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Based on a 2 year leave-of-absence from IBM, Steve Andersen PMP describes his experiences living in the world's 4th poorest country. Africa has 900 million people living on an average of less than $2 a day. The entire economy of sub-Sahara Africa is less than that of Chicago. Steve will share what it is like to live in such an environment.

In addition, he will share project management lessons learned based on his work with the Ministry of Economics and Finance, and a series of 12 informational interviews that he conducted with country directors of such agencies as CARE International, Save the Children, and the World Bank.

Join Steve for a fascinating professional and personal journey into Africa. He will also include exerts from his May 2008 presentation at PMI's Global Congress/EMEA in Malta.

Speaker Bio

Mr. Stephen Andersen, PMP, MS, MBA has over 20 years of experience in project management and information systems development. As an IBM Certified Project Manager, he has managed a variety of projects for corporate and government clients. Between September 2005 - September 2007, Mr. Andersen took a leave-of-absence from IBM as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, Africa. There he enhanced the capacity of the 'Ministry of Economics and Finance' to manage their microfinance program. In addition he worked with NGOs and small enterprises. In 2006, he attended PMI's first IDSIG Africa region conference in Abuja, Nigeria. In Nairobi Kenya he worked with a micro-entrepreneur in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa. Mr. Andersen is a member of the IDSIG USA and Nigeria Chapters, as well as the ISSIG. In May 2008, he presented a paper titled "Can Project Management Support Poverty Reduction in Africa?" at PMI's Global Congress EMEA in Malta.