Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 35 years of experience in the legal and human rights fields, the expert specializes in electoral assistance, observation, and governance. They have participated in projects across more than 20 countries, focusing on legal frameworks, election dispute resolution, and media assessment. Responsibilities have included leading legal teams, managing human rights projects, and contributing significantly to democratization and peace-building efforts. With a background in EU, OSCE, and UN initiatives, there is a strong emphasis on women's and minorities' rights. Career highlights include leadership roles such as team leader and senior human rights officer, demonstrating strong project management and analytical skills.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated with international donors, including the European Commission (EC), European Union (EU), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the United Nations (UN). Their involvement spans project implementation, legal analysis, and technical assistance in governance, human rights, democratization, and electoral observation. Worked across diverse geographic locations, including Central Asia, the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East, on both regional and national scales.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in sectors such as law, human rights, governance, and electoral processes, the expert has held roles including legal analyst, human rights officer, and team leader. Their cross-cutting expertise includes democratization, electoral legislation, and media frameworks, with interdisciplinary knowledge in the interaction between Shari’a law and statutory law, and the integration of human rights in governance. The geographic scope of work covers regions like Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, with significant contributions to international development and post-conflict reconstruction. The expert has extensive geographic experience across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe, having worked in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Jordan. Their recurring involvement in regions like the Balkans and Central Asia underscores expertise in regional development and post-conflict environments, with long-term assignments and numerous electoral and human rights missions enhancing their understanding of complex international contexts.

Languages and education

Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and German, with proficiency in Portuguese and Arabic, the expert has utilized these language skills extensively in international settings, including legal and electoral missions, and work with multilingual teams. Their language capabilities have been crucial in facilitating communication and collaboration in diverse environments, contributing to effectiveness in international governance and human rights projects. The expert holds a Dr. iur degree from Universität Wien, Austria, and an LL.M. in International Law and Negotiations from Harvard Law School, USA. Additionally, they completed a Diploma in European law, politics, and economics at Europa-Akademie des Bundes, Austria. Their academic background is further enriched by a Mag. iur degree from Universität Wien and Université II de Paris (Assas), France.