verall more than 15 years experience in humanitarian and development work with reputed organizations including Concern Worldwide, Health Net TPO, Plan International, HRI (Somalia) currently working as Humanitarian response manager (Livelihood, Food and Nutrition security, education, child protection, Economic Recovery, and CVA) with Concern Worldwide in Pakistan, I am a certified Project Manager (PRINCE2 practitioner). I am a Humanitarian and development professional with a strong commitment to the achievement of humanitarian assistance and development objectives, specializing in the sectors, i.e. Cash and voucher assistance, Food and Nutrition Security, Livelihood, Economic Development, Value Chain Development.
My Experience covers a wide range of emergency contexts including acute and protected emergencies e.g. recovery, transition, rehabilitation, and development. Strong in areas of leading diversified teams. Managed multi-million portfolios, organizational management, participatory monitoring and evaluation, human resource, and financial management for non-profit settings. I have strong experience in writing proposals and reports, controlled results outcomes in a program.
Engaged in a variety of proposals development and humanitarian projects for donors e.g. USAID OFDA, AusAID, DFID, ECHO, EC, OFDA, OCHA-ERF, UNICEF, DEC, UN agencies, etc. Along with strong experience in developing various project reports, donor reports, concept notes, policy papers, and training manuals for different audiences.
Specialties:
Cash Transfer Programme (Cash and Voucher Operations and Capacity Building) Expert
Expertise in Food and Nutrition Security, Value Chain Development
Program/Project Management (Design, Implementation, monitoring Support & Evaluation)
Grants and Partnership management
Negotiation in multilateral and bilateral contexts
• Provided strategic and technical support to the FSL/CVA partners teams in the design, implementation and monitoring of Concern FSL/CVA strategy in the country. Involved in contextual analysis, FSL sector assessments, planning, internal and external coordination/representation, supporting the implementation/follow-up of Concern FSL/CVA strategy in the country and integrated FSL into multi-sectoral programming with WASH, shelter and Nutrition. With the input from partners and Concern colleagues, provided technical and advisory support to the FSL/CVA team and, as needed, to national partners to enhance a solid and systematic contextual understanding of programmatic areas, people’s needs and capacity as well as power dynamics.
• Based on assessment and contextual analysis supported the implementing partners in development of context appropriate detailed operational plans and budgets for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Provided technical inputs in project and proposal development, and provided support, where required. Taken lead in donor and program reports; Work closely with other program teams, especially the MEAL team, to enhance social accountability and ensured ongoing monitoring of Concern program activities, in both accessible and inaccessible areas.
• Provided strategic and technical advice to partners for developing creative solutions to the delivery and monitoring of FSL/CVA services, in both accessible and inaccessible areas. Explored and promoted technological options (like e-vouchers, Last Mile Mobile Solutions, bank transfers) for scale up and for increasing effectiveness and efficiency of FSL/CVA programming;
• Designed and identified tools and approaches used in food security, livelihoods and market monitoring, participated/ taken lead in market assessments and other assessment as needed.
• Ensured policy team is informed of potential FSL/CVA issues which required internal and /or external advocacy support, and that the FSL work is well represented in all communication.
• Supported technical capacity building assessment, planning and initiatives of relevant external stakeholders (LNGOs, relevant Ministries, etc.) Supported and identified FSL/CVA-related capacity building opportunities for Concern and partners staff and supported the development and implementation of capacity building plans and designed and deliver trainings
• Supported the partners and ensured that the program is inclusive of marginalised and vulnerable individuals and communities, promoted the full and equal participation of women and that accountability to affected communities is central to the ways of working.
• Ensured effective, quality and timely program execution and operationalized processes by providing guidance and leadership to matrix-managed technical FSL/CVA partner’s team in hubs on agreed.
• Supported FSL/CVA team in risk analysis and mitigation activities prior to program implementation, and provided strategic steer on amending activities and approaches where necessary.
• Supported FSL/CVA partner’s teams for ensuring safeguarding, safe programming and gender risk analysis and mitigation activities prior to program implementation; provided strategic steer on amending activities and approaches where necessary. Supported program, project and partners’ teams in developing and applying appropriate monitoring, verification, evaluation and learning (MEAL) tools in relation to Concern Pakistan.
• In close coordination with other program teams (WASH, Health, Nutrition) and based on assessment and contextual analysis contributed to developing multi-sector context appropriate e.g. detailed strategy, operational plans and budgets for the delivery of humanitarian program that model and promoted integration and effective community engagement with full participation of women and excluded vulnerable persons.
• Provided technical support and advice e.g. in the development and implementation of national program evaluations, learning events and specific program related research activities.
• Represented Concern Worldwide within external UN/(I)NGO and Government fora; developed alliances with organizations and other relevant stakeholders working in FSL/CVA with a view to enhancing coordination;
• Provided strategic and technical input in sector specific external coordination mechanisms (FSC, CWG) and contributed to effective relationships with relevant stakeholders.
• Involved in strengthening the socio-economic resilience of smallholder farmers, worked to strengthen the livelihoods of vulnerable communities and households, particularly female heads of households, helped them to gain improved market access while diversifying their incomes. The overall focus of the initiative was to promote more resilient communities with greater gender equality and more social cohesion.
• Taken lead and coordinated with other technical sectors including (FSL, CVA), and to mainstream CVA into other sectors respective approaches and strategies.
• Taken lead and supported implementing partners in the development of integrated operational plans with context-specific assistance modalities to efficiently meet CVA Program objectives.
• Assisted implementing partners in the development documentation, developed risk registers along with mitigation strategies
• Developed lesson learned register for each CVA and used best practices and lessons learned in other projects
• Established and maintained proper coordination with UN agencies, INGOs, research institutions, to ensure complementarity and efficiency gains in the assessment, design and implementation of CVA response.
• Taken lead and assured that implementing partners projects are in compliance with Concern Worldwide standards and procedures, and alignment with intervention areas, Ensured regular coordination with implementing partner’s and RF colleagues in support services at provincial Offices and Country Office level.
• Taken lead and supported implementing partners in CVA field operations in emergencies and protracted displacement situations.
• Taken lead and supported implementing partners in assessments/response analysis, planning, budgeting, coordination, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of CVA response.
• Liaised with Finance, and other department to ensure coordinated planning and implementation of CVA.
• Drafted, negotiated and established agreements with implementing partners and financial service providers, in collaboration with relevant units in CVA response programming
• Reviewed and updated CVA Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), involved in donors report writing.
• Reviewed, updated IPs CVA proposals and submitted to USAID OFDA and other donors for approval
• Taken lead in coordination with implementing partners to review information on financial infrastructure and available delivery mechanisms and advised related opportunities and constraints to Country management
• Supported M&E unit in the establishment of standardized data management, data sharing and data protection arrangements.
• Identified skills and knowledge gaps related to CVA among Concern Worldwide and implementing partners, and organized capacity building trainings.
• Participated in inter-agency activities on CVA, including representing Concern Worldwide at cash-related working group meetings.
• Managed 7 staff members directly reporting to me, while managed more than 30 IPs managers in different projects.
• Participated in overall Design and M&E of Program.
• Coordinated with government departments to align the policies to run projects effectively.
• Identified and verified beneficiaries to launch projects in response to the 2005 earthquake.
• Conducted pre- and post- testing of training sessions for implementing partners ;
• Developed participatory monitoring mechanisms and trained VO representatives in community-based monitoring mechanisms. Delivered training to beneficiaries and members of line departments.
• Worked as an ‘Acting Program Manger’ for one month
• Reported Monthly and Quarterly and Bi-Annual interventions up to output level.
• Liaised with all concerned agencies, line departments and project staff.
• Developed tools for qualitative and quantitative data collection
• Developed M&E system and MER formats for projects.
• Organized project planning missions, meetings and briefing sessions to identify and analyse problems and recommend projects.
• Carried out advocacy and information-related tasks for project/programme activities such as making interventions and presentations in meetings, workshops, seminars, missions. ,
• Prepared status and progress reports by providing information and background material for use in discussions and briefing sessions. ;
• Provided guidance, on-the-job training and supervision to clerical staff;
• Ensured quality cash and voucher support activities at both community-based and focused delivered to children, caregivers and adolescent boys in a timely and efficient manner.
• Conducted need assessments at Siran, Konsh and Swabi
• Tracked capacity building needs of new staff member in the team and established capacity building plan.
• Conducted capacity building trainings on cash transfer in emergencies
• Supported new team members of CVA team and developed weekly, monthly work plan. Updated it on regular basis.
• Conducted weekly team meetings to discuss challenges and successes faced in implementation
• Supported line manager to document gaps, bottlenecks and challenges in implementation and develop action plans to address these.
• Maintained positive relations with local implementing actors, local authorities and other international and local stakeholders through information sharing and coordination.
• Assisted the needs of provincial team in a participatory way and designed Program that responds to the gaps identified;
• Ensured that Project Partnership Agreements (PPAs) are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on in line with Concern Worldwide partnership policies and guidelines;
• Ensured that activities implemented Concern’s Partners are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported in line with Concern’s Program ming guidelines;
• Supported the organizational fundraising unit by providing regular information for donor requirements;
• Assisted in developing contingency plans and adjusting Program ming to respond to new and emerging operational challenges for the province;
• Led many research studies i.e. need assessment, baseline, midterm, quick impact assessment and evaluation, supported consultancy firms in finalization of ToRs and tools where required