Margaret Rose (Boehly) Benavente Email & Phone Number

Honolulu, Hi, Us

U.S. Embassy: Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador; Washinton, Dc; Tdy Pacom

I currently serve as a USAID Foreign Service Officer. As a technical officer in procurement, I review and analyze data, providing advice on formulating, coordinating, managing strategy, policies, concepts, procedures, guidelines, and models for establishing and implementing acquisition and assistance programs. Innovation Portfolio-Lead agreement officer on streamlining procurement intake and review processes for the Middle East Bureau's high profile New Partnership Initiative. Following an expedited procurement action (EXACT) effort Acquisition and Assistance Lab supported from post-award conferences to ongoing award administration. -Acquisition Innovation Advocacy (AIA) Council Representative: Consists of representatives from USG Agencies tasked with meeting regularly to broaden awareness and foster cross-agency collaboration and innovation.-Led Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Working Group automation pilot and implementation. -Participated in Deployable Innovations Working Group: Scaling an innovation across borders, markets, and sectors.-Coordinated with Digital Strategy Initiatives, particularly the Digital Sector Council.Assignments:-Deputy Director, Office of Acquisition and Assistance, USAID/Afghanistan 2022-present-USAID HQ, Washington, DC: Global Health/Supply Chain, COVID Task Force, Middle East Bureau A&A Advisor, virtual support to USAID/Columbia, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, New Partnership Initiatives: 2019-2022-U.S. Embassy in San Salvador, El Salvador: 2017-2019 (Regional support to USAID Missions in Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico) -USAID TDY to U.S. Pacific Command: 2016-Department of State Senior Foreign Affairs Officer at OPM-MOI: U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 2014-2015-USAID Field Program Officer: Kandahar Airfield, Provincial Reconstruction Team and U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan: 2011-2014

Liaison for the regional recruitment, retention and engagement committee to higher education and community organizations to create a pipeline for the next generation of Federal Employees.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

•Investigated over 100 charges of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, sexual harassment, equal pay, age, disability, genetic information and/or retaliation brought by members of the public against non-federal companies•Requested documentary evidence, interviewed witnesses, participated in on-site investigations of employers' facilities and in settlement negotiations, and educated the public on their rights in filing discrimination charges

Greater Salt Lake City Area

•Worked as an intensive employment caseworker for more than 70 newly arrived refugees from China, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Rwanda, Burundi, Chad, Somalia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Sudan). Prepared clients for job interviews, established transportation, translation and training plans for clients and mediated attendance/employment issues. •Conducted more than 100 presentations to local and international businesses, and established relationships to encourage companies to hire refugee clients. Educated firms on state incentive programs for hiring refugees, and the unique skill sets and markets within refugee communities•Organized job fairs, and completed monthly/quarterly reports on refugee placement/retention date and conducted periodic case audits for federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs.

•Initiated child health care programs for 150 OVCSs focused on primary health services, prenatal care and TB awareness funded by the Netherlands/Belgium Red Cross ($100,000 USD annually).•Developed an OVC After-School/Saturday Activity Program which provided weekly tutoring, entertainment and athletic opportunities for more than 170 children, as well as a program to train community legal aid representatives to assist OVCs in applying for government social grants, and obtaining needed documentation such as identification cards, birth and death certificates.•Formed a partnership with the Namibian Literacy Program to provide weekly classes for street children and teen parents; requested school fee exemptions for over 200 OVCs, distributed school supplies and uniforms, and arranged sponsorship for 24 OVCs to participate in a seven-day educational tour throughout Namibia.•Represented the Namibian Red Cross in the quarterly meeting of all of the Ministries, NGOs and individuals working on OVC issues in the Kavango region. Drafted, implemented and evaluated trimester plans and goals of the Health and World Food Programme nutrition sub-committee and reported on the findings to the local government council. Established a new reporting system for the Red Cross monthly/quarterly/yearly reports and trained staff on new financial system.•Contributed to the development and implementation of the national plan for OVC, community development/awareness of OVC issues, and institutional development/capacity building in the Namibia Red Cross to address issues of education/legal services access, health/nutrition, and HIV/ADIS prevention.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

•Assisted in review of UNDP requests for legal experts including establishing legal clinics in the Republic of Congo, prison ombudsman programs and disability rights in Tajikistan. Research issue in ABA database and compile reference documents on requested subject issue. •Coordinator of National Legal Essay Contest for Washington Foreign Law Society. Reviewed applications and distributed applicant packets to reviewers country-wide.

Fairfax, Va

•Assisted in the compilation of The Almanac for Virginia Politics •Designed, researched and compiled information on VA state government officials•Researched grant opportunities on civic engagement•Complied data on immigration issues

Washington D.C. Metro Area, Office Of The Late Senator Frank Lautenberg, Nj

•Researched President Bush’s global AIDS policy (PEPFAR)•Wrote policy memos on the Avian flu, African debt and Ghana’ s development programs •Provided constituent liaison assistance

San Francisco Bay Area

•Research/Teaching Assistant- Professor Stephen Zunes (2004-2005)•Completed Research Paper on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Coltan Trade •Researched and wrote policy proposals on US/Middle East and Nicaragua•Categorized and organized articles written by Professor Zunes •Representative at Peace and Justice Conference •Teaching Assistant for Global Economic Justice and Politics of Middle East

San Francisco Bay Area

•Researched and analyzed federal funding requirements for homeless programs, and attended regional meetings to share information and strategize on the federal grant funds.•Coordinated HIV/AIDS housing applications for eligible clients, recruited community representatives from non-profits, the health sector and government to sit on the application panel.•Organized site visits to homeless shelters and social service centers for donors, clients, government representatives and others to raise awareness and increase engagement.

San Francisco Bay Area

•Assisted in the prosecution of elder abuse case trials, including contacting witnesses, victims and police officers, assisting in reviewing police reports and investigating chronologies and criminal records.•Assisted attorneys in court with pre-hearing and pre-trial conferences and researched and wrote court motions.

London, Eng;And

•Served as an assistant to the Chief of Staff. Took minutes for meetings between the MP and lobbyists, attended constituency meetings and attended the International Development Committee Meetings in order to update the MP on both funded and upcoming programs. •Wrote a paper on regional redevelopment that highlighted the success of economic redevelopment as a result of streamlining business applications.

Ma, Political Science

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science And Government

Harris Manchester College, Study Abroad, International Relations And Affairs