What is Tangerine Central?
Tangerine Central is a women-owned small business dedicated to advancing efficient, effective data collection and use in any setting, whether online or offline. Our mission is to ease the burden of data collection and deliver timely, actionable insights in even the most resource-constrained settings.
Guided by the principles of Data Sovereignty and Security, Adaptability and Simplicity, and Community-Driven Development, we believe widely accessible, usable, and trustworthy tools are essential for communities to shape their own futures.
Our team combines expert leadership in learning assessment, digital platform development, AI and data science, program implementation, and capacity strengthening, grounded in decades of experience designing, deploying, and scaling Tangerine in diverse contexts. We provide hands-on support with instrument design, deployment, and data analysis. We offer training and capacity building through online courses and technical assistance, helping partners build the skills needed to use Tangerine effectively and independently.
Tangerine Central is here to help you collect meaningful data that drives learning and equity.
Learn more about our co-founders.
Tangerine Central brings together a global roster of seasoned professionals who specialize in using Tangerine to improve education data systems. Our network includes impact evaluation designers, instrument developers, assessor trainers, statisticians, and data visualization experts—many of whom helped pioneer the very tools and methods now widely used to assess early literacy and numeracy.
These experts provide hands-on support to partners around the world, helping design reliable and valid instruments, deploy assessments in diverse contexts, and analyze data to inform policy and practice. Whether you're launching a national learning assessment, conducting a program evaluation, or building dashboards to visualize results, our team is ready to help.
We don’t just support projects—we build capacity. Through training, mentorship, and peer collaboration, we help local organizations and governments take ownership of their data systems. Our community literally ‘wrote the book’ on early literacy and numeracy assessments, and we’re committed to sharing that knowledge to strengthen learning outcomes globally.
Learn more about how the Tangerine software works.
From Paper to Progress: The story of Tangerine
Tangerine was born out of first-hand experience collecting student data in low-resource and remote contexts. During a particularly challenging early grade reading assessment conducted as part of an RTI International project, co-founders Carmen and Amber found themselves buried in paper forms, battling malfunctioning staplers, illegible print copies, and chasing missing data. The process was slow, outdated, and error prone. They knew there had to be a better way.
That moment sparked the creation of Tangerine: a digital solution designed to improve data quality, streamline fieldwork, and enable real-time monitoring — no more waiting weeks to discover surprises in the data. What started in 2011 as a tool designed specifically for early reading assessments has grown into a versatile, offline-first platform used in over 65 countries for everything from tracking student attendance to survey research.
In 2025, Tangerine was brought under the management of Tangerine Central, led by Carmen and Amber. With improved flexibility and a dedicated team, Tangerine Central will continue to leverage Tangerine to help even more governments and organizations unlock the power of data to improve lives.
Our guiding belief?
Quality, timely data has the power to change lives for the better, and is essential to helping communities shape their own futures.
Get to Know our Team
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Carmen Strigel, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Carmen Strigel is a lifelong advocate for data-driven decision-making and accessible education for all. With deep expertise in EdTech, large-scale assessments, and systems strengthening, she has led innovations that empower educators and learners worldwide. Carmen created the Tangerine platform to support offline-first data collection and real-time monitoring in low-resource settings.
As CEO of Tangerine Central, she guides operations, strategy, and innovation—advancing open-source tools and locally led solutions that unlock the power of data for learning and transformation. Her leadership reflects a commitment to impact, inclusion, and building tools that are simple, scalable, and responsive to the needs of communities. Carmen also serves as Senior Director, Center for Advanced Analytics and Visualization at RTI International. These dual roles help ensure alignment and momentum in advancing the two organizations’ shared goals around education, innovation, and improving the human condition.
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Contact Carmen
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Amber Gove, Co-Founder & Chief Impact Officer
With over two decades of experience in education research, policy, and implementation across more than 20 countries, Amber brings deep expertise in applied research and the design of scalable, context-sensitive approaches to learning assessment and system improvement. She co-developed the globally recognized Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and the open-source Tangerine platform—transformational tools that have advanced data-driven decision-making in low-resource settings worldwide.
She has led national and multi-country initiatives supporting ministries of education to design, implement, and use assessment and data systems to inform policy and practice, with a focus on foundational learning and system alignment. As Chief Impact Officer, Amber leads strategy to expand reach and deepen impact, guiding how evidence, tools, and partnerships translate into sustained system change. Her work focuses on bridging research, policy, and practice—supporting governments and local partners to strengthen data use, build capacity, and improve learning outcomes.
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Contact Amber
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Lachezar Hristov, Head of Implementation
Lachko is a seasoned technologist and product leader with over 15 years of experience in software development and implementation across education, health, and agriculture. As the driving force behind Tangerine’s technical evolution, he has led the design, deployment, and support of its ecosystem across more than 50 projects. Fluent in multiple languages and technologies, Lachko brings deep expertise in agile development, user-centered design, and scalable solutions for low-resource environments.
As Head of Implementation, Lachko guides the design, configuration, testing, and rollout of the platform globally. He is deeply committed to working alongside local partners to co-create solutions that are contextually grounded and sustainably impactful. Lachko also continues as a Senior Technical Advisor at RTI, supporting technology solutions in the Center for Advanced Analytics and Visualization.
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Contact Lachko
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Anthony Udeh, AI Advisor
Tony is an EdTech and ICT4D specialist with over a decade of experience advancing digital learning, AI-enabled assessment, and teacher professional development across Africa and Asia. His expertise spans AI for education, learning assessment systems, digital platforms, and data-driven decision-making in low-resource and multilingual environments, with a strong focus on responsible and scalable innovation.
He has led the design and deployment of AI-enabled teacher support tools, national learning management systems, and technology-enabled assessment platforms, strengthening foundational learning outcomes at scale. He also brings experience advising governments and partners on integrating AI and digital tools into education systems. At Tangerine Central, Tony serves as AI Advisor, supporting platform implementation, system integration, and partner capacity to scale data-driven, innovative learning solutions.
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Contact Tony
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Jovina Tibenda, Tanzania Country Director
Jovina brings extensive experience in education systems strengthening, digital learning, and program implementation across decentralized contexts. Her expertise spans EdTech integration, digital assessment systems, monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL), and institutional capacity building to support evidence-based decision-making and improved system performance.
She has led system-wide and multi-regional initiatives aligned with national priorities, advancing scalable approaches to digital learning, formative assessment, social and emotional learning (SEL), remedial education, and foundational literacy and numeracy. At Tangerine Central, Jovina serves as Country Director for Tanzania while supporting regional implementation, working with partners to design and scale data-driven solutions and strengthen local capacity.
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Contact Jovina
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Alastair Rodd, Senior Advisor
Alastair is a senior education advisor with experience in education systems strengthening, foundational learning, and large-scale program implementation across Africa and Asia. His expertise spans policy and governance reform, teacher professional development systems, Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) and data use, and community-driven accountability to support sustainable improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy.
He has led and supported major national and multi-country initiatives, including large-scale assessments and system reforms. At Tangerine Central, Alastair provides senior technical leadership, advising partners on strengthening systems, scaling data use, and improving learning outcomes.
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Contact Alastair