Chemonics International Inc. Associate B

Farida Akbar

An international development specialist with more than 10 years of experience administratively and technically implementing challenging programs in Asia and Africa.

Proven ability to work with local and international organizations to empower communities by increasing their access to skills and resources and supporting sustainable growth.

Experienced project management and specialist having worked on the $125 million Regional Agricultural Development Program – South to manage multimillion dollar subcontracts and oversee the financial management of the project through close budget oversight.

Trusted recruitment specialist having worked in Cambodia and Nigeria to onboard dozens of priority project and proposal staff.

Worked closely with governmental organizations in Kabul to create long-term partnerships that prioritize the needs of marginalized populations such as women.

Supports Chemonics’ Gender and Social Inclusion Practice by attending to corporate events while also continuing to be an active voice for women’s rights and youth empowerment by supporting local organizations through capacity building and awareness trainings.

Native Dari and fluent in English

Education

B.S., Agricultural Business & International Marketing, California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, California, December 2010.

Experience

Senior Associate 2014-Present

Afghanistan Region

USAID, Chemonics International Inc., Washington, D.C.

Works as a senior associate on the RADP-S team and mentors new associates that join the RADP-S PMU. Serves as acting manager when required.

Monitors budget performance of the $125 million RADP-S project and supports overall project administration including the monthly review and processing of multiple multi-million dollar subcontract invoices, invoice reviews, and cost constructs for technical activities.

Coordinates with home-office support departments on contract-related procurements, personnel issues, accounting, travel coordination, and financial management.

Provides support to the RADP-S team by backstops up to 13 international staff and assists them with their requests from the field and maintains home-office project files by keeping filing system list updated. Regularly steps in for other teammates on assignment.

Experienced as a recruitment specialist having recruited more than 140 technical and support staff in Abuja, Nigeria for the GHSC-PSM project over a two month period. Has also worked in Cambia to successfully conduct a proposal recruit for the Cambodia Malaria Elimination proposal. Furthermore, has conducted extensive project recruitment for the RADP-S program having recruited, on-boarded, and fielded more than 20 staff in the past two years.

Has completed numerous new business roles including corporate capabilities, past performance, local recruit, expat recruit and is currently serving as the capture subcontractor liaison for the Afghanistan Business Environment Reform proposal.

Has completed the subcontractor pricing, recruitment, biodata and gender liaison courses. Regional Coordinator 2011-2013

Financial Access for Investing in the Development of Afghanistan (FAIDA) USAID, Chemonics International Inc., Kabul, Afghanistan

Generated and identified creative business opportunities for women and men by assisting them with writing concept notes, business plans, and introducing them to the banks to improved access to credit.

Traveled to field offices outside the capital to provide training to staff and rural women and communities. Assisted all sectors with borrowing money through FAIDA to expand their businesses, especially the agriculture sector to help farmers at the community level.

Coordinated with Afghan banks and arrange initial meetings to introduce the businesses, then followed through to get the loan approved.

Provided capacity building support to national staff and beneficiary small businesses. Internship 2010

Congress Woman Lois Capps Office,

U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

Provided administrative support to Representative Lois Capps’s office by facilitating communications between the representative and her constituents.

Participated in meetings and training sessions regarding health, environment, education and women issues.

Drafted reports and brief summaries for issues that were of concern to her constituency such as environmental, educational and health issues.

Program Coordinator 2006-2010

Afghan Volunteers for Social Reform

Hadia, Kabul, Afghanistan

Worked with Hadia staff to organize dozens of events and programs to raise public awareness on issues such as gender-based violence, environmental degradation, children’s rights conventions, peaceful self-expression, cultural diversity, etc.

Identified fundraising opportunities for the organization.

Organized and implemented capacity building trainings for Hadia staff District Field Coordinator 2005

Afghan Independent Election Commission

United Nations, Kabul, Afghanistan

Supervised the 2005 Afghan Parliamentary Election by coordinating efforts to mobilize voters from the rural communities.

Trained new employees on how to register, take photo and create new ID cards for the voters during Afghanistan’s first parliamentary election.

Worked with election observers and monitored teams to ensure transparency in the process of registering voters. Supervised the counting of ballots. Photographer 2003-2004

Afghan Independent Election Commission

United Nations, Kabul, Afghanistan

Operated photo identification program for 2003 Presidential Election.

Participated in voter registration project to increase public political participation.

Designed and implemented marketing and communications plans to encourage voting. Teacher 2002-2004

Noor Cultural Foundation

Noor Private School, Kabul, Afghanistan

Created lesson plans and curriculums for English and Persian classes.

Taught first through sixth grade Persian Literature and beginners’ English literature and grammar.

Volunteer Work

Women and Youth Organizations 2005-Present

Served as a women’s rights advocate with several organizations, including Young Women for Change and Road to Equality and Development. Provided development skills training at women’s shelters to survivors of gender-based violence. Assisted in teaching writing to child laborers. Campaigned for ending gender-based violence and street harassment in Afghanistan through youth and women’s advocacy groups

California Polytechnic State University Organic Farm 2010 Volunteered at California Polytechnic State University’s Organic Farm Provided pruning, cutting and cleaning services

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