Professional Experience:
Professional Experience:
Civil Society and Gender Advisor
06/11-08/11
Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations
(RAMP UP)
(DAI/dTS/USAID)
Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan
Responsible for interfacing with Afghan partners developing income generating opportunities for women. Conducted public meetings related to citizen engagement. Initiated programs leading to direct coordination with provincial government authorities, local community organizations, business associations, and youth groups.
Gender Specialist
04/10 - 02/11
Alternative Development Program, South & West
(ADP/SW)
(ARD/J.E. Austin/USAID)
Farah, Afghanistan
Coordinated gender program to support agricultural business and development across Farah, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces, Afghanistan. Coordinated with Afghan government provincial authorities, ISAF- PRT’s and USAID regional staff. Responsible for interfacing with Afghan partners developing income generating opportunities for women in rural areas designed to improve the quality of life for women involved in agricultural related activities. Supported all ADP/SW operations across Afghanistan.
• Developed agricultural training programs for 10,000 girls in schools throughout the region.
• Implemented agricultural related training programs involving 16,000 women.
• Established 5000 women owned poultry farms.
• Provided 1000 women with inputs to develop horticulture or cash crop ventures.
Medical Doctor
01/04 -06/08
Balkh Public Hospital and Esmael Ashraf Gynological Hospital
Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan
General Surgeon with a specialty in deliveries including cesarean birthing procedures.
Gender Specialist
06/07 – 11/07
Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture Program
(ASAP)
(Chemonics/USAID)
Mazar - e - Sharif, Afghanistan
Responsible for gender research related to capacity building and value chain training programs for agriculture ministry staff at the provincial level.
• Developed gender oriented activities at the first National Ag Fair in Kabul.
• Organized Cultural Center for the first International AgFair held at Mazar-e-Sharif.
• Selected and guided 200 women to demonstrate their crafts skills and entrepreneurship.
Gender Entrepreneur Trainer
05/06-05/07
Dairy Industry Revitalization Project
(Land O’Lakes/USAID)
Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan
Guided product development and branding for producer controlled dairy facility in northern Afghanistan, producing packaged milk and cheese products.
• Recruited, organized and trained cooperative members.
• Conducted focus groups related to marketing and packaging.
• Organized 1000 men and women to create dairy related cooperatives.
• Implemented training programs related to husbandry and sanitation.
Gender Entrepreneur Trainer
01/05-04/06
Rebuild Agriculture Markets Program
(RAMP)
(Chemonics/Roots of Peace/USAID)
Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan
Overall project added $1.7+ billion to the ag sector. Results include