Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 29 years of senior management experience in international development, the expert specializes in civil society development, governance, and humanitarian response. Skilled in managing multi-donor programs with budgets exceeding $260 million, they have led teams of more than 1,600 staff. Career highlights include successfully implementing projects across Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, such as the $40 million LINCs program in Sudan. Their expertise encompasses rapid program start-up, capacity building, and financial management, with notable achievements in large-scale infrastructure and community development initiatives, enhancing local NGO capacities, and fostering citizen participation in governance.

Project experience and donor exposure

With a background in international development, the expert has collaborated with prominent donors such as USAID, the European Commission, DFID, and the United Nations. Their involvement includes project implementation, capacity building, and technical assistance across sectors like civil society development, governance, and infrastructure. Notable projects include the $40 million LINCs program in Sudan and a $60 million portfolio in Iraq. Worked across diverse projects involving various geographic locations, including Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, with projects often having regional and national scopes.

Sectors and geographic focus

The expert has worked across key sectors such as civil society development, governance, humanitarian aid, micro-finance, and infrastructure development. Responsibilities have included senior roles, such as Regional Director and Country Director, focusing on program implementation, capacity building, and financial management. Their interdisciplinary expertise includes development finance and community revitalization. The geographic scope of their work spans Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, with a focus on integrating local governance and socio-economic development initiatives. Extensive geographic experience includes significant involvement in countries such as Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Iraq, and Romania, providing deep familiarity with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues.

Languages and education

With a background in languages, the expert is a native English speaker and fluent in French, with advanced proficiency in Fulani and intermediate skills in Bambara and Romanian. These language skills have been utilized in diverse international settings, contributing to effective communication and collaboration in multilingual teams across various countries, including Africa and Eastern Europe. The expert holds a Master of Science in Urban Affairs from Hunter College in New York, USA, obtained in 1992, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, completed in 1983.