Reham Barakat

** **** ******* *********, ********, Heliopolis

+2.012.88.9514.88

adpw7w@r.postjobfree.com

CAREER SUMMARY

With twelve years of professional experience in the development field, I am a dedicated and self- motivated person who always have a passionate interest in development cooperation. My working experience at USAID’s development projects and the Ministry of International Cooperation has provided me with breadth and depth in development cooperation and results-based management and allowed me to gain vast practical experience in designing, monitoring, and implementing development programs.

EDUCATION

2020 – Enrolled in a PhD Program in Euro-Mediterranean Studies, Faculty of Economic and Political Science, Cairo University

2019 – Master of Law in International & Comparative Law (LL.M), American University in Cairo. Grade: 3.67

Thesis: Responsibility of International Financial institutions for harmful Economic Consequences Arising from their Development Interventions

2014 – M.Sc. in Political Science, Faculty of Economics and Political Science -Cairo University Thesis: The World Bank’s Policies towards Environmental Protection Grade: Very Good 2006 - B.Sc. of Political Science, Faculty of Economics and Political Science (English Section)- Cairo University

Major: Political Science Minor: Public Administration Grade: Very Good with Honors PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

USAID’s Center of Excellence for Water

American University in Cairo

Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor December 2019 – Present Develop and oversee the implementation of MEL strategies, instruments, and interventions throughout the life cycle of the Center of Excellence for Water (COE-Water) project to generate sound and systematic evidence to support strategic and operational decision making, foster learning for all stakeholders, and continuously enhance the achievement of planned results, targets, and impacts.

Achievements:

• Developed the COE-Water project’s Results-Framework and Key Performance Indicators.

• Developed the COE-Water project’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan.

• Developed and implemented a training plan for the COE-Water staff, partners, and sub- awardees on various topics including results-based monitoring, data collection, and data quality.

• Developed a tool to measure the improved performance of institutions receiving the COE- Water’s capacity-building support.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the COE-Water monitoring, evaluation and learning framework, including developing the project’s logical framework, setting periodic monitoring and reporting system, and develop a learning system.

• Ensure the availability of appropriate baseline data.

• Conduct baseline studies, impact assessments, surveys and need assessments to identify necessary changes, future project opportunities and share lessons for the project sustainability purposes.

• Prepare all quarterly and annual reports.

• Develop data collection and analysis system and tools, and data storage and management system.

• Perform data analysis using the appropriate statistical software.

• Conduct data verifications and validations and make necessary adjustments as needed.

• Coordinate and facilitate external evaluations by the USAID.

• Assist the Chief of Party and the project management team in the development of the project policies, procedures, and work plans to foster accountability and transparency principles and practices

• Develop a system to capture knowledge and lessons learned to disseminate lessons within the project and among project partners and stakeholders, and integrate the lessons learned into project strategies and activities to enhance COE’s visibility, impact, and sustainability

• Design and deliver training interventions to address the MEL needs of project staff and partners.

• Provide short-term technical assistance to the Egyptian university partners’ MEL specialists.

• Produce ad hoc reports as requested by the Chief of Party or in response to USAID/Egypt

• Identify obstacles and risks and propose changes in approaches and implementation as needed to meet the intended results.

• Ensure the integration of gender and people with disabilities in all the project’s activities. USAID’s Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) Program AECOM International Development

Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor December 2017 - present Support the creation and implementation of a results-based M&E system to ensure efficient, effective, and sustainable implementation of the program's activities and achievement of the program's results. Support all M&E initiatives for all partners and beneficiaries. Achievements:

• Designed & delivered capacity building training to Business Development Services Centers supported by USAID’s SEED on Monitoring and Evaluation, Risk Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Qualitative and Quantitative research, and data collection tools.

• Developed SEED’s Learning plan which aims at assessing USAID’s SEED interventions in achieving their desired results, identifying implementation gaps and problems, and taking appropriate actions and decisions to improve implementation and better achieve USAID’s SEED development objectives.

• Developed new performance indicators for SEED option year to better reflect and measure the program’s performance for all SEED interventions. Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning:

• Develop and update the program’s MEL plan as needed.

• Review the program’s key performance indicators (KPIs) throughout the duration of the project and propose any needed changes according to implementation needs.

• Identify implementation gaps and obstacles and propose corrective actions and strategies to improve the efficiency, effectiveness & sustainability of the project.

• Develop a unified and efficient data collection system across the program's components.

• Develop a unified and efficient follow-up system with all SEED's partners and beneficiaries.

• Develop and regularly revise data collection tools, follow-up trackers, data analysis sheets and program’s database.

• Identify strengths and weaknesses in existing data collection and management systems and propose solutions.

• Develop needed tools for collecting appropriate baseline data and ensure the availability and feasibility of such data.

• Develop tools for conducting needs assessments for SEED’s partners, including incubators, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and Business Development Services Centers

(BDSCs), before conducting the program’s interventions.

• Provide feedback to the line manager and team members on project strategies and activities.

• Develop and update the project’s annual work plans.

• Ensure that activities targeting gender and youth are appropriately integrated across the project’s components.

• Conduct M&E inspection visits and learning sessions with partners and end-beneficiaries to ensure validation of data gathered, identify implementation obstacles and gaps and evolving partner’s needs and highlight success stories.

• Supervising, guiding, and coaching the MEL Assistant and interns. Reporting:

• Update the program’s progress towards achieving its deliverables and performance indicators on a quarterly basis.

• Participate in developing SEED’s quarterly and annual reports and ensure its consistency and accuracy.

Capacity Building:

• Provide capacity building training to SEED’s partners.

• Support partners in building their internal M&E system and provided them with needed tools.

The General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) International Relations Specialist November 2016 – December 2017 Supported building and fostering joint activities, partnerships, and cooperation between the SCZone and international financial institutions, international and regional organizations, and peer authorities in foreign countries to promote SCZone’s objectives and activities. Achievements:

• Actively supported establishing and maintaining partnerships and identifying areas of future cooperation between SCZone and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the African Export and Import Bank, the African Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

• Drafted MOUs between the SCZone and peer authorities in several foreign countries (e.g. Vietnam, Djibouti, and Poland) addressing technical and economic cooperation.

• Coordinated a joint EU-OECD Technical Assistance; “Support to the Development of SCZone”.

• Coordinated a TA provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) funded under the TRANSTRAC initiative funded by the MENA Transition Fund. Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Fund Mobilization and building partnerships:

• Liaise effectively with donors, international financial institutions, and other development partners to identify possible areas of cooperation and mobilize financial and technical assistance to support SCZone needs and priorities.

• Act as a focal point between the SCZone and the Ministry of Foreign affairs, Ministry of International Cooperation and Foreign embassies in Egypt.

• Support in building strong partnerships between SCZone and its different stakeholders including development partners, governmental and non-governmental organizations and peer authorities in foreign countries.

Projects’ Design, Preparation & implementation:

• Assist in drafting projects’ proposals.

• Lead the process of data collection and secure necessary approvals for proposed projects.

• Facilitate the implementation of projects funded by development partners. Ministry of International Cooperation (July 2008 – October 2016) Senior Development Specialist January 2014 – October 2016 Provided overall support for the preparation and implementation of the World Bank’s funded projects in Egypt in the Housing, Utilities, and Urban Development sectors. Monitored a portfolio of 20 projects in the Housing and Utilities sector funded by all development partners to ensure timely and effective delivery of projects’ activities and achievement of Development Objectives. Achievements:

• Led the Committee for Monitoring Donor-Funded Housing and Utilities projects; led the task force team responsible for (i) monitoring the implementation of all housing and utilities projects funded by all development partners in order to ensure timely and effective achievement of projects’ activities and Development Objectives, and (ii) developing comprehensive sectoral reviews to allow for more harmonization between development partner.

• Member of the Steering Committee for the preparation of the “Upper Egypt Local Development Program” funded by the World Bank; responsible for (i) facilitating project’s preparation, coordinating between major counterparts and stakeholders at the central and local levels (ii) participating in developing the program’s design and provide policy advice, and (iii) coordinate the World Bank’s missions to Upper Egypt.

• Actively participated in the preparation and negotiations of the following World- Bank funded projects:

- Upper Egypt Local Development Program (US$ 500 million)

- Inclusive Housing Finance Program (US$ 500 million)

- Sustainable Rural Sanitation Services Program (US$ 550 million)

- Integrated Sanitation and Sewerage Infrastructure Project (US$ 200 million)

• Project Officer of the SIORAFI Capacity Building grant provided by the Institutional Development Fund, under the administration of the World Bank, for Strengthening the Capacity of the International Finance Sector of the Ministry of International Cooperation in the areas of Project Coordination, Monitoring, and Supervision, from January 2013 – December 2014, key tasks included;

- Developed the project’s work plan and updated it throughout the project’s implementation.

- Carried out day to day project operations and activities.

- Carried out the procurement of goods and services including drafting ToRs, RFPs, technical and financial evaluation reports, and prepare withdrawal applications, and

- Developed progress reports as required by the World Bank. Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Projects’ Identification, Design, and Preparation:

• Review and prioritize different projects’ funding requests submitted by line ministries to meet with the Egyptian Government’s strategic objectives and priorities, and report to line managers and H.E the Minister of International Cooperation accordingly.

• Review projects’ appraisal reports; assess projects’ Development Objectives, Result frameworks, and Performance Indicators.

• Facilitate projects’ preparation including coordinating World Bank’s missions to Egypt, facilitating data collection process, secure all required approvals for the preparation and negotiations of projects.

Negotiations, signing and ratification of loans and agreements:

• Actively participate in the negotiations of Loan and Grant Agreements between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the World Bank, through reviewing legal documents, proposing needed changes, and reviewing the Arabic translation of legal agreements.

• Finalize all required governmental procedures and secure required approvals for the signing and ratification of loans and grants agreements.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Follow-up on the implementation and progress of projects funded by Egypt’s development partners to ensure the efficient and effective implementation and achievement of desired results.

• Identify implementation obstacles and coordinate with all stakeholders to reach practical solutions.

• Report on projects’ progress, problems and proposed solutions to the line manager and H.E the Minister of International Cooperation.

Economic Researcher July 2008 –December 2013

• Analyze projects’ progress reports and other projects’ documents.

• Coordinate World Bank’s various missions.

• Assist in translating loans and grants agreements into Arabic

• Draft required correspondences, meeting minutes and memos.

• Prepare talking points for the Minister’s meetings. Citibank, Egypt:

Customer Services Officer December 2006 – June 2008

• Handled all customers' inquiries requests and complaints by phone.

• Promoted and sell all Bank’s products.

• Identified potential service issues

• Reported incidents of customers' dissatisfaction. TRAINING COURSES

• September 2019, Professional in Business Analysis (PMI- PBA), exam preparation course, Cairo.

• August 2019, Data Analysis and Reporting, Skills Bank, Cairo, Egypt.

• September 2016, Monitoring and Evaluation for Development Projects, Beit Al Karma, Cairo, Egypt.

• March 2016, Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, India.

• November – December 2015, Project Management Professional (PMP) exam preparation course, Egyptian Cultural Center.

• May – June 2015, Development Leadership Program - Study Tour to Germany, organized by GIZ, Bonne /Berlin, Germany

• April – May 2014, Project Cycle Management, International Training Centre (ITC) of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Turin, Italy.

• March – April 2014, Business Counseling and Consulting Services for the Growth and Expansion of SMEs in developing countries, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India

(EDI), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• July - August 2006, Graduate Interdisciplinary Course of Political Economy, Intellectual History, Good Society and Conflict Management. Provided by the International Institute for Political and Economic Studies (IIPES) Program, sponsored by the Fund for American Studies in cooperation with Georgetown University, hosted by the Mediterranean Institute of Chania, Crete, Greece.

• September – October 2004, Cairo University Model U.S Congress Program, U.S Study Tour, Organized by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, Washington, D.C, USA.

• September 2004, Summer Internship at Senator Lautenberg's office, U.S Congress, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

LANGUAGES

• English: Fluent

• Arabic: Native

References will be provided upon request

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