Who We Are

My professional work experience, especially with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), other UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations (CARE, CRS), has focused on quality education, girls’ and women’s education and empowerment, child protection, social protection,  health and nutrition programming.  I have consistently integrated a human rights-based / gender equality / equity-focused approach, using communication for development skills and approaches. My skills and competencies range from leadership, policy advocacy and partnership building to programme management, planning, design, implementation, communication, training, fundraising, supervision, budgeting, monitoring, research and evaluation, including in emergency situations. My experiences have resulted in productive outcomes in different regions of the world in support of children’s and women’s rights, which have influenced policy and programming in several sectoral and cross-cutting areas.

Columbia University, Teachers College – completed Ed.M and most coursework for Doctoral Programme in International Educational Development (IED) (focus: girls’ and women’s education from a human rights and gender equality perspective)

Pace University - Post Graduate Certification Programme – acquired NY State provisional teaching certification

Columbia University, Graduate School of International and Public Affairs – completed Masters in International Affairs (concentration: economic & political development; regional specialization: Africa and Latin America)

Université de Dakar, Sénégal - Rotary Graduate Fellowship – attained Certificat de Sociologie/Anthropologie - (focus:  political anthropology and research on youth and the Senegalese juvenile justice system)

Université de Haute Bretagne, Rennes, France - Junior Year

University of Maine, Orono – completed B.A. International Affairs and French

UNICEF (timeframe: HIGHLIGHTS between 1993 and 2015)

New York – 9/16 – present - With the C4D Section and in collaboration with PD Sections and all regions and selected countries, preparing a compendium of C4D case studies covering all programmatic and cross-cutting areas; 5/14 – present (Field Engagement Strategy) With the Programme Director’s Office/Programme Division and in collaboration with senior management and technical staff at HQ, regional and country levels, addressed several programme strategies and tasks related to field engagement/strategic analysis, planning, management, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, including a focus on Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES), in all sectoral and cross-sectoral areas, and RO-PD/HQ Compacts. Completed the MoRES compendium of case studies with Country and Regional Offices and update of the Compendium; spearheaded with key senior staff a MoRES stocktaking workshop in Nairobi.

Kosovo – 9/13 – 4/14 (Gender-based Violence (GBV) study and policy paper, with a focus on education and child protection) Revised/wrote the Study on Dimensions of Domestic Violence/Gender-based Violence in Kosovo Municipalities (baseline study covering three municipalities) and prepared a Policy Options Paper on DV/GBV in Kosovo: Finding Solutions to End DV/GBV, drawing from the baseline study, inputs from UNICEF, the Government, NGOs and joint UN programme partners and other key stakeholders, documents and research.  Prepared and conducted a roundtable/workshop with the three pilot municipalities implementing the DV/GBV Coordination Mechanism, focusing on their experiences and examining the policy options in light of their strategic planning of next steps, presented the baseline study at the national launch of the Baseline Study and Policy Options Paper. Prepared and conducted a national conference on the joint programme achievements, benefits of DV/GBV coordination, especially at the municipal level, and outlooks for sustaining and building on coordination efforts.  (field-based)

Myanmar – 10/12 – 12/13 (Adolescent Study, with a focus on out-of-school adolescents 10-18 years old) Chief of party and lead researcher for the qualitative, multi-sectoral adolescent study (focused especially on out-of-school adolescents 10-18 years old) on behalf of UNICEF and the MICS Steering Committee led by the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development; guiding and working with three lead research teams from the Department of Medical Research, Upper Myanmar, Ministry of Health, including at township level, completed preparatory steps, training of teams, led and completed the community-based participatory research (framed/guided by a human rights approach, an equity focus, a gender equality perspective and life cycle perspective) in nine townships throughout the country where there are high numbers of children/adolescents out of school, conducted data/information analysis and prepared the study report - used for guiding adolescent policy-making and programming decisions. (Out-of-school children, in-school children, education and child protection were the key areas focused on in this study, requiring interactions with other UN agencies (i.e. UNESCO), the Ministry of Education at national and subnational levels, NGOs, schools, students and parents.) (field-based)

New York – 2/11 – 7/13 also 2014-16 (Equity focus and inclusion in programmes and partnerships)

5/13-7/13 - prepared and tested the training packet in collaboration with staff for the initial staff workshop on Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES); prepared a facilitator’s kit.

5/11-12/12 - was lead co-facilitator and presenter in the December Communication for Development (C4D) Trainers meeting; managed, coordinated, facilitated and presented webinars (online training sessions) in English, French and Spanish with (>70) Country Offices and counterparts (primarily in West/Central Africa and East and Southern Africa) on C4D in support of various child survival, growth, development & protection topics to support behavioural and social change in favor of children’s and women’s rights/gender equality.

5/12-10/12 - Worked with 7 UN agencies involved in the UN Adolescent Girls’ Task Force to prepare and finalize the publication, Technical Note: Advancing the Rights of Marginalized Adolescent Girls (Chapters cover education, protection, health, leadership, data collection & analysis).

6/12-9/12 – to 2015) Prepared the methodology and concept paper for the International Forum on Children with Disabilities (September 2012), facilitated the forum workshop with over 250 participants (covering education, nutrition, emergencies and technology); prepared all four DFAT (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade) consolidated annual and final reports on REAP (Rights, Education and Protection Partnership) http://www.ausaid.gov.au/aidissues/did/Documents/unicef-reap-first-progress-report.pdf , covering 2012-2015 - the last being the overall final report, including case studies).

9/11-5/12 in collaboration with the Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES) training team, took the lead to prepare a MoRES training package and test the training package.

2/11-7/11 Through a collaborative process, developed a training manual / package on equity-focused programming aimed at achieving equitable outcomes for children’s and women’s rights and gender equality, and improving staff and partners’ capacity to better focus on the inclusion of  marginalized populations in policy and programming processes and the achievement of the MDGs/related goals. (published: Training Manual on the Equity Focus in Programmes).

Haiti - 4/10-10/10 (Emergency Education, linked with Child Protection)

Supported and led the capacity development aspects of the education programme in responding to the emergency caused by the January 12^th catastrophic earthquake. Worked closely with the Ministry of Education at national and departmental levels on building capacity among teachers, directors, inspectors and pedagogical advisors on an adapted curriculum, psychosocial support and disaster risk reduction and drafted the National Guidelines on Psychosocial Support of Children through Education, validated in a workshop with the Ministry of Education, UNESCO and NGOs. Prepared and implemented a training package on psychosocial support for children with support and involvement from officials at the highest levels of the national Ministry of Education and in collaboration with directors and staff in regional ministry offices for and with inspectors, directors and teachers. With the Ministry of Education and UNESCO, was the designated leader of the Education Cluster Working Group on Teacher Training. Developed partnerships and education/protection proposals/programming with NGOs and the most vulnerable populations living in camps and communities with high levels of poverty.  Prepared reports, proposals, briefing notes and talking points, and actively managed and contributed to planning and assessment processes. Represented UNICEF in international/ local media.   (field-based)

New York - 2/09-3/10 (Programme Director’s Office – Child Survival, Growth and Development – Facts for Life)

Managed/coordinated/principal writer of the 4^th edition of the UNICEF flagship publication, Facts for Life, http://www.factsforlifeglobal.org/ in collaboration with Executive and Senior staff of Programme, Policy and Practice, and Communication, technical experts of all Programme Division Sections, field offices in all regions and partners (7 UN Partners, several NGOs and academic institutions); in particular, authored the new child protection chapter; ensured a stronger child and adolescent-centered perspective in the HIV chapter; provided increased attention to education as well as emergencies and pandemics; gave special attention to newborn health alongside safe motherhood, gave attention to C4D in the beginning of the publication, provided oversight and guidance on the development of the website, community discussion platform and roll out strategy; organized and conducted a validation workshop with partners (UN, NGOs, academic institutions); ensured this flagship publication is relevant, rights-based, equity and gender equality focused, technically up-to-date for use by Country Offices and partners.

New York - 10/09 and 3/10 (Education – Child Friendly School capacity development)

Contributed to the preparation of the Child Friendly School (CFS) capacity development regional workshop in Amman, Jordan involving HQ, MENA Regional Office and 14 countries. Was lead facilitator and presenter of sessions on child-centeredness in education using a rights-based approach, monitoring & evaluation of CFS, and advocacy & communication strategies (including C4D methods) for quality education through CFS; reported on the workshop and improved the facilitator’s guide; attended and reported on the Review and Consultative Meeting on the Child Friendly School (CFS) Model for Quality Education with the donor community and other partners in Brussels, Belgium on 5-6 October, 2009.   (field-based)

Vietnam - 11/08 – 2/09 (Education; Child Protection; Children affected/infected by HIV and AIDS (CABA) – model design for protection, care and support of CABA; evaluation of local child protection networks; assessment of counseling models)

Completed three major assignments with a multitude of counterparts and partners at national, provincial, district, commune and hamlet levels, including children and families: Assignment #1) through a broad-based participatory process (including research / field work & a design workshop), prepared the model design on protection, care and support of children affected by HIV/AIDS (CABA) – in the validation workshop, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) decided to use it as its national model plan to implement the National Plan of Action on Children and HIV/AIDS. Assignment # 2) conducted an evaluation of the community-based child protection network models in three provinces: Nha Trang/Khanh Hoa, Dong Thap and An Giang; presented the results in a validation workshop in Ho Chi Minh City with counterparts and stakeholders – the results were used to strengthen the models and contribute to the construction of a national child protection system. Assignment # 3) conducted an assessment of counseling models in schools, communities and the National Pediatric Hospital in Hanoi; presented the findings to counterparts/ partners in education, health and social welfare in a national workshop - the results influenced policy and programming. (field-based)

Vietnam - 04/08 – 05/08 (Mid-term thematic evaluation on the performance and level of influence of pilot projects / pilot models in different sectors – especially, education, child protection, HIV, and WES/WASH)

As part of the Mid-Term Review of the UNICEF Vietnam Country Programme of Cooperation 2006-2010, completed a thematic evaluation on the performance of pilot projects/pilot models with regard to how they supported the expected results of sectoral programmes and the overall Country Programme of Cooperation, and influenced national and sub-national legislation, policy, plans and programmes; conducted field work in three regions, focusing on child protection, education, HIV and WES/WASH models; presented findings, conclusions and recommendations to staff and partners; results were used to re-orient the second half of the Country Programme and contribute to dialogue on the use of pilots at regional consultations. (field-based)

Niger - 10/07 – 1/08 (Country Programme Evaluation on Gender Equality and Human Rights)

Led and conducted evaluative research on the institutionalization of the gender equality / human rights-based approach in the UNICEF Niger Country Programme of Cooperation; produced results for use in preparing the upcoming Programme of Cooperation and UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and with regard to advocacy efforts among counterparts/partners on promoting gender equality within the framework of human rights; contributed to placing emphasis and generating discussion on and building support for integrating the gender equality  / human rights-based approach in programming during the annual review and planning sessions with counterparts; organized and implemented a workshop with Education programme counterparts on the gender equality / human rights based-approach in programming (included a focus on programme planning and assessment).  (At the time, there was a growing conflict between the Government of Niger and the Touaregs.) (field-based)

Guatemala - 12/04; 2/05 – 10/06 – Chief of Education and Child Protection

Directed/managed/coordinated the State of Law, Participation and Culture of Peace Programme that encompassed the Education and Child Protection programmes (one of the two main UNICEF country programmes); used well-honed programmatic and financial management skills and creatively used technical knowledge in support of diverse areas of education and child protection programming; supervised eight staff members and two interns; provided continuous accompaniment of, support to and overview of grantmaking to 51 counterparts and collaborated with a multitude of partners, including multi and bilateral agencies, ministries, funders, NGOs, ministry officials, the First Lady and her Office, academic and civil society members, children and adolescents of the Children’s Parliament and NUEBI schools, etc.; ensured the incorporation of a gender equality perspective / human rights-based approach in programming; contributed to advocacy and policy-making on and evaluative research on bilingual basic education (which focused on indigenous girls’ education and gender equality); supported and increased attention to early education; actively supported adolescent education for at risk adolescents and scholarship programmes promoting girls’ education, involving mothers and families and communities; increased awareness and programming and partnerships on sexual exploitation, juvenile justice, international and national adoption, foster care, child labour and women’s empowerment.  During a natural disaster in 2005 (severe mudslides/flooding), conducted rapid assessments with active engagement from counterparts; initiated and led the convening and coordination of counterparts and partners in child protection and education to address the emergency situation; established a child protection response system/group that the Government decided to keep in place for subsequent emergencies; managed interventions through regular and emergency programming to ensure coverage of affected areas. Prepared the country analysis for Annual Reports, MDG report, etc.; represented UNICEF in regional, national, local meetings/other fora; acted as Deputy Representative (OIC). (field-based)

New York - 2/03 – 2/05 – Evaluator, Evaluation Office (Education, Child Protection, gender & rights evaluations) (work in Morocco, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Peru)

Authored the evaluation on Education as a Preventive Strategy against Child Labour, a programme that took place in 30 countries around the world; participated in all phases of the Country Programme Evaluations (CPE) with UNICEF Peru and UNICEF Morocco as a team member and as lead evaluator in the areas of gender equity / equality and girls’ and women’s rights, communications, and child and adolescent participation, especially in relation to education, protection and health programming; prepared a stand-alone study following significant dialogue with national leaders, partners and counterparts on gender equity/equality in relation to the different programmes in the UNICEF Morocco Programme of Cooperation and with regard to gender inequalities in policy and legislation – this was used as a prototype in the region and eventually shared throughout the UNICEF organization among gender focal points; participated in the African Girls’ Education Initiative (AGEI) evaluation that involved working in Burkina Faso and Guinea (Conakry) to conduct and author case studies on the AGEI experiences of these two countries, and presented findings and conclusions at the Mali validation workshop on girls’ education; drafted the first Evaluation Office annual report.   (Morocco, Peru, AGEI evaluation – substantially field-based)

New York - 4/01-9/01- Health Section (ECD and IMCI) (work in Malawi and Madagascar)

Documented UNICEF experiences/lessons learned in the Household/Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (HH/C-IMCI) initiative; completed IMCI case studies in Malawi and Madagascar in collaboration with staff and local partners for inclusion in the Global Consolidated Report; prepared sections of this report on the UNICEF supported HH/C-IMCI programme, highlighting the initiative as a key entry point to early childhood development (ECD) programming; participated in the workshop/prepared the report on integrated ECD, contributing to the conceptualization and practice of an “integrated approach” in ECD programming. (field-based)

New York - 1/97 – 2/01 - Education Section (work in Zambia, Ghana, Uganda, Mali, Tchad, Kenya)

9/99 – 2/01 - Education Section / International Alliance on Female Education - Coordinator/Manager

Managed/coordinated, The Alliance for Community Action on Female Education, in five pilot countries (Zambia, Ghana, Uganda, Mali, and Tchad), which was sponsored by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and overseen by UNICEF; supported and guided the country-level Alliances’ efforts in-country and through regional workshops to link and strengthen the capacities of non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations in their work to improve female education, using a multisectoral approach; carried out a variety of programmatic, managerial, organizational development, technical, grantmaking, communication, supervisory, evaluative, representational/advocacy, budgetary, fundraising and travel responsibilities; successfully transferred the initiative to the African women’s organization, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), in Nairobi, Kenya, which incorporated The Alliance into its overall FAWE programme.   (field-based)

New York - 1/97 - 9/99 (Girls’ Education – Education for All Specialist) (work in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Swaziland, South Africa)

Provided technical expertise on girls’ education and other related quality educational topics in relation to programme design, planning, monitoring, research, evaluation, knowledge management, communications, budgeting, reporting, documentation and representation, especially for the UNICEF’s Global Girls’ Education Programme, which concentrated on the  African Girls’ Education Initiative (AGEI), the Middle East and South Asia; collaborated with UNICEF field offices at country and regional levels, NGOs, other UNICEF Divisions/Sections, foundations, and UN member countries and their agencies on girls’ education; reviewed country programme / project proposals and provided recommendations for funding / grant levels, prepared several documents, reports, communications (conceptualized the first communication on ‘girls’ education as a right’ featured in the UNICEF internet site and materials developed for different events/fora), the briefing notes on AGEI countries; briefing papers for the Executive Director and staff that involved research and analysis to detect trends and elaborate on best practices and lessons learned; conducted the mid-term review of the African Girls’ Education Initiative, which included work in Swaziland, Ethiopia, Kenya, and New York (with the lead role on the Ethiopia assessment, which was used as a prototype); contributed to the content and organization of and participation in global and regional meetings and workshops on girls’ education and related topics held with key partners, such as The Rockefeller Foundation, the Government of Norway, FAWE, etc.; provided key inputs to the State of the World’s Children edition that focused on Education; wrote articles for the Education Section’s newsletter (lead role on community and education); established a video/documentation center on girls’ education; significantly contributed to conceptualizing the UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI).  (some field-based)

New York - 6/93 - 6/94 and 11/94 - 8/95 - Nutrition Section (BFHI/Infant & Child Feeding Coordinator and acting Infant and Child Feeding Advisor)

Provided technical expertise to and coordination with UNICEF field offices, NGOs, UNICEF Divisions/Sections and UN agencies on infant and child feeding and the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in relation to planning, knowledge management, communications, monitoring, evaluation, global reporting and documentation; identified and acted upon country-level programme needs in relation to the BFHI; participated in and contributed to global meetings and budgetary decision-making processes in relation to the BFHI and infant child feeding and care; developed a global monitoring and communication system on infant and child feeding and care, including a breastfeeding/BFHI database; contributed to developing UNICEF policy on breastfeeding and HIV; produced two consolidated BFHI global reports; was interim Advisor for Infant and Child Feeding.

New York - 9/94 - 11/94; 10/95 - 11/95; 5/96 - 6/96 - Global Staff Association - Reporter

Attended Global Staff Association Annual Meetings; with the attendees, determined priority issues and produced the Global Staff Association annual workplan; wrote the final global meeting reports for UNICEF offices worldwide.

CARE USA/International, New York (timeframe: 1985-88 and 1993) (in between started a family)

1/93 - 9/93 - Asia Programme - Deputy Regional Director

Managed 9 Asia country development and relief programmes-budget of approximately $150,000,000 (included the value of food commodities); participated in decisions on the approval of multi-year programmes and budgets (equivalent to grant-making) for each country in several sectoral areas: education, primary health care, population/reproductive health, agriculture and natural resources, small enterprise development and food assistance; conducted project/programme design, planning and programmatic/technical reviews/follow up/assessment  with country programmes, governmental and non-governmental counterparts, and partners; prepared a key position paper on the CARE/Afghanistan programme and an investigative/analytical report on CARE’s entry into Vietnam, which influenced CARE policy on both; represented CARE at meetings and other fora.

3/85-7/88 - Latin America/Caribbean Programme - Deputy Regional Manager

Managed 13 Latin American and Caribbean development and relief programmes-budget of approximately $80 million (included the value of U.S. food commodities); planned/developed a regional programme strategy (with strong input into and staff orientation on the regional strategy on primary health care); contributed to, reviewed, approved and assessed proposals, budgets (equivalent to grant-making) and multi-year plans for programming on education, primary health care, agro-forestry and small enterprise development; monitored and evaluated regional and country level staff and programmes; organized and participated in regional conferences; designed and wrote project proposals in-country with country offices and governmental and non-governmental counterparts and obtained funds from CARE funders, including USAID, for country-level programming; contributed to innovative integration of US food commodities into development programming; closely supported new country start-ups; and, as point programme coordinator of various emergency and relief efforts (Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia), decided on and followed through with emergency support in collaboration with various partners.  (substantial time in the field.)

United Nations Agencies, New York and Geneva (timeframe: between 1983-2001)

5/01 – 7/01 - UNFPA, New York: Drafted a booklet on girls’ right to education for the UN Girls’ Education Initiative for use at the Special Assembly on Children.  Worked with several UN agencies/entities to highlight their support and understanding of girls’ education.

ll/84-2/85 - UNFPA, New York: Formulated initial proposal for and participated in planning the Latin American and Caribbean Population & Development Conference that focused on developing small and medium-sized cities.

7/84-l0/84 - UNDP, New York: Compiled the Compendium on Asian and Pacific Regional Projects for use by United Nations representatives and member countries, donor governments, and international organizations.

l/83-8/83 - UNESCO, New York and Geneva – Columbia University Graduate Intern:  New York, monitored issues raised by the Human Rights Committee. Geneva, represented UNESCO at the ECOSOC Conference; wrote sections of the UNESCO Report on the Proceedings of the 1983 ECOSOC Conference.

Center for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University, New York

3/83-l2/83 – Consultant: Assisted with the organization/development of human rights conferences; catalogued HR materials; formulated the first newsletter.

Catholic Relief Services, South America - 8/81-8/82 - Programme Officer: Based in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, performed a range of functions, including: organized and conducted project meetings and workshops with community, governmental and non-governmental, faith-based and international groups; prepared and presented project proposals and evaluation reports (education, primary health care and community organization) in collaboration with NGOs and community groups; monitored food distribution programmes often linked to health, nutrition and early childhood development programming; wrote short public relations articles on CRS involvement in local development efforts, especially in rural communities in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, which were disseminated through CRS publications. (Field-based - lived in rural communities and worked with counterparts in several locations, particularly in the altiplano.)

1979-1981 – Senegal:  In addition to the Rotary Graduate Fellowship anthropology studies and juvenile justice research at the University of Dakar, assisted with field research, Harvard University, post-doctoral work of Marianne Bloch in early childhood development in the village of Dene Malick Gueye, taught English as a second language for adults at the American Cultural Center, Dakar, was a USAID consultant on reviewing local staff benefits compared to other international and local organizations and ministries.

Other Experiences: New York Oxfam Committee, NY, member; White Plains Middle School, New York, teacher; Tuckahoe Middle/High School, New York, teacher; Academic Travel Abroad, Inc., Washington, DC, educational coordinator; Sen. William Hathaway, Wash., DC, staff; Sen. Edmund Muskie, Wash., DC, political science scholastic intern.

French: read, write, and speak; Spanish: read, write, and speak

Work Locations: I have spent time managing and working on development and humanitarian projects/programmes and evaluations/studies and, in some cases, residing in Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Myanmar, Tchad, Niger, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Swaziland, Malawi, Madagascar, Morocco, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Panama, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam, Kosovo.  (I also spent time in China as part of a faculty/academic UCLA programme.)