Who are we?

CEO, instructor

Natalia Sagrario

I became officially a Logframe nerd in Fiji in 2016, when I was sitting at a cafeteria with a friend, and a man approached me asking "M'am... sorry to disturb you but, are you Logframe Lady?". Four years before I was in Fiji as an independent evaluator of the European Union, and I organised a free extra session on Logframe for the civil society organisation I was evaluating. This ended up being a gathering of 30 CSOs! One year later, the EU calls me "would you like to repeat that session you did last year for CSOs in Fiji, but this time in Tonga? We are launching our first funding for CSOs in the country and we need you as a trainer for them". It seems the CSOs in Fiji repeatedly asked the EU that year for more training with me, as they told the EU that I explained Logframe and project design in a very easy-to-understand way.

The next thing I know is I am moving to Fiji to build the capacity of CSOs in managing EU grants. I was the EU Helpdesk for CSOs in Fiji for three years, working with Fijian consultants. This was my real school in Logframe, as I delivered capacity building for around 60 CSOs in Logframe, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, financial management and communication of their EU grants. I quickly realised that my way of explaining these things till then was good for the CSOs in the urban areas, but not good for CSOs in rural areas. After several attempts and good advice, I developed a method of teaching more aligned with the traditional way of explaining used in rural areas. Stories, images, anecdotes, metaphors and colors enriched my method and my understanding of Logframe and M&E beyond any limit I could have previously imagined.

After this de-construction and re-construction of my own understanding of Logframe and M&E, I moved back to Europe. I did not know anymore how to explain these technical concepts in the European way, very conceptual, theoretical and abstract. So I brought that method and adapted it slightly to work with big networks of CSOs in Brussels. It worked like magic.

In 2019 the thing got very real, as I was invited to join a reduced group of consultants trained directly by the EU in Headquarters on Logframe. We were the first experts in the newly launched official Logframe Technical Assistance of the EU for its staff worldwide. To picture the relevance of it, it does not get higher than this in EU expertise on Logframe. For the next 4 years I have been fixing the Logframe of dozens of projects funded by the EU, in all sectors and with all types of partners. From a small CSO project, to a big programme of several million euros with several components and 15 UN agencies.

My real passion is to make Logframe accessible, as it is the backbone of every good project and it impacts directly the effectiveness of social actors.
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Head of communications

Antonio Melendez

Storytelling through film, music and photography is sacred to me. Focusing on social and environmental issues connects me with incredible people making a difference. Creating art requires opening my heart, sharing vulnerability, and forging intimate connections that foster growth and self-discovery.
 
Storytelling is my vessel for becoming the best version of myself, and I cherish it with all my heart and soul.
 
I strive to be a role model of creativity, curiosity, and public service for my children. I want to instill a global perspective and a sense of responsibility for our planet and all its inhabitants. My deepest desire is to leave the world better than I found it, and I'm grateful to use my creative gifts in pursuit of that goal.

Alumbra allows me to have the level of impact that I have always wanted. Now through our courses I am able to support the people and organizations doing the real work in this world. I am passionate about listening to and understanding the needs of our users, with the intention of empowering  people and communities to do their work. 
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Intern

Andrea Leknes

I’m Andrea, a recent psychology graduate from Norway, currently based in Madrid. Right now, I’m interning at Alumbra, where I’m getting hands-on experience in international project management and educational design. I’ve been working on improving the user experience for the professionals using our training courses and helping develop content for the website.

For me, Alumbra isn’t just a place to learn, it’s a space where I can actively support the kinds of projects I care most about. I'm particularly passionate about global mental health and international cooperation, and through this work, I get to contribute to real initiatives that align with those values. Being part of Alumbra gives me the chance to grow professionally while also making a meaningful impact in areas that truly matter to me.
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