About North Sphere

An independent advisory firm built on expertise, evidence, and impact

For over two decades, we have supported governments, multilaterals, and civil society organisations to navigate complexity and achieve lasting change.

Our Mission

North Sphere Consulting, founded 2004

To strengthen the institutions, systems, and policies that determine whether people can live healthy, dignified, and prosperous lives — everywhere.
Our Story

Two decades of evidence-led advisory

North Sphere was founded in Ottawa in 2004 by a group of senior advisors who had spent careers inside the institutions they sought to improve — the UN, bilateral development agencies, federal ministries, and multilateral banks. They believed that the most effective advisory came from people who understood the political economy of reform from the inside.

Over twenty years, we have grown from a small team focused on health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa to a global practice spanning six domains and four continents. What has not changed is our commitment to rigour, independence, and the primacy of local context.

Today, North Sphere operates through a hub-and-spoke model: a core permanent team of senior partners and directors, augmented by a carefully curated network of 80+ associate experts deployed based on the specific demands of each mandate.

2004
Founded in Ottawa Established as a health systems advisory firm serving USAID, DFID, and the World Bank.
2010
Expanded to Six Domains Broadened practice to include education, environment, and institutional development following demand from multilateral clients.
2016
Opened Geneva & Nairobi Offices Established regional hubs to better serve European institutions and the African Union.
2023
Asia-Pacific Practice Launched New Singapore office anchors growing work across South and Southeast Asia.
20+
Years of Experience
60+
Countries Engaged
350+
Mandates Completed
80+
Associate Experts
Our Values

What guides us

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Intellectual Rigour

We bring the highest standards of analytical excellence, evidence-based reasoning, and critical thinking to every engagement.

🤝

Partnership

We work alongside clients as trusted partners, co-creating solutions that are owned, sustained, and built upon long after we leave.

⚖️

Equity & Inclusion

We centre the voices and interests of marginalised communities, ensuring our work promotes just and equitable outcomes.

🔄

Systems Thinking

We resist siloed solutions, always placing specific challenges within their broader systemic, political, and institutional context.

🛡️

Independence

Our advice is impartial, evidence-driven, and free from conflicts of interest, so clients can trust what we say.

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Adaptive Learning

We build learning into every engagement, remaining open to evidence that challenges assumptions and improving as we go.

Global Reach

Where we work

Our engagements span 60+ countries across every major region, with permanent offices on three continents.

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Sub-Saharan Africa
Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mozambique +17
🌏
South & Southeast Asia
India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Philippines +8
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Middle East & North Africa
Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon +4
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Latin America
Colombia, Peru, Haiti, Guatemala +6
🇪🇺
Europe & Central Asia
Multilateral institutions, EU, Council of Europe
🏝️
Pacific & SIDS
Small island developing states, climate-vulnerable nations
🇨🇦
North America
Federal advisory in Canada, USAID programming
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Global Institutions
UN, World Bank, IFC, ADB, IADB, Global Fund
Our Team

Senior advisors with global experience

MA
Dr. Marie Archambault
Managing Partner · Ottawa & Geneva

Dr. Archambault brings 25 years of senior advisory experience across the UN system, the World Bank, and national governments. She has led health system reform programs in over 18 countries and served as a senior advisor to the WHO Director-General.

Health Systems Governance Strategy
JO
Dr. James Okonkwo
Principal Advisor, Health · Nairobi & London

Dr. Okonkwo is a physician-turned-policy-expert who has advised health ministries across East and West Africa. His work on universal health coverage in Kenya and Ghana is cited in WHO global strategy documents.

UHC Health Systems Institutional Reform
SL
Sophie Larouche
Director, Education · Montréal & Dakar

Ms. Larouche has 18 years of experience in education system reform, specialising in francophone Africa and the Caribbean. She led the design of national curriculum frameworks in three countries and serves on the UNESCO International Expert Panel.

Education Curriculum Francophone Africa
RV
Dr. Rohan Verma
Lead, Engineering & Technology · Toronto & New Delhi

Dr. Verma is a civil engineer and technology policy expert who advises governments on digital infrastructure, GovTech strategy, and climate-resilient engineering standards. He has worked with the ADB and UNDP across South Asia.

Engineering Digital Policy Climate Resilience
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Ready to tackle your most complex challenges?

Our team of senior advisors is available to discuss your context and explore how North Sphere Consulting can support your goals.