Valeria Orsolano

Humanitarian Program Manager | Grant Management & Donor Relations | Integrated Programming

Gaza Strip

About

What began as a choice has grown into a calling—the humanitarian field became the place where purpose and profession meet. Working across Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey, my journey has taken me from supporting small businesses in development settings to leading large-scale emergency responses. I’ve managed multi-million-dollar programs, secured high-value grants, and overseen multidisciplinary teams across multiple regions. Yet what truly drives me is the deeper conversation: how we define impact, challenge assumptions, and move beyond buzzwords to understand what actually works—and lasts. In addition to technical leadership, I take pride in my people-centered approach to team management and staff development. I believe leadership is about setting clear direction while deeply acknowledging the personal and professional challenges staff face in high-pressure, crisis contexts. My working proficiency in Arabic has been a key asset in building trust with local partners and ensuring effective, inclusive field coordination. Key Areas of Impact: ▪ Program management & strategic planning ▪ Grant writing & donor engagement ▪ Post-crisis recovery & humanitarian response ▪ Integrated programming across livelihoods, education, and protection – including TVET, life skills, work-based learning (WBL), SME support, NFI, non-formal education (NFE), MHPSS, case management, and cash and voucher assistance (CVA) If you’ve read this far, then we already share a common belief in making a difference. Let’s connect and explore how we can create lasting impact together.

Experience

  • Middle East Economic Recovery and Livelihoods Coordinator at Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
    May 2026 - Present · 2 mos

    ERL Coordinator for Occupied Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Yemen, Iraq. Lead the development and implementation of WHH’s Economic Recovery and Livelihoods (ERL) strategies at country and regional levels.

  • FSL Program Manager at Action Against Hunger - Middle East
    Aug 2025 - May 2026 · 10 mos

    • Lead a USD 7.8M emergency portfolio across 6+ projects delivering food assistance, cash & voucher assistance (CVA) and agricultural support to war-affected populations, supervising 2 Heads of Project. • Contribute to country-level programme strategy, needs analysis and design of new FSL interventions integrated with Nutrition and WASH programming. • Represent ACF in the Food Security Sector (FSS) and coordinate with UN agencies, donors and local partners

  • AVSI Foundation (3 yrs 2 mos)
    • Head of Programs
      Aug 2024 - Jun 2025 · 11 mos

      Led the strategic coordination and implementation of multi-sectoral programs across Syria, ensuring quality in education, protection, health, and livelihoods. Managed a portfolio of projects totaling USD 4.8M, securing funding through successful proposals to donors such as SHF and AICS. Engaged with government counterparts, UN agencies, and local NGOs to ensure effective program delivery, while overseeing project performance and financial tracking through regular monitoring and coordination meetings. Championed needs assessments to ensure data-driven programming, mentored a team of senior staff, and integrated best practices to improve program outcomes.

    • Project Manager
      Sep 2023 - Aug 2024 · 1 yr

      Managed post-earthquake multi-sectoral humanitarian programs in Aleppo, benefiting over 12k individuals through education, psychosocial support, and livelihoods interventions. Administered a USD 2M budget, ensuring seamless coordination across teams while overseeing reporting, forecasting, and donor compliance. Liaised with key stakeholders, including government agencies and NGOs, while ensuring program activities were executed as planned. Led field monitoring visits and ensured that lessons learned were incorporated into future program strategies for improved impact.

    • Project Coordinator
      Mar 2023 - Aug 2023 · 6 mos

      Led efforts to boost youth employability through targeted vocational training and work-based learning opportunities. Managed project workplans and budget forecasts, ensuring compliance with AVSI and donor procedures, and driving timely project implementation. Supervised a dedicated team of five field staff, coordinating daily follow-ups to ensure effective execution of activities across various locations. Facilitated strong collaboration with key partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture and local community-based organizations, while ensuring smooth communication and integration between sectors such as MEAL, Communications, and Operations. Regularly attended sector meetings and Livelihood Working Group discussions, ensuring that the project remained aligned with broader development goals.

  • Interreg Project Partner at Association of European Border Regions (AEBR)
    Feb 2022 - May 2022 · 4 mos

    Supported the implementation of the EU-funded SIRCLES project, focused on creating temporary employment opportunities for women and NEETs in the circular economy through training and Cash for Work activities. Developed a comprehensive database of businesses for outreach efforts related to the Green Label campaign, a competition recognizing restaurants, hotels, and cafes for their commitment to effective biowaste management practices. Authored articles and designed infographics for the project’s newsletter, contributing to communication and awareness efforts.

  • Project Officer and Proposal writer at SEED National
    Jul 2021 - Dec 2021 · 6 mos

    Focused on youth access to education, employment, and entrepreneurship in Lebanon, ensured the timely and high-quality implementation of project activities, aligning with work plans and deliverables. Coordinated communication with 90 beneficiaries, managing registration, updates, and inquiries while liaising with partner NGOs. Recruited and coordinated a team of 9 trainers and supervised the outreach team, mobilizing and training 7 international volunteers from the LEVIT Institute. Played a key role in developing proposals for EU and USAID funding, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and securing critical resources for project success.