22 November 2021Manila, PhilippinesFinally, after 15 months, I have successfully completed all the academic requirements for the Master of Arts degree in Development Studies, major in Human Rights, Gender and Conflict Studies at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS). I have completed a Research Paper (RP, a.k.a. thesis) on Pandemics, Pantries and Politics: Understanding the emergence of community pantries in the Philippines in the time of COVID-19.I have more than 20 years of combined experience in grant management, programme implementation, monitoring and evaluation, data quality audits and research; and currently seeking a bigger and more challenging role in a similar field that allows the best use of recently acquired theoretical knowledge on social justice and human rights applied in global health practice. ==============================Albert is an international public health management specialist with more than 20 years of combined experience in managing and coordinating HIV, TB and malaria programmes. He is a registered nurse from the Philippines and holds two master degrees: (i) an MSc in Global Health and (ii) a Master of Health Social Science. He was recently attached to PwC Philippines as a Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Expert for the TB Grant. He had previously worked: 1) With UNOPS Asia Region as a Public Health Programme Specialist stationed in Myanmar. He worked with a team of international and national personnel and was responsible for coordination, strategic and analytical inputs and supportive M&E. 2) As an independent Consultant with various agencies (GMS-TAI, Cardno International, HIVOS-ISEAN, PwC Philippines - Local Fund Agent for the Global Fund, etc.) providing technical support in the areas of PR management, finance management, monitoring & evaluation, data quality audits and program evaluation to countries that receive Global Fund financing.3) With the Secretariat of the Pacific Community as a senior Grant Coordinator for the regional Malaria grant programme, involving Solomon Islands and Vanuatu; and was also the country lead for Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga and Vanuatu for their HIV/STI and TB grant programs. Before this, he was the Grant Coordinator for the multi-country HIV grant program that supported 11 Pacific Island countries and territories. Both grant programs were financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).