Spotlight on Ochuko Piserchia: A leading Development Communications and Knowledge Management expert
By Kasim Sumaina
In Africa’s fast-changing development sector, few names resonate with the same authority and innovation as Ochuko Piserchia, a Nigerian professional whose work has influenced the structure and substance of modern development communications across the continent. Over the past decade, she has built a remarkable career leading communication, learning, and stakeholder engagement for some of the most prestigious global development programs.
From the early stages of her career, Piserchia demonstrated an uncommon ability to connect strategy with storytelling. After earning her Master’s in Human Resource Management from Middlesex University in London, she embarked on a professional path that would see her rise to the top of her field. Her subsequent leadership positions across USAID and DFID programs established her as an expert who combines technical knowledge with a deep understanding of social impact and business systems.
At the DFID-funded Policy Development Facility (PDF II), she coordinated national dialogues that shaped Nigeria’s trade and industrial policies, championing evidence-based advocacy and reform communication. As the Senior Knowledge Management and Communications Specialist for USAID’s Feed the Future Agribusiness Investment Activity, she led a multi-state visibility and learning campaign that promoted investment partnerships between government agencies, agribusiness firms, and donor institutions. Her campaigns not only improved public-private engagement but also enhanced Nigeria’s reputation as a destination for agricultural investment.
Today, Ms Piserchia leads the Research and Learning portfolio of the USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Extension and Advisory Sevices Sctivity implemented byWinrock International. She drives knowledge management systems that guide program design, implementation, and adaptive learning. He passion to ensure knowledge is leverage as a critical infrastructure led to the the design and facilitation ofanecdote circles, pause-and-reflect sessions across several donor funded programs, design and development of policy and learning briefs, and impact storytelling have been adopted by implementing partners as best practices in the field. Through her innovative leadership, she has helped reposition communication as a strategic business asset, ensuring that every intervention generates measurable, shareable, and sustainable results.
Her peers often describe her as a “strategic bridge-builder”, aprofessional who can navigate the complexities of donor expectations, local realities, and organizational needs with precision. Whether she is designing a knowledge-sharing platform, facilitating high-level workshops, or mentoring young professionals, Piserchia brings excellence, empathy, and intellectual rigor to her work.
Beyond her organizational achievements, she represents a new generation of African female leaders shaping the global development dialogue. Her work in developing communication strategies for agriculture, trade, and economic diversification underscores the crucial role of women in driving policy innovation and institutional learning across Africa.
Ochuko Piserchia’s contributions exemplify what it means to lead at the highest levels of professional distinction. Her innovations have not only elevated the practice of development communications but have also strengthened the business architecture of international development itself. Through her vision and results, she continues to inspire transformationproving that effective communication is both an art and a business science capable of changing nations.
