Anna Jolly is an international child protection and social service specialist with over fifteen years of experience supporting governments, UN, and civil society organisations to strengthen child protection systems across development and humanitarian contexts. She serves as Maestral’s Care Reform Thematic Lead.
Anna’s work centres on care reform, child protection system mapping and assessment, social work practice and social service workforce strengthening, alternative care, case management, positive parenting, and safeguarding. She has led and contributed to large-scale national initiatives, including the development of national care reform strategies, child protection frameworks, case management systems, social service standards, training curricula, and digital learning platforms. Her work is characterised by strong participatory processes, multi-stakeholder coordination, and close collaboration with government counterparts to translate national policy commitments into high quality sub-national implementation. Anna brings extensive experience designing and delivering workforce training for all cadres, in policy development, and in strengthening coordination across social welfare, justice, and health systems.
Prior to joining Maestral, Anna spent ten years managing large teams of NGO social workers providing direct social support to children connected to the street, children who use substances, and children living in statutory and residential care settings, as well as supporting their reintegration.
Anna holds a Master’s degree in International and Community Development and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. She is based in Kenya and has lived and worked extensively across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe.