About Institute for Development
Institute for Development (IfD) provides high quality qualitative and mixed methods research training and consultancy to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government and businesses in Sierra Leone. The team works with highly skilled local and expat associates who excel in research and have significant expertise in the areas of gender, public health, education, livelihoods, and governance. The IfD vision is for a highly developed research industry in Sierra Leone. Its mission is to support decision makers to understand what works.
More on IfD’s website [opens new tab]
Regina Mamidy Yillah
Chief Executive Officer
Regina is the founder and CEO of the Institute for Development (IfD). Previously, she was the Country Director for Health Poverty Action in Sierra Leone and worked as a Public Health and Education Consultant, including a significant 18-month role as an internal consultant to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Regina holds a Master’s in Education and a BSc in Chemistry from Imperial College London.
Ayesha Idriss
Research fellow
Ayesha is a highly accomplished pharmacist and multidisciplinary researcher. With a passion for public health and a drive to advance scientific knowledge, Ayesha has worked on a range of ground-breaking projects in collaboration with international partners throughout her career. Notably, she was a key member of the team that conducted the Sierra Leone Trial to introduce a vaccine against Ebola, a landmark initiative that helped to contain the outbreak of this deadly disease. Ayesha has also contributed significantly to the NIHR Research Unit on Health in Situations of Fragility (RUHF) project.
Tima Brewah
Research fellow
A pharmacist by training, Tima brings a wealth of experience in research, having collaborated extensively with international partners.
Halimatu Kamara
Research assistant
Halimatu is a pharmacist, public health practitioner, and research-oriented individual. She has contributed to pharmaceutical policy documents that have positively impacted on the transformation of the pharmaceutical sector in Sierra Leone. She has vast experience in health system strengthening and advocacy, and has worked with the Ministry of Health and several non-governmental organizations. Halimatu has also worked as a Research Assistant in various research projects and was an enroller during the Sierra Leone Ebola vaccine trial.
Yatta Kamara
Research administrator
Yatta is the research administrator for ReBUILD for Resilience at IfD (she previously worked on ReBUILD). Previously, Yatta worked on several research programmes at COMAHS including the Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine against Ebola (STRIVE), RECAP–SL, Health Systems Strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa (ASSET), Research Unit on Health in Fragility (RUHF) Project, and the ARISE Hub (Accountability and Responsiveness in Informal Settlements for Equity). Yatta has a Master of Public Administration degree from Njala University.
Abu Talib Deen
Research administrator
Abu Talib Deen is an IT professional with several years’ experience working in various organisations and institutes, training and implementing networking and ICT administration. He also has experience in HRM, logistics and procurement. He was the project coordinator with the Universal Peace Federation where he delivered a series of seminars and workshops on youth and family empowerment. He designed, installed and administered the network infrastructure for the Redcoat SL company. Talib was also the Senior Logistics and Procurement Officer and HR Officer at Health Poverty Action for seven years.
The ReBUILD for Resilience partners are:
The team is supported by research associates
