I am a programme management professional and has got over 17 years of experience in long term development and emergency programmes at national and international level, where I built strong knowledge and experience of managing programmes in emergencies as well as in peace time. I am well versed in developing and managing community-based projects with a strong focus on underprivileged people. I acquired a thorough knowledge of programme development, management, community engagement and accountability.
I managed heavy budgeted programmes, preparing budget and financial reporting for donors such as USAID, ECHO, DEC, IFAD, CARITAS, Solidar, DFID and Swiss Solidarity. I am proficient in utilizing available resources and delivering the required results within agreed time with donors. My experience of working in an environment with short and multiple deadlines at the same time helped me to take any challenge in my future tasks.
Currently, in my existing job with the Fred Hollows Foundation, I represent FHF at different national and provincial platforms and develop working relation with the implementing partners and other Government stakeholders. This time exposed me to develop more diplomacy skills to maintain good working relation with the Government Health department at National and Provincial level.
In my last assignment with the Red Cross I worked on social inclusion by involving religious leaders in the discussion and gaining their support in advocating for womenââ¬â¢s participation in the programme activities, which proved a successful strategy to involve women in project implementation.
I am a facilitator and developer of training programmes. I designed and developed trainings on disaster preparedness and management for partner organizations and community leaders, hygiene promotion awareness, Universal Primary Education, and School Health. Delivered, on request, trainings on disaster preparedness, Red Cross seven fundamental principles and Code of Conduct for staff of different INGOs.
I understand the challenges in supporting capacity building for partners and I believe I have the right experience and approach to be successful in this aspect of the assigned role.
With the IFRC, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to follow their course in Humanitarian Diplomacy from Diplo-Foundation, which led to my research on ââ¬ÅDomestic and Gender Based Violence in Pakistanââ¬Â. This helped me to strengthen my advocacy skills while dealing with various stakeholders. I realize that we do diplomacy every day at all levels and we need to have these skills to run the projects smoothly.
I am also well versed in producing good audio-visual material to market and promote the organizationââ¬â¢s work amongst donors, media, as well as general public. My experience of working in communications and programme management gives me an edge to manage the programme and at the same time promote it in a productive way.
I developed strong interpersonal and intrapersonal skills that helped in managing big teams as a team lead as well as good working relation with the implementing partners that includes non-government and government departments.
Over these years I improved my capacity to gel in any type of culture and I respect the cultural sensitivity of any area. I can develop a team and have strong interpersonal skills to be a team player to create congenial atmosphere for working in difficult and stressful environments.
This versatile experience enables me to deliver the results and promote organizationsââ¬â¢ work at different forums amongst public, media and donors.
Research: I did a research on ââ¬ÅGender and Domestic based Violence in Pakistanââ¬Â, that helped me to understand the whole context of the issue and how can that be mitigated.
Volunteer work: I worked as a volunteer with a human rights organization in Pakistan, named 'Bedari'. Mostly, I volunteer myself for programme development / proposal writing and performing street theatre. I feel that street theatre can be a great tool for raising awareness in communities and I welcome any opportunity to develop innovative and interactive approaches in my work.ÃÂ ÃÂ
I am very fortunate in that I have the support of my family for my ambition to work. I do not have children or dependants at present, so I am free to travel as required by a new role.ÃÂ
I hope I have provided enough information to enable you to take my application further and I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Rabia Ajaib
Ph: +92 (0) 333 0509 323
Email: rabiaajaib@gmail.com
Oversee and manage the programmes and operations at the country office. This includes exploring new funding opportunities, developing new programmes on the basis of community-based surveys, developing country strategy, liaising with Government health ministries (National and Provincial), donor and partner organizations, and supervising country team.Â
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After the outbreak of COVID-19, I manage the emergency response that includes developing proposal, liaising with government health departments and partner hospitals, developing new and strengthening existing partnerships. Also supervise and ensure timely procurement and delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to provincial and district health departments and partner hospitals. Ensure timely set up for tele consultation for eye health at partner hospital.
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As part of senior management team I oversee the operational and programmatic matters at country office level.
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Key Responsibilities:
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·       Contribute as a lead in development of five years country strategy for the country programme.
·       Lead the planning, development, implementation, and coordination of Pakistan Programme in line with the strategic objectives and internal systems that include accountability and evidence- based outcomes.
·       Develop new project ideas for Pakistan by ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and local needs.
·       Ensure that country office works in compliance of FHF policies and procedures.
·       Develop and review new implementation strategies for better performance of the country programme.
·       Monitor and evaluate different stages of project/programme implementation to ensure partners are achieving the required outcomes.
·       Ensure partners accountability for FHF Pakistan funds. Develop and manage partner relationship within the agreed governance framework of FHF.
·       Build the capacity within the partners to drive the culture of innovation, engagement and collaboration.
·       Undertake advocacy and build relationship with stakeholders including ministries, government officials and other INGOs/NGOs that lead to the outcome that contribute to the ending of avoidable blindness.
·       Design and oversee baseline surveys and evaluations.
·       Ensure timely submission of donor reports in compliance with the donors’ requirements.
·       Work in close collaboration with the relevant departments at Head office to ensure smooth run of the operations in Pakistan.
·       Oversee monitoring and evaluation of the projects being implemented by the partners.
·       Assist partners in developing monitoring and evaluation strategies as per the standards of FHF.
·       Identify areas of improvement in the team and explore opportunities to bridge those areas in collaboration with the people partner.
·       Periodic appraisals of the team and give recommendations to people partner for future engagement status of the staff with the Foundation.
·       Participate in the hiring process of new middle level staff i.e. developing questionnaire, participating in the interview process as a panellist, and opinionizing final selection.
Represent Pakistan at different forums as part of the gender champions team of FHF. Advocate for gender equity and equality at work place as well as programmes design.
Management of a Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) programme of 3.5 million Swiss Francs (CHF) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - Northern Province of Pakistan. Implementation/budget monitoring. The programme was implemented in partnership between Swiss Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS). This included planning, budgeting, and monitoring, reporting and overall programme management with the components of health, WASH and micro mitigation projects. This also included providing technical assistance to PRCS, ensuring implementation of all policies and procedures in true spirit, and maintaining good working relation with PRCS and mobilizing team as per need in addition to managing team of 43 people. Also managed donor relations and adequate narrative and financial reporting. Exploring new funding opportunities and developing new programmes.
It is pertinent to mention here that as the only Swiss Red Cross staff in Pakistan I represented Swiss Red Cross on high level forums such as diplomatic missions and Government offices and performed additional diplomacy tasks on behalf of the Swiss Red Cross.
Contracted as Communications officer and promoted as Humanitarian Diplomacy and Movement Coordinator. Produced audio visual material for IFRC website and the national society in communications department. Managed the Humanitarian Diplomacy and Movement Coordination portfolio for the IFRC office in Pakistan through supporting the Head of Delegation in Movement coordination, building and maintaining relationships with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and external stakeholders in country.
Managed media unit of Islamic Relief Pakistan. Maintained media relations, promoted Islamic Relief interventions with different stakeholders through the media and articles on the IR website, and coordinated with other IR chapters worldwide to provide them with promotional material from Pakistan for fundraising purposes.
Managed all programmes of the organization including Disaster Response, Vocational Training Centre, Education, and Health. Wrote and designed brochures, flyers, and annual reports. Liaised with health department at Federal level to implement school health programme in the suburbs of Islamabad. Managed a cash transfer programme for the Internally Displaced Persons moving from conflict in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in North West Pakistan.
Managed water and sanitation project along with a component of health, hygiene, and DRR. Worked in close coordination with the Education department for implementation of school health programme. Conducted needs assessments among vulnerable communities, wrote proposals, ensured timely implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of cash transfer for DRR, Sanitation and Hygiene projects conducted with partner organizations. Conducted capacity building trainings for partner organizations on Sanitation, hygiene and DRR.
Managed a human trafficking project in Mansehra district after the 2005 earthquake. Liaised with other area stakeholders, conducted awareness sessions on human trafficking for NGO/INGO representatives, Government officials, media representatives and communities, and generated monthly reports to be shared with relevant authorities and donors.
Managed an Education Programme at District level. Provided technical assistance to the Government Education Department in the district. Conducted capacity building of teachers on Universal Primary Education and school health (training and screening) in line with MDG targets.
Contracted as Social Organizer and promoted as Regional Professional to manage entrepreneur, health, M&E, Human Resource Management-capacity building and Education Programme for the National Rural Support Programme Regional office. Supported the Head of Region in providing coordinated support to other offices within the Region, and in building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders such as line departments and vocational training centres. Developed linkages between the trained people in vocational skills from target communities and the entrepreneur in the nearest markets.