Key skills and expertise

With 15 years of experience in humanitarian aid, social development, and public administration, this expert brings a strong skill set in leadership, mediation, and negotiation. Having managed both international and local projects, the expert ensures strategic alignment with development priorities. In their role as a Project Manager at UNDP, they oversee governance and human rights initiatives, achieving operational excellence and promoting gender equality. Their expertise includes policy development, financial management, and stakeholder engagement. Recognized for high-quality project outputs, the expert has successfully coordinated multi-stakeholder partnerships and contributed to capacity building through training and knowledge sharing.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated with international donors through the United Nations Development Programme in Ankara, Turkey. Their involvement includes project implementation and technical assistance in thematic areas such as governance, digitalization, human rights, and gender equality. Projects are aligned with national development priorities and UNDP commitments, focusing on regional and national scales. The expert ensures effective communication with stakeholders and donors, manages project resources efficiently, and contributes to policy development and strategic partnerships with national authorities and local partners.

Sectors and geographic focus

Having worked across key sectors including humanitarian aid, social development, migration, human rights, and public administration, the expert has held roles such as Project Manager and Resettlement Associate. Their focus includes governance, digitalization, and gender equality, with responsibilities encompassing policy development, project management, and stakeholder engagement. The expert possesses cross-cutting expertise in integrating digital solutions within governance frameworks. Their professional experience is primarily country-specific to Turkey, where they have managed projects aligning with national and regional development goals. Extensive geographic experience in Turkey, particularly in Ankara, has allowed them to develop a deep understanding of local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues. Their work involves managing projects and initiatives that align with national priorities, fostering strategic partnerships with local authorities, and addressing social and economic development challenges within the region.

Languages and education

Fluent in English, the expert possesses advanced speaking, writing, and comprehension skills, utilized extensively in professional settings, including international development projects and multilingual teams. They have intermediate proficiency in French, supported by training at the Institut Français en Turquie. These language skills have been integral in facilitating communication and collaboration across diverse cultural and linguistic contexts within their roles at the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Educationally, the expert is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Middle East Technical University, Turkey, with an expected completion date of June 2022. They hold a Master of Science in International Relations from the same university, completed in June 2011. Additionally, they obtained a Bachelor of Arts in American Culture and Literature from Bilkent University, Turkey, in February 2008. Their academic focus includes responsibility to protect, constructivism theory, cosmopolitan global governance, American culture, foreign policy, and social movements.