and extend internal and external networks. Ability to convey information to senior leaders.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Advisor in Management of innovative projects
SUCO CÔTE D’IVOIRE
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Support WILDAF Côte d'Ivoire, a network of women associations in its strategic planning process, annual action plans and annual evaluation
- Assist and supervise the staff of WILDAF Côte d'Ivoire for the development, consolidation or revision of the capacity building plan based on the needs identified following the organizational diagnosis;
- Identify and develop capacity building and organizational development tools and train volunteers to use these tools
Director of the Practical School
INSTITUT UNIVERSITAIRE D’ABIDJAN
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Plan, organize and promote experiential learning programs to increase employability rates of students, in collaboration with networks of entrepreneurs and NGOs
Advisor in organizational governance
SUCO CÔTE D’IVOIRE
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Support WILDAF Côte d'Ivoire, a network of 15 women associations in its strategic planning process, annual action plans and annual evaluation
- Assist and supervise the staff of WILDAF Côte d'Ivoire for the development, consolidation or revision of the capacity building plan based on the needs identified following the organizational diagnosis;
- Identify and develop capacity building and organizational development tools and train volunteers to use these tools
Founder - Co-director
ACACIA MEDIATION, ASSOIVAL CONSULTING
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Support families and organizations in the development of tools to mediate conflicts and prevent them
- Diversity audit, Equity Diversity and Inclusion training, Diversity policies, Organizational development (strategic planning process and report)
School board trustee: First Afro-Canadian elected
FRENCH CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD (CECCE)
01.2017 - 01.2022
- School board trustee for the biggest Francophone school board outside of Quebec, with a budget of $300 million
Project Coordinator – Eastern Ontario
PARO CENTRE FOR WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE
01.2019 - 01.2020
- As a supervisor overseeing the action plans of the team of Business Growth Advisors.
- Delivered a comprehensive, enhanced business coaching/counselling, training and mentoring program designed to increase profitability for women entrepreneurs in urban, rural, and Indigenous communities in Ontario
- Gained experience in starting and pivoting women led consultancy businesses
Community/ Capacity Developer
SOUTHEAST OTTAWA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
01.2013 - 01.2019
- Participated in broad based community planning as well as program and training's evaluation
- Coordinated a community safety program aiming at dismantling gang related groups
- Provided knowledge sharing platforms on Civil Society Organizations’ related issues
- Monitored and evaluated progress achieved when engaging Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders
Capacity Building Coordinator
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK OF OTTAWA
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Co-authored the Guiding principles of community development
Community Engagement Coordinator and Learning Design Officer
CITY FOR ALL WOMEN INITIATIVE
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Contributed to leadership team and strategic directions, including effective collaboration with other organizations into broader strategic directions gender issues, election programs recognizing opportunities for synergy in program implementation and addressing challenges
- Implemented Equity and Inclusion lens strategies in Community Development, Adult Education, Governance and Public Health, with an intersectional approach.
- Collaborated with the Coalition of Community Health Centers, the City of Ottawa and different stakeholders to ensure Equity and Inclusion work is integrated throughout their planning, project/program design and implementation, as well as organizational governance
Logistics Coordinator
THE COALITION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH & RESOURCE CENTRES
01.2009 - 01.2009
- For the Rethinking Poverty 2 Forum: Immigrant Perspectives
- Planned and organized, in close collaboration with the antipoverty Coordinator and volunteers, an awareness forum gathering 300 community members, agencies and people interested in poverty reduction issues, using a participatory approach
Fundraising Promotion Coordinator
ORLEANS-CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Planned the fundraising strategy of the Centre. Represented the Centre at Business network groups and many charitable events. Publicized the events with professionals and media, built up organizing committees. Hired with intersectional lens, trained and supervised support staff and volunteers required for events
- Demonstrated track record of fundraising objectives
Project Coordinator
ITU/EU WEST AFRICA ICT REGULATORY HARMONIZATION PROJECT
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Managed a 1 USD million + European Union funded project for 15 West-African countries aiming at harmonizing telecommunication policies throughout ECOWAS
- Planned, organized and co-facilitated in close collaboration with the hosting country, workshops on specific issues (proposing agenda, identifying experts and participants, etc.)
- Recruited and maintained a group of Focal Points to promote the Project’s activities in each country
- Contributed to leadership team and strategic directions, also in effective collaboration with other country representatives and ministers, addressing challenges for synergy in program implementation
Project Coordinator
RELAIS CÔTE DES NEIGES, NGO of insertion of new immigrants in Québec
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Drafted grant proposals with potential partners and performed public relations roles
- Received and coached new immigrants to succeed in their integration in Québec
- Trained women on a low income on civic participation and supported them to set up groups of revenue generating activities and increase their employability
Chief of Tariffs’ Department
ARCTI (Telecommunications Regulation Agency of Côte d’Ivoire)
01.1996 - 01.2003
- Supported the development and submission of annual plans and reports, reprogramming actions, and other processes or inputs into reporting systems in collaboration with other colleagues
- Ensured cost-effective use of budget within the agreed work program
- Established licensing costs and interconnection rates matrix in full compliance with ITU policies and procedures
Education
Certificate - Artificial Intelligence and Professional skills
UNITAR (UN training agency)
01.2025
Certificate - Mediation
Canadian Institute of Conflict Resolution (CCRO program)
01.2019
Graduate Certificate - Monitoring and Evaluation
University Of Ottawa
01.2016
Master’s of Arts - Conflict Studies
Saint Paul University
01.2010
Certificate - Economic Regulation and Management of Infrastructure projects (Public Private Partnerships)
University Paris XII - World Bank Institute
01.2000
Graduate Diploma - Auditing
University of Abidjan
01.1996
Bachelor - Business Studies
University of Abidjan
01.1992
Skills
- Strategic Leadership: Developed and implemented operational strategies aligned with strategic priorities of ITU in West Africa, CAWI in Ottawa and with WiLDAF a network of NGOs based on law issues
- Program Oversight: Provided strategic oversight to 16 county telecommunication regulation agencies, ensuring harmonization of policies as well as to assure diversity in the city of Ottawa’s programs
- Change Management: Led change initiatives in collaboration with regional and country teams to change telecommunication policies and innovative ways of working in women led NGOs
- Resource Mobilization: Facilitated resource allocation to focal points in the 16 countries of ECOWAS Developed and shared thematic cartography and fundraising strategies Ensured alignment with programmatic needs and sustainable growth objectives
- Talent Development: Mentored and developed talent within various organizations, fostering a culture of purpose led learning and identifying and nurturing key leadership potentials
- Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA): Designed and facilitated corporate and community courses on DEIA issues
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Skilled in Results Based Management (logic models and theories of change)
- Political acumen: Former elected official, so knows well how to manage government relations
- Training and facilitation, with a participatory and inclusive approach as well as adult learners, I organized train-the-trainer workshops Experienced user of virtual training tools (Slido, Mentimeter, etc…), Google suite, Microsoft suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), social media
- Women’s Economic Empowerment: Development and delivery of a comprehensive, enhanced business coaching/training program designed to increase productivity and profitability for women entrepreneurs
- Relationship building
- Written communication
- Critical thinking
- Analytical thinking
- Strategic planning
- Problem-solving
- Training and mentoring
- Conflict resolution
- Presentations and public speaking
- Decision-making
- Data interpretation
- Group facilitation
- Stakeholder management
- Active listening
- Goal setting
- Project management
- Emotional intelligence
- Negotiation
- Report generation
- Cross-functional coordination
- Solution-oriented approach
Community Service & Volunteer Work
- Women In Law and Development (WiLDAF- Côte d’Ivoire), Board member, 2023, Board member of Women In Law and Development (WiLDAF- Côte d’Ivoire)
- City for All Women Initiative, Former Board member, 2020, 2022, Former Board member of City for All Women Initiative, that sets gender based policies for the City
- Great Avalon Community Association, Former board member, Former board member of the Great Avalon Community Association, neighborhood association
- Assemblée de la Francophonie de l’Ontario, Former board member, Former board member of Assemblée de la Francophonie de l’Ontario, umbrella organization, gathering and promoting Francophone organizations and businesses in Ontario
- African Study Group, Member, Member of African Study Group, gathering former diplomats and Afro-Canadians, to keep Africa on the agenda
- Synapcity, https://synapcity.ca/, Former volunteer, Former volunteer with Synapcity (designed their governance / civic engagement course)
- Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity and Junior Achievement (designed business courses for youth and actively contributed to their installation and program implementation in Côte d’Ivoire)
Languages
French
English
Timeline
Advisor in Management of innovative projects
SUCO CÔTE D’IVOIRE
01.2024 - 01.2025
Director of the Practical School
INSTITUT UNIVERSITAIRE D’ABIDJAN
01.2023 - 01.2024
Advisor in organizational governance
SUCO CÔTE D’IVOIRE
01.2022 - 01.2023
Founder - Co-director
ACACIA MEDIATION, ASSOIVAL CONSULTING
01.2020 - 01.2023
Project Coordinator – Eastern Ontario
PARO CENTRE FOR WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE
01.2019 - 01.2020
School board trustee: First Afro-Canadian elected
FRENCH CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD (CECCE)
01.2017 - 01.2022
Community/ Capacity Developer
SOUTHEAST OTTAWA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
01.2013 - 01.2019
Capacity Building Coordinator
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK OF OTTAWA
01.2012 - 01.2013
Community Engagement Coordinator and Learning Design Officer
CITY FOR ALL WOMEN INITIATIVE
01.2009 - 01.2013
Logistics Coordinator
THE COALITION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH & RESOURCE CENTRES
01.2009 - 01.2009
Fundraising Promotion Coordinator
ORLEANS-CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE
01.2007 - 01.2008
Project Coordinator
ITU/EU WEST AFRICA ICT REGULATORY HARMONIZATION PROJECT
01.2004 - 01.2005
Project Coordinator
RELAIS CÔTE DES NEIGES, NGO of insertion of new immigrants in Québec
01.2003 - 01.2004
Chief of Tariffs’ Department
ARCTI (Telecommunications Regulation Agency of Côte d’Ivoire)
01.1996 - 01.2003
Certificate - Mediation
Canadian Institute of Conflict Resolution (CCRO program)
Graduate Certificate - Monitoring and Evaluation
University Of Ottawa
Master’s of Arts - Conflict Studies
Saint Paul University
Certificate - Economic Regulation and Management of Infrastructure projects (Public Private Partnerships)
University Paris XII - World Bank Institute
Graduate Diploma - Auditing
University of Abidjan
Bachelor - Business Studies
University of Abidjan
Certificate - Artificial Intelligence and Professional skills
UNITAR (UN training agency)