The Educational Development Center (EDC) leads the implementation of Opportunity 2.0.
EDC is a nonprofit organization that improves learning and teaching, health and human development, and economic opportunities for people of all ages worldwide. It creates, delivers, and evaluates innovative programs, services, products, systems, and policy improvements. EDC has operated in the Philippines since 2006, with projects including EQuALLS, Basa Pilipinas, MYDev, and AWARE.
Below is the dynamic team EDC has put together to lead O2’s implementation in the Philippines.
Chief of Party
Jill has over 25 years of professional and international experience, working effectively in multi-cultural environments and diverse staff. She has led USAID education and youth activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, West Bank, and Egypt.
Deputy Chief of Party - Operations
Ilya has over 19 years of international development experience managing diverse finance and operations team for USAID funded projects ensuring compliance, effective use of resources and timely execution of activities.
Deputy Chief of Party - Technical Programs
Tere is a seasoned educator and development worker having spent 26 years supporting USAID and Philippine education programs. She specializes in Alternative Learning Systems, work readiness, curricula development, youth leadership, and alliance building.
Benz has a decade of experience in technical and vocational education, workforce and skills development having served at the Philippine Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Hayden is a program and training management specialist who specializes on curriculum development, youth workforce, soft skills and leadership development, and teacher and trainer professional development.
Private Sector Manager
Mei is a seasoned program manager specializing in private sector partnerships, corporate social responsibility, and marketing events. With experience spanning various sectors, she excels in project management, client relations, and collaboration with local and international non-profit and government agencies. Mei's diverse expertise include education, food security, agriculture, women empowerment, and disaster management. Currently serving as Private Sector Manager at USAID Opportunity 2.0 program, Mei focuses on securing partnerships and transitioning youth into entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
Grants Manager
Karen has over 10 years of experience in development projects in the field of health, health promotion materials, and education. She started her career in procurement, operations, and finance and transitioned to grants management when she joined EDC in September 2020.
Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Specialist
Carlo is trailblazing new ideas and mechanisms for higher education to support OSY development in the Philippines. He specializes in higher education innovations, strategic partnerships, program development, education leadership, and managing grants and development projects.
Tope first joined EDC in 2021 as one of Opportunity 2.0's Master Trainers. He specializes in learning and development, training design and facilitation, capacity development planning, module and curriculum development, as well as training assessment.
Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Jane joined EDC in 2024. Prior to joining EDC, she led the full implementation cycle (startup, implementation, closeout) of monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities of several USAID projects in the Philippines since 2003. Among her core strengths include results framework development, project performance and progress (activity) monitoring, monitoring (output) and evaluation (outcome) activity design, planning and implementation, survey management, sub-award recipient performance monitoring, project technical report writing, performance indicator tracking and reporting, and managing external evaluation activities.
Senior Communications Manager
Louie is an experienced development worker with demonstrated abilities in project communication and public relations. He has extensive experience in providing communication support to USAID-funded projects with expertise in communication planning, media management and coordination, photography, IEC materials development, social media campaigns, and events management.
Senior International Technical Advisor
Philip is a senior international technical advisor in EDC’s International Development Division (IDD), with a special focus on the Asia region. He has extensive expertise in strengthening alternative education delivery and equivalency systems for out-of-school children, youth, and adults. Philip has over 25 years of experience in designing, planning, and managing international training and educational research and development projects. He specializes in nonformal education policy and practice and instructional materials development. He previously worked with SEAMEO INNOTECH as a senior manager overseeing innovative and technology-oriented educational research and development initiatives in Southeast Asia.