Australian volunteer and data analysis expert, Sivatmicca Yoganathan has been applying her skills to help build social accountability in Samoa.
Sivatmicca is leading a project to gather feedback from Samoan citizens on government health and education service delivery. 'I have a strong passion for research, training and information management,' she said.
Sivatmicca has previously worked in international development. She helped design and manage participatory appraisals in India. She also worked for World Vision Solomon Islands designing projects that address the needs of young people in Honiara's settlement communities.
It was during a holiday to Samoa in 2011 that Sivatmicca realised that Samoa would be a good place to work. She got in touch with representatives at the Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations (SUNGO). 'I was eager to return to development and saw an opportunity to help Samoa by working for SUNGO. I was excited to work with an organisation that has such a strong commitment to serving the community.'
She returned to Samoa to take up her role at SUNGO as a Research Coordinator in July 2012. Her assignment was originally for one-year. However, her commitment to the social accountability project was so great that she extended her assignment for a further eight months in order to see it through to completion.
'One of the most rewarding aspects of this assignment has been working and exchanging skills with my talented local counterpart, Leiloa Asaasa, who will be taking the helm of the research unit when my assignment concludes.'
Sivatmicca is working as an Australian Volunteer for International Development. Since 1972, there have been over 450 Australian volunteers in Samoa working with local organisations.