United States
Senior expert in policies and programs to strengthen democracy, rights and security - passionate about women's empowerment and youth engagement, especially of vulnerable groups. With 15+ years of experience in international and multilateral relations on government advisory, program and grant management for the non-profit sector, I focus my career on strategies and programs to meet global challenges, such as climate change and issues of global migration, and the erosion of democracy. As program and grant manager for the U.S.-based Iraq Foundation I have supported and led programs to strengthen democratic institutions, the agency and resilience of civic and youth leaders to extremism, women leadership and their participation in elections. In my previous 10+ years of policy advisory for the government and multilateral space in Europe (UNESCO, UNECE, and the Council of Europe) I harnessed research & analysis, communication & organisation skills for partner engagement on policies and programs to advance democracy, human rights and sustainable development. Focusing the search for my next role on research, policy makers, practitioners, and donors, I aim to support - policy analysis and recommendations, - program and grant design, management and assessment, - development research, fundraising, donor relations, - partner relations and alliances, including through cross-sector convenings. These are my 'take-aways' from previous roles to guide my next chapter/s on how to build and strengthen collaboration - with diverse teams and partners, and in fragile settings: > A collaborative and supportive can-do spirit in a team combined with humor, and the ability to 'take a step back', when needed, can help navigate issues in challenging times, and be key to achieve the planned results. > Flexibility and agility to adjust programming to changing needs and quickly-shifting environments, while ensuring alignment with the overall goals and compliance with funding requirements is key to build trust. > Awareness of the diversity of teams, partners and stakeholders - cultural backgrounds, position level, priorities - and 'active listening' can go a long way to identify common ground, build ownership, and open up space for compromise. Specialties: Policy coordination, analysis and government advisory; program & grant management; impact evaluation & reporting; development research & proposal development; strategic partnerships and convenings; stakeholder & donor engagement. Values: Commitment to the cause and trustful relationships are key to drive positive change.
Providing conceptual guidance and contributions to Proposals, program design & management, supporting partnerships and networking, and representing IF at external events in and outside the U.S.
As Senior Program Manager I ensured oversight and coordination with the local IF country leadership on several concurrent projects. My responsibilities included: - strategic design and management of programs and events, - budget development & monitoring - team supervision & recruitment - grant & project management, evaluation and reporting; - proposal development and partnerships; - donor relations - external representation of IF work with partners in the U.S. and overseas. My specific activities included (but were not limited to): - managing sub-grantees; - ensuring effective stakeholder engagement (donors, policy- & law-makers, civil society partners) for cross-sector collaboration, continued support & ownership of the projects; - agile & adaptive project and grant management (workplan, timelines, budgets, donor relations), supporting teams in a fragile, quickly-changing environment, - ongoing risk assessment for high quality results on time and budget - designing, monitoring & contributing to MEAL processes - quarterly, annual & final reporting - external communications (IF website, Newsletter), and presentations to U.S. and European donors, program partners, policy advisory bodies (USIP, Atlantic Council). My oversight on IF projects included: • a 3-year $3.1 million program (Sida) to improve responsiveness of policies and legislation, facilitating a mechanism of parliament-citizen engagement, and a strategy for policy advocacy by Iraqi female Members of Parliament with local women’s rights organizations and multilateral organizations for the UNSCR 1325 agenda; • a 30-month, $1.4 million program (Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs): “Building resilience of youth & communities to violence and extremism”, enhancing the skills of women, youth and community leaders for inclusive peacebuilding & social cohesion; • a 30-month, $ 1.2 million program funded by the UN Assistant Mission for Iraq to increase political participation of women in the 2021 elections.
Project management for the 3-year $3.1 million program funded by Sida: “Improving Policy, Service Delivery, Gender Equality and Responsiveness to Iraqi Citizens” 2018-21, aimed at: - strengthening responsive and gender-sensitive policies and legislation, - facilitating a mechanism of parliament-citizen engagement for increased accountability and inclusive legislative processes, and - launching a joint strategy for policy advocacy and cooperation by Iraqi female Members of Parliament with local women’s rights organizations and multilateral organizations to advance the UNSCR 1325 agenda in Iraq. Responsibilities included, but were not limited to: - developing and monitoring work plans, timelines and budgets - management and coordination of sub-grantees - oversight and support for conferences, trainings and events - ensuring agile and adaptive project management to achieve the projects' objectives on budget and time - contributions to procurement and recruiting local contractors - ensuring effective stakeholder engagement for ownership and ongoing support - leading periodic progress reviews and evaluations with implementing partners - supporting the design and implementation of MEAL processes - ensuring effective and trustful donor relations - providing quarterly and annual narrative and financial reports.
Consultant on Democracy, Human Rights, International Migration and Arts Education - supports capacity building and leverages partnerships in education and culture - helps design, implement and evaluate policies and programs to strengthen civil society and institutions - builds and leverages networks to allow exchange of best practices and develop new approaches on challenging issues - works with vulnerable communities as an arts teacher (for Art with a Heart, Baltimore).
Project consultancy on capacity-building for women and youth against violent extremism.
Project consultancy on capacity-building for women and youth against violent extremism.
Helped design projects and built public-private partnerships in education, science and culture, especially for the Alliance for Education, Science and Culture and its related Business Network with domestic and international partners.
Mitwirkung an Machbarkeitsstudie zu einer Berufsschule in Bodh Gaya / Bihar (Indien) mit Blick auf Reformprozesse im indischen Bildungswesen, Curricula-Entwicklung und besondere Bildungsgänge für Mädchen.