Jennifer Rust
About Jennifer Rust
Jennifer Rust is a Programme Officer at Sightsavers in the United Kingdom, where she has worked since 2021. She has extensive experience in research and evaluation, having held various positions at organizations such as UN Women and M&ESURE Research & Evaluation.
Work at Sightsavers
Jennifer Rust has been serving as a Programme Officer at Sightsavers since 2021. In this role, she contributes to the organization's mission of controlling and eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) across 17 countries in West, Central, and East Africa. Prior to her current position, she worked as a Learning Officer for the Ascend program at Sightsavers for five months in 2021.
Previous Experience
Before joining Sightsavers, Jennifer Rust worked as an SDG Consultant at UN Women from 2018 to 2019 in Bridgetown, Barbados. She also held positions as a Researcher at M&ESURE Research & Evaluation from 2019 to 2021 and at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) from 2015 to 2017, both in Cape Town, South Africa. Her early career included roles as a Research Intern at Umvoto Africa Pty Ltd and as a Political Participation Intern at UN Women.
Education and Expertise
Jennifer Rust holds a Master's Degree in Political Science and Government from the University of Cape Town, which she completed from 2015 to 2016. She also earned an Honours degree in Political Studies and International Relations from Rhodes University in 2013. Additionally, she participated in the Shanghai Summer School BRICS Program at Fudan University in 2016. Her academic background supports her expertise in social science research methods, which she applies to enhance programme implementation.
Research Contributions
Jennifer Rust has utilized learning-centred evaluation approaches in her work, particularly in external evaluations of social change programmes in South Africa. Her research contributions focus on applying social science methods to improve programme implementation and systems. She has played a role in controlling and eliminating NTDs through various funding portfolios, demonstrating her commitment to public health initiatives.
Career Development
Throughout her career, Jennifer Rust has gained diverse experience in research and evaluation, starting as a Radio Tutor and Sub-warden at Rhodes University. Her progression includes various research roles and internships that have equipped her with a solid foundation in political studies and international relations, ultimately leading to her current position at Sightsavers.