Key skills and expertise.

With over 16 years of experience, the expert excels in interdisciplinary research and evaluation, particularly in health and social sciences. Key skills include evaluation design, qualitative and mixed methods research, digital health implementation, and knowledge management. Significant contributions have been made to national and global policies in digital health and palliative care. Leadership roles involve supervising PhD students and mentoring staff, with accomplishments such as publishing over 30 peer-reviewed articles and contributing to policy changes through impactful research dissemination.

Project experience and donor exposure.

Bringing extensive experience working with international donors, the expert has collaborated with organizations such as the World Health Organization and the World Bank. Involvement includes project evaluations and technical assistance in health and humanitarian aid. Contributions include evaluating community engagement in World Food Programme projects across 88 countries and monitoring the World Bank Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, focusing on grievances, gender equality, and social safeguards. These projects have been conducted on a global scale, covering regions like Africa and Afghanistan.

Sectors and geographic focus.

The expert has worked in sectors including health, monitoring and evaluation, migration, water and sanitation, ICT, and science and innovation. Responsibilities have included roles as an independent consultant and research associate, focusing on project evaluation, research design, and policy influence. Interdisciplinary expertise spans digital health, evidence synthesis, and stakeholder involvement, with a geographic scope that includes global and country-specific projects in regions like Africa and the UK. The work is characterized by a strong focus on integrating digital innovation within health systems and humanitarian aid contexts. Extensive geographic experience has been gained across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Tanzania, Uganda, and the UK, with deep involvement in local governance and regional development, particularly in health and humanitarian sectors. This experience is complemented by long-term assignments and recurring involvement in these regions, providing a robust understanding of cultural dynamics and development challenges specific to each country.

Languages and education.

With a background in diverse linguistic environments, the expert is a native speaker of Bulgarian and fluent in English, often editing work for native speakers. They possess fluent passive skills in Russian, including reading academic literature, and intermediate passive skills in French, with Spanish used for everyday communication. These language skills have been utilized in international work settings across multilingual teams and diverse geographic locations. The educational background includes a PhD in Philosophy of Science from the University of Exeter, UK, and an MA with Distinction in Philosophy and Ethics of Mental Health from the University of Warwick, UK. Additionally, a BA and MA in Psychology were obtained from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" in Bulgaria, with specializations in Clinical and Counselling Psychology and Work and Organisational Psychology. A Minor in English Language and Literature was also completed at the same institution.