Research and teaching focus nonprofit and public management

Research and teaching focus: Nonprofit management, International NGOs, international development and management, and public management

Primarily interested in fields related to managing NGOs, exploring different facets of the relationships between government and donor agencies with NGOs, investigating civil society’s impact on public policies, studying development policy and management, and delving into governance in general

Responsible for managing a portfolio of $1 million-budget programs, including AMIDEAST’s training center which offers public and upon-demand professional development workshops and courses, two USAID-funded programs: Professional Training program for public and private sector leaders and the Iraq National Capacity Development Program, MEPI-funded programs: Business Internship Program for Young Middle Eastern Women, MEET U.S, and MEPI AlumNet, and the US-Lebanon Partnership’s Workforce Development & Job Creation program (including CISCO internship). Responsibilities include managing and promoting the various programs, overseeing all procedures entailed, directing selection, placement, and orientation processes, ensuring that all programs are conducted according to the various donor regulations (e.g. USAID, MEPI, private donors.), developing annual plans and courses of action, ensuring all programs are delivered effectively and within budget, supervision of department staff, trainers, and interns, and representing AMIDEAST in professional forums.

Worked on the US Agency for International Development funded Transparency and Accountability Grants’ Project. Assessed grant applications. Monitor projects. Provided feedback to inquiries and technical assistance for grant requests. Reviewed projects’ deliverables. Promoted projects’ activities. Reviewed grants application. Conducted projects evaluation. Identified important highlights. Advised on external environment. Participated in developing strategic and contingency plans. Established contacts and partnerships with local and regional stakeholders. Assisted in organizing local and regional activities. Developed in-house and external materials. Drafted remarks and speeches.

Managed the US Department of Labor funded ACCESS Child Labor Project. Prepared reports and updates. Worked on developing the project’s website. Identified target audience for the project. Designed and maintained the project database. Researched and developed materials related to the project’s deliverables. Reviewed and refined drafts of materials prepared by the project team. Examined different web format preferences. Sought and reviewed different quotations related to website development and newsletter printing. Followed up with subcontractors working on website development and newsletter printing. Compiled and finalized mailing and contacts list of NGOs in the MENA region. Organized distribution of project materials and insured delivery. Maintaining continuous updates. Planned for and organized project activities: conferences, workshops, and meetings. Answered inquiries about the project. Establishing and maintaining contact with different NGOs in the MENA region. Coordinated between project stakeholders. Mentored and provided guidance to team members and interns.

Advised the Ambassador and other diplomats regarding major political and economic developments in Lebanon and Syria. Prepared briefs and reports on local and regional news and development. Monitored the political and economic situations. Drafted speeches, correspondences and statements in the name of the Ambassador and the Embassy. Managed the public relations of the Embassy. Coordinated the relationship with the media. Handled protocol affairs. Organized Embassy’s activities. Represented the Embassy in official ceremonies when needed.

Worked on the World Bank ‘Position Classification Project’ in the “Institutional Development Unit”. Interviewed Lebanese Government civil servants of different graded categories. Evaluated jobs. Developed job descriptions. Conducted job evaluation based on a universal evaluation standard. Reported on administrative and organizational problems. Proposed new schemes for tasks and mandates. Developed a new classification of jobs and positions. Redefined job specifications, requirements and responsibilities. Prepared reports on various administrative and organizational subjects. Participated in the organization of conferences and workshops.

Worked on the EU funded ARLA Project for the Rehabilitation of the Lebanese Administration. Provided administrative and technical assistance to the EU Team. Interviewed senior management employees. Surveyed the organizational, financial, administrative and technical conditions of various public institutions. Presented personal evaluations and recommending any suggestions. Participated in the discussions with the concerned parties about the needs, expectations and plans of actions to be set. Prepared preliminary and inception reports.