Program Management Team

The 50x2030 Program Management Team plans program activities, leads consensus building with partners, monitors implementation, reports on results, negotiates country engagement, mobilizes resources and has responsibility for overall programmatic and financial oversight of 50x2030.

El Iza Mohamedou

Program Manager

El Iza leads the design, implementation and results management of the 50x2030 Initiative through the 50x2030 Program Management Team. Her career in international development spans four continents and more than two decades with international financial institutions, NGOs, communities, companies, regional institutions and both local and central governments. Prior to 50x2030, she was Deputy Head of PARIS21 at the OECD, where she managed country and regional programs in 100 countries spread over 5 regions, including a gender statistics project. She has also held positions with German Technical Cooperation, UNICEF, World Bank and with the African Development Bank in the Regional Integration and Trade Department and in its Fragile States Unit, where she was the first-ever Chief Political Analyst. El Iza holds a BA in economics and an MBA in international business from Pace University, and a PhD in economics from University of Bayreuth (Germany) – the first Mauritanian woman to obtain a doctorate in the discipline. She speaks French, Spanish, German and Arabic and is a proud mother of two teenagers. Follow her @ElIzaMohamedou

Millicent Gay Tejada

Program Officer, Strategic Planning

Gay is a development management and public administration expert with over 20 years’ experience working with national governments, regional institutions and international organizations. She specializes in providing technical assistance and advisory services in statistical capacity development, institution strengthening, national and regional statistics strategy planning, program management, financing, policy advice and advocacy. For seven years, Gay coordinated country and regional programs in Asia, Middle East and North Africa, and in Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean and Pacific for PARIS21. Prior to that, she was lead coordinator of the Philippine Statistical System and head of the Statistical Policies and Programs unit in the Philippines Statistical Authority. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the International Christian University and is a candidate for a master’s in development management from the University of the Philippines. Gay is an avid collector of bird figurines which for her symbolize her advocacy for freedom, peace and self-determination.

Sala Elise Patterson

Program Officer, Outreach

Sala has worked for nearly two decades in communication, content and brand strategy for mission-driven organizations. A former magazine editor, she began her development career in media relations at IFAD and African Development Bank before joining OECD Development Center, where she managed communications for the Africa Desk. She then moved to UNDP in Tanzania, where she was the communication advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator. Prior to 50x2030, Sala consulted for nearly a decade to multilaterals, bilaterals, partnerships, foundations, cultural institutions and companies. She holds a BA in African American literature from Columbia University and an MSc in development studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies. A serial expat, in addition to Tanzania, she has called Japan, Benin, Italy, France, UK, Brazil and Tunisia home.

Masako Hiraga

Senior Operations Officer

Masako has worked on development data for more than two decades at the World Bank. Prior to 50x2030, she was a program manager of the Trust Fund for Statistical Capacity Building (TFSCB), supporting national statistical systems in low- and middle-income countries with 400+ grants. She has also provided technical assistance and advice to improve gender statistics in Africa, Asia and Latin America. She was a main author of the “People” section in the World Development Indicators (WDI), managing the analysis and curation of socio-demographic data. Masako holds a master’s degree in public and international affairs from University of Pittsburgh. She enjoys travel, yoga and a good laugh.

Christelle Kouame

Program Analyst

Christelle has worked in multiple departments within the World Bank over the past decade. To 50x2030 she brings deep experience in operational support to establishing, implementing and reporting for World Bank trust funds. She started her career at the Bank in the Africa Region-Transport department, supporting teams working on large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects. From there, she moved to the Development Economics Group, working with technical specialists who implement statistical projects resourced by trust funds. Over the years, this work expanded to include financial analysis and planning, which she is also providing in the context of 50x2030. Christelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s in Management and Intercultural Communications from La Sorbonne - CELSA. She speaks fluent French and enjoys reading and traveling in her free time.

Sandra Stevens-Landolfi

Program Assistant

Sandra has worked for more than two decades with the World Bank, NGOs, private sector entities and UN agencies, in the USA and in Italy, where she has provided professional support to senior executives, managers and colleagues, alike. Her extensive, cross-sector background has made Sandra amendable to new challenges, learning in fast-paced environments and adapting to new methods of work. Sandra holds a degree in Business Administration and is honored to have received recognition for outstanding service to the teams she has supported during her tenure at the World Bank. In her leisure time, Sandra enjoys cooking.