Barry Smith

Background

About Barry Smith

Barry is a Principal Consultant (Governance) and Senior Partnerships Advisor at Director at Social Development Direct. He provides technical leadership to the Plan International/SDDirect Equitable Partnerships Initiative and is part of SDDirect's Governance and Inclusive Societies team. Currently, he also serves as Director of FCDO’s Disability Inclusion Helpdesk (a component of the multi-year Disability Inclusive Development/Inclusive Futures Programme) and as a Senior Advisor on the FCDO Climate, Environment and Nature (CLEAN) Helpdesk. Barry is a senior social development and governance professional with over 35 years of multi-sector experience in active citizenship, gender equality, disability and social inclusion. As well as core proficiencies in programme design, programme management, research, monitoring & evaluation, policy and strategy, he brings specialist experience in civil society leadership and institution-building, adaptive programming, collaborative learning, philanthropy, grant-making and partnerships. He has a consistent track record of high quality policy and technical advice to governments, international agencies, civil society institutions and private philanthropy organisations. Much of his work has focused on promoting more inclusive governance and accountable service delivery (especially in education and health) through stronger citizen voice and agency, especially on the part of marginalised and excluded groups. Barry is a skilled facilitator adept in the design and facilitation of participatory methodologies, peer learning processes and inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue.