Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 21 years of experience, the expert excels in project management, strategic planning, and monitoring and evaluation. Career highlights include leading large-scale public-private partnerships and development initiatives across South Asia, successfully raising over USD 10 million for business and livelihood development. The expert has managed projects with annual budgets exceeding USD 10 million, demonstrating strong networking and fundraising capabilities. Responsibilities have included conducting over 20 evaluations and baseline studies, and holding leadership roles such as Regional Director and Senior Manager, providing strategic direction and oversight for international development projects.

Project experience and donor exposure

With a background in collaborating with international donors, the expert has worked with USAID, DFAT, DFID, UNICEF, UNWFP, UNFAO, and the EU. Their involvement spans project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building in areas such as business development, public-private partnerships, livelihoods, agriculture, and education. These projects have been large-scale and sector-specific, covering South Asia and the Pacific regions. The expert has also been instrumental in raising over USD 10 million for business and livelihood development initiatives from these donors.

Sectors and geographic focus

Previously held roles include working across sectors such as community development, NGOs, fundraising, grant management, monitoring and evaluation, water, sanitation and hygiene, project management, disaster reduction, humanitarian relief, agriculture, and rural development. Responsibilities have included strategic oversight and implementation of large-scale projects. The expert's cross-cutting expertise involves integrating business development and public-private partnerships, focusing on SME development and livelihoods. The geographic scope of their work spans regional initiatives across South Asia and the Pacific. Extensive geographic experience includes working in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, with deep familiarity with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues.

Languages and education

With a background in multilingual contexts, the expert is fluent in English and has very good proficiency in Sinhala, with Tamil as their mother tongue. These language skills have been utilized in various professional contexts, including in-country work across South Asia and collaboration with multilingual teams in international development projects. The expert holds a Master’s degree in Regional Development and Planning from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the Open University of Sri Lanka. Additionally, they are pursuing an MBA at London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.