Whole Child Advisors: Transforming Learning For Children In Crisis

Transforming education for children in crisis and fragile contexts by providing holistic support that nurtures learning, resilience, and brighter futures.

Our Mission

Our mission is to bolster the significant impact local organizations, foundations, and key stakeholders have on children, families, and communities in adversity or fragile contexts.

What We Do

Whole Child Advisor prides itself in being a Global Learning and Impact Partner (GLIP) to guide evidence generation and learning throughout program lifecycles. Whole Child Advisors brings extensive experience in learning, programming for sustainable impact, and in establishing strategic partnerships.

We offer evidence-based technical, programmatic, and learning support to local organizations, and facilitate connections between local, national, and global stakeholders. We synthesize evidence and create spaces for organizations to continue learning, share challenges, and explore viable solutions for sustainable impact.

Taking a behind the scenes approach, we strive to elevate local partner leadership and impact.

Services

Strategy Development and Planning

We will work with you to develop or revise your strategy for sustainable impact across your portfolio, programs or organization.

Your Learning and Impact Partner

We support you throughout the program lifecycle for sustainable impact, continuous learning, and program adaptations as required.

Learning Communities

We create space for you to learn and collaborate across partners, contexts, and types of organizations to contribute to greater impact.

We work across countries and contexts though prioritize efforts in:

Colombia

Brazil

Cent. America

Caribbean

Haiti

Kenya

Mozambique

Tanzania

India

Pakistan

Colombia

Brazil

Haiti

Kenya

Mozambique

Tanzania

India

Pakistan

Content Expertise

Central to our methodology is the principle of collaborative learning based on evidence and experiences.

1

Early childhood development

2

Primary and secondary education

3

Technical and vocational education

4

Adolescent and youth development

5

Family, school, and community engagement

6

Mental health and psychosocial support

7

Resilience

8

Social and emotional learning

9

Teacher and school leader development for holistic learning

10

Whole child learning for children in crisis, conflict, or fragile contexts

1

Early childhood development

2

Primary and secondary education

3

Technical and vocational education

4

Adolescent and youth development

5

Family, school, and community engagement

6

Mental health and psychosocial support

7

Resilience

8

Social and emotional learning

9

Teacher and school leader development for holistic learning

10

Whole child learning for children in crisis, conflict, or fragile contexts

Why Us?

We believe in the power of strategic advice and mentorship to drive sustainable social change. Whether you’re seeking a strategic alliance with the right partner, specific guidance for sustainable impact, or a fully engaged, action-oriented partner, call us today.

Together we’ll achieve sustainable, positive learning and well-being outcomes for children and families in adversity. Let’s collaborate to make this happen.

Examples Of Current And Past Work

Strategy Development

U.S. Government Strategy for Children in Adversity: led the revision of this multisectoral, interagency global strategy for children, families and communities in adversity.

Strengthen Implementation

The Hilton Foundation: Led development of partnership strategy and implementation plan to leverage resources for ECD programs.

Program Design for Systemic Impact

Global Center for Development of Whole Child at University of Notre Dame: Collaborated to establish resilience framework implemented in system and community level programs in Haiti, Colombia, Peru, Kenya, and India.

About

Ryan is Managing Principal of Whole Child Advisors, where he leads our work to strengthen the impact foundations, multi/bi laterals, private sector, and other stakeholders have on the well-being and learning of children in adversity globally.

Dedicated to the resilience, protection, and learning of children in adversities and fragile contexts, Ryan is a thought leader, systemic change agent, and facilitator with 20+ years of experience reaching over 40 countries and 5 continents.

Ryan is originally from Colombia and has a doctorate from Teachers College at Columbia University in international educational development. He is currently a fellow in the Collaborative on Global Children's Issues at Georgetown University.

Extensive Experience

Dr. Burgess has dedicated his career to the protection, resilience, learning and development of children facing significant adversities and fragile contexts. In the past 20+ years, he collaborated with Ministries of Education, foundations, and international and local organizations to strengthen education systems from early childhood to secondary education, including technical and vocational education, in over 30 programs valued at over $1b. He has contributed to systemic change in education in 17+ countries and reached over 45 countries.

Believing in the importance of understanding and working closely with those impacted by programs, Dr. Burgess has lived and worked in over 10 countries; speaks four languages; and studied several others (e.g., Serbian and Armenian) to understand the culture and language of where he worked or lived. He has experience in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe and Caucasus. Dr. Burgess has a doctorate in International Educational Development from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Contact Us

We believe in the power of strategic advice and mentorship for driving sustainable social change. Whether you’re seeking a strategic alliance with the right partner, specific guidance for sustainable change, or a fully engaged, action-oriented partner, call us today.

Together we’ll achieve sustainable, positive learning and well-being outcomes for children and families in adversity. Let’s collaborate to make this happen.

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