Nicolas Karr Email & Phone Number

United States

Washington, District Of Columbia

Worked closely with programming, training, and evaluation staff across the globe to promote a climate-resilient development strategic approach and to ensure effective integration of climate adaptation and resilience in programming, training, and evaluation. Facilitated the integration of climate adaptation and resilience activities that support climate information and education, food security, water security, health and well-being, nature-based solutions, and disaster preparedness and management. Participated in interagency climate change meetings and events. Supported the rollout of the Peace Corps’ climate change strategy, including working with agency stakeholders to develop implementation plans to integrate climate adaptation and resilience into sector development programming globally (including Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health, and Youth in Development). Coordinated with the Office of Global Health and HIV to support the integration of climate adaptation and resilience to respond to climate-exacerbated disease, climate-smart mental health, and water security and improved hygiene practices. Worked with the Agriculture Specialist and Feed the Future coordinator to ensure climate-resilient programming supporting climate-smart agriculture, improved food production, and improved nutrition outcomes. Worked with the Environment Specialist and Disaster Risk Reduction coordinator to promote climate-resilient programming supporting nature-based solutions and environmental health and improved sanitation practices. Provided technical assistance in integrating climate-resilient development into post’s programming, training, and evaluation practices and designed global foundational climate literacy and climate-resilient development trainings for Volunteers and staff. Supported planning, organization and implementation of global webinars to roll out new resources, share experiences and build a climate change community of practice.

Peace Corps Tonga

Directed the programmatic strategy, training design, and evaluation supervising a team of six full-time and six short-term staff in the implementation of a national English Language Education program. Facilitated the review, design, and implementation of a new Climate Change project focusing on climate-resilient practices, nature-based solutions, disaster risk reduction, and environmental conservation. Managed 60+ Volunteers serving in four regional island groups and coordinated across multiple units including administration, medical, and safety and security as well as Peace Corps Washington. Served as Acting Country Director overseeing the full twenty-one staff team. Managed program expansion and guided the growth and expansion of the programming and training unit. Directed the review and analysis of the seven-year English Literacy Project and oversaw the re-design and implementation of a new logical project framework and the alignment of a new site strategy and training design. Facilitated the establishment and development of a Peer Support and Diversity Network and managed the integration of intercultural competence, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (ICDEIA) into programming, training, and post operations. Developed innovative dashboards to improve site management and Volunteer site placement – introducing new methods to holistically assess Trainee performance during pre-service training. Led post through a digital transformation of operations and the Volunteer learning continuum leveraging technology-enabled experiential learning and developing a Moodle-based Learning Hub that supports an extended 30-month blended learning continuum. Mentored eight posts regionally and globally in the development of their own e-learning courses including Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Belize, and the Philippines. Utilized a blended learning approach to staff development in ICDEIA that leveraged an e-learning environment and experiential learning.

Washington, District Of Columbia

Provided oversight and coordination of Global Operations’ sub-offices – three Regional Offices, Overseas Programming and Training Support, and Global Health and HIV. Served as defacto chief administrative officer, managed a $1.8 million annual Global Operations budget and conducted regular budget exercises, including Operations Plan development, budget projections, and execution reviews. Oversaw all procurement actions and all personnel actions, including recruitment and selection. Developed and maintained relationships with stakeholders in various levels of government, private industry, and academic institutions to communicate and disseminate information about program mission and activities. Planned and accomplished special projects for quality improvement of global operations - including updating and revising the New Country Entry Guide and coordinating the Programming, Training, and Evaluation Field Advisory Board.

Washington, District Of Columbia

45-day temporary detail managing the Office of Staging and Pre-Departure. Supervised a group of employees, including supervisors, performing work at various levels up to the FP-4 level. Provided administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit. Responsible for developing and coordinating pre-departure activities common to all invitees and for conducting pre- departure orientation events (staging events) for applicants invited to become Peace Corps Volunteers. Coordinated the entire pre-departure process and its relationship to the broader Volunteer Delivery System. Coordinated the pre-departure environment, assessing and implementing content delivery timelines and the online onboarding process for all Peace Corps Volunteers in conjunction with multiple stakeholders throughout the agency both domestically and abroad. Provided oversight of liaison activities with all offices involved in the delivery system of Peace Corps Volunteers. Responsible for ensuring quality control and monitoring of all staging events; staging program development and design improvement; staging policy development and implementation; and emergency management for staging events.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Peace Corps Vanuatu

Provided programmatic and technical management for Peace Corps Program development - improving Post performance to a top-tier Post globally in one year. Supervised work of programming team implementing new initiatives in quality improvement in a dynamic, inter-cultural environment. Lead Post-operations analysis to improve service delivery and programmatic support – identifying Post risk factors in planning and budgeting. Simultaneously managed multiple Volunteer support issues, host country national concerns and programmatic matters with staff and Volunteers and mediated solutions to issues. Guided Volunteers and staff in effective inter-cultural communication to resolve issues and find solutions. Trained local staff in leadership skills, coaching, and mentoring methods. Supervised office managers – improving their service delivery, project design, and management capacity. Facilitated evacuation of 65 Volunteers/Trainees ahead of category 5 tropical cyclone and spearheaded rapid disaster assessment in aftermath coordinating with National and International Agencies. Lead nationwide situation analysis to evaluate operational impact of tropical cyclone and coordinated continuation of Post operations and return of evacuated Volunteers/Trainees. Produced project plan for Disaster Response Management. Developed project plan, framework, and datasheets for Disaster Response Management.

Peace Corps Vanuatu

Developed analysis and assessment tools for measuring sustainable program development and impact of Volunteers to strengthen site development and confirm graduated sites. Managed trainings of 100+ Peace Corps Volunteers/Trainees with $300,000 budget and improved Post-level monitoring and evaluation trainings for staff and Volunteers and implemented best practices in collaboration with regional guidance. Conducted in-depth evaluation of Volunteer training events to strengthen training design. Prepared training evaluation reports identifying promising practices and challenges to Volunteer technical training. Implemented new approaches on site identification, development, and Volunteer preparation and training. Developed and managed strategic plans to increase the capacity of local staff and improve quality of service delivery.

Ministry Of Health Vanuatu

Developed and managed strategic business plan for Shefa Provincial Health Office for FY2013 & 2014 covering objectives & activities of Public Health Officers, Measurable Indicators, and Budgeting. Secured funding through USAID (10,000 USD) in partnership with local donors for Gender and Development Training of Youth Leader Trainers and managed training in Leadership Skills, Sexual Reproductive Health, and Climate Change Adaptation. Developed, managed, and trained facilitators in Primary Healthcare Revitalization Community Leader Training used nationally in the Healthy Islands Initiative. Managed training on Gender and Development theory and practices with 80+ Peace Corps Volunteers. Managed and facilitated Health Committee Trainings covering Primary Healthcare, Roles and Responsibilities, Finances, and Ethics with Health Facilities serving 5,207+ ni-Vanuatu. Managed Public Health Officers activities to increase their capacities within Shefa Province serving 78,000+ ni-Vanuatu.

Ministry Of Health Vanuatu

Secured project funding – totaling 2.9 million vatu (31,000 USD) – with AusAID, NZAID, and USAID, in partnership with local donors, for national WASH, Sexual Reproductive Health, Youth Development, and Climate Change Adaptation initiatives. Developed Monitoring and Evaluation Logical Framework to measure goals and objectives of Water System Infrastructure Improvements. Facilitated design and managed projects to improve Water System Infrastructure constructing a 22 Tap Gravity-fed Water System supplying 20+ liters of water/daily to 500+ ni-Vanuatu. Facilitated and managed 22 trainings on Sexual Reproductive Health, STIs, and HIV/AIDS with 43 Service Providers and 750+ ni-Vanuatu.

Greater Boston Area

Combined Master of Public Health program with Peace Corps service with relevant Coursework in: Managing Disasters and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies; Global Aids Epidemic: Social & Economic Determinants, Impact, & Responses; Applied Research Methods, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics; Foundational Environmental Health; Critical Analysis and Evidence-based Writing for Public Health; Behavioral Science for Public Health

Salem, Oregon

Conducted CPR/First Aid Training. Worked with College Council on Red Cross Volunteer Initiatives. Developed new IEC Materials promoting Chapter activities, volunteer opportunities, and college council initiatives.

Master’S Degree, International Public Health/International Health, 3.65 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Master's International (Peace Corps)Master's International: Completed 48 credits of coursework.

Bachelor’S Degree, Health Promotion And Human Biology, 3.86 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field (4 years)Completed 180 hours of coursework through the College.