"Colleagues at Catholic Relief Services jokingly call him 'super action man' for his risk-taking, impatient drive in emergencies." Baltimore Sun story by Mark Matthews
Professional Goal
To apply over two decades of leadership in international relief and democracy development to the promotion of human rights.
Highlights
Employment History
Independent Consultant August 2009 – present
Currently consulting for the Qatar Foundation International, IFES, PACT, the USCCB, the Bin Talal Foundation, and Democracy International. Recently taught a graduate course on African politics at the Washington DC campus of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Serve as Co-Chair of the Society for International Development's Africa Working Group, and sit on the Board of Directors of the Safer Institute.
Vice President for External Relations August 2009 - May 2010
Bridging the Divide
Washington DC
Headed the Washington office of Bridging the Divide, a new NGO focused on promoting CSO empowerment in the Middle East and Africa, responsible for donor and Congressional relations, media outreach, networking with partner organizations etc. I maintain my relationship with BTD as a member of its Advisory Board.
Vice President for Communications & Compliance July 2008 – August 2009
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
Washington DC
An Executive level position reporting to the IFES President, with supervisory responsibility for both the Communications & Advocacy and Contracts & Grants divisions, comprising a staff of 20. Under my direction, my teams managed some $70 million dollars in donor funds, and interacted with the media on a daily basis. In addition, I oversaw IFES’ outreach efforts to the US government, specifically to Capitol Hill, the State Department, USAID, National Security Council etc.
African Regional Director Aug. 2004 – June 2008
(& previously the Middle East & the Americas)
IFES, Washington DC
Responsible for overseeing all IFES activity in Africa and the Middle East in the sectors of good governance, elections, civil society, rule of law and human rights. Supervised regional democracy and governance programs developed and managed by twelve-member HQ program staff. Negotiated program funding and project work plans with donors, host-country government officials, and national and international counterparts. Coordinated regional program expansion and staff recruitment and development. Provided creative and technical support to foundation-wide programs and regional department initiatives. Guided regional strategic planning process for program and staff development. Served as principal regional contact for IFES. Established and maintained relevant contacts with American and international government, non-government, and private sector officials. Developed and implemented IFES-wide initiatives to improve organizational performance and programmatic impact. Provided program updates and analysis to US government representatives, congressional staff, and international institutions.
For one year, supervised the Regional Directors for the Middle East and the Americas, the entire sub-Saharan Africa headquarters team, two London-based staff, and all Country Directors/COPs. Areas of concentration include team building, strategic planning, new program development, donor and partner relations, media contacts, and advocacy.
As a member of senior management, was also involved in various organization-wide initiatives, such as work climate improvement, budgeting, inter-divisional collaboration, links with Board members, etc. Job involved 25% travel to Africa, the Middle East, and periodically Europe and Latin America
Director of Humanitarian Assistance
International Relief and Development, Inc. Rosslyn, Va.
Dec. 2003 – July 2004
Lead person for IRD’s embryonic humanitarian division.
Senior Regional Representative Africa Representation Team, Catholic Relief Services/HQ
July 2002 – June 2003
Supervised a team of seven people who serve as the headquarters liaison for 26 Africa program offices; responsibilities include public resource acquisition (USAID Title II, etc.), advocacy on Capital Hill, media contacts, issues analysis, preparation of country and regional reports, operational support, internal coordination, as well as specific oversight of Southern Africa, in particular the current regional food security crisis.
Deputy Regional Director CRS West Africa Regional Office
Accra, GHANA Jan. 2001 – June 2002
Ensured high management quality in ten country offices in the areas of staffing, finance, administration, emergency response, security and staff safety, media relations, and information technology. Also served as principal deputy to Regional Director.
Country Representative
CRS/HAITI July 1998 – Jan. 2001
Directed an $11 million relief and development program implementing health, education, sanitation, agriculture, micro-credit, social assistance, monetization, and emergency response activities with local counterparts. CRS/Haiti had two principal offices employing over 250 staff, including ten expatriates, and several major USAID grants.
Senior Camp Manager
CRS/MACEDONIA May – July 1999
Managed Stankovic I, the largest Kosovar refugee camp in Macedonia. Oversaw the provision of daily services to 33,000 refugees, coordinated the activities of a dozen NGOs, liaised with UNHCR, WFP, USAID/OFDA, and supervised over 200 CRS staff. Hosted visits by President and Mrs. Clinton, Tony Blair, Madeline Albright, General Wesley Clark, et al. Dealt with dozens of international media outlets.
Other Employment
Country Representative, CRS/BENIN Feb. 1997 – June 1998
Country Representative, CRS/ZAIRE July 1996 – Jan. 1997
Kivu Coordinator, CRS/ZAIRE Oct. 1995 – June 1996
Country Representative, CRS/RWANDA April 1994 – Oct. 1995
Acting Country Representative, CRS/BURUNDI Feb. 1994 – April 1994
Desk Officer – Great Lakes Region, CRS/HQ Nov. 1993 – Jan. 1994
Country Representative, CRS/SENEGAL June 1991 – Oct. 1993
Desk Officer – West Africa, CRS/HQ July 1989 – June 1991
Asst. Country Representative, CRS/MOROCCO Feb. 1988 – June 1989
Asst. Country Representative, CRS/MAURITANIA Sept. 1986 – Jan. 1988
Program Assistant, CRS/BURUNDI April 1984 – Aug. 1986
Writer/Producer, Voice of America Jan. 1983 – April 1984
Passport Services employee, US State Dept. 1981 – 83
US Peace Corps Volunteer, GHANA 1978 – 80
Education
* B.A. in Literature, University of Maryland, 1978
* B.S. in Journalism, University of Maryland, 1978
* Peace Corps Training in Tropical Agriculture, New Mexico State U., 1978
*Aquaculture Training, University of Rwanda, 1984
* Workshops in Leadership training (CCL, Situational Leadership etc.), emergency mitigation and response, international humanitarian law, personnel management, finance and administration, grants management, staff safety & security, Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear/Explosive (CBRNE), etc.
* Currently Professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of International Relations. Have also guest lectured on international relief and development at Johns Hopkins SAIS, American U., George Washington U., and Georgetown U.
* Fluent French and English
Professional Affiliations
* Co-chair, Africa Working Group, Society for International Development-Washington DC
* ACE Electoral Knowledge Network
* International Humanitarian Studies Association
* Member of the Board, Safer Institute
References
Richard Soudriette, President Emeritus, IFES
Soudriette@aol.com
William F. Rastetter, Vice President, Catholic Relief Services
brastetter@catholicrelief.org
John Prendergast, Co-Chair, the ENOUGH Project
info@enoughproject.org
Lionel Rosenblatt, President Emeritus, Refugees International
lionelri@aol.com
Miscellaneous
Nationality – U.S.
Health -- excellent
Marital Status – single; one dependent child
Able to travel
Professional Goal
To apply over two decades of leadership in international relief and democracy development to the promotion of human rights.
Highlights
- Managed three regional divisions for IFES, one of the world’s most-respected democracy and governance organizations.
- Led large, complex humanitarian relief operations in Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Macedonia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
- Acknowledged as an expert on the African political landscape. Regularly speak and lecture for policy and practitioner audiences in Washington and elsewhere.
- Published in major US and overseas newspapers and websites.
- Raised and managed tens of millions of dollars in public funded grants.
- Schooled in the complexities of developing world advocacy issues, including governance, extractive industries, HIV/AIDS etc.
- Well versed in the world of Washington-based policy actors, including Congress, the Administration, PVOs, professional associations, think tanks and the media.
- Awarded 1997 CRS Certificate of Merit, 1995 CRS East Africa Humanitarian Award, and 1992 Ordre National du Lion (awarded by the President of Senegal), as well as numerous certificates of appreciation by IFES.
Employment History
Independent Consultant August 2009 – present
Currently consulting for the Qatar Foundation International, IFES, PACT, the USCCB, the Bin Talal Foundation, and Democracy International. Recently taught a graduate course on African politics at the Washington DC campus of Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Serve as Co-Chair of the Society for International Development's Africa Working Group, and sit on the Board of Directors of the Safer Institute.
Vice President for External Relations August 2009 - May 2010
Bridging the Divide
Washington DC
Headed the Washington office of Bridging the Divide, a new NGO focused on promoting CSO empowerment in the Middle East and Africa, responsible for donor and Congressional relations, media outreach, networking with partner organizations etc. I maintain my relationship with BTD as a member of its Advisory Board.
Vice President for Communications & Compliance July 2008 – August 2009
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
Washington DC
An Executive level position reporting to the IFES President, with supervisory responsibility for both the Communications & Advocacy and Contracts & Grants divisions, comprising a staff of 20. Under my direction, my teams managed some $70 million dollars in donor funds, and interacted with the media on a daily basis. In addition, I oversaw IFES’ outreach efforts to the US government, specifically to Capitol Hill, the State Department, USAID, National Security Council etc.
African Regional Director Aug. 2004 – June 2008
(& previously the Middle East & the Americas)
IFES, Washington DC
Responsible for overseeing all IFES activity in Africa and the Middle East in the sectors of good governance, elections, civil society, rule of law and human rights. Supervised regional democracy and governance programs developed and managed by twelve-member HQ program staff. Negotiated program funding and project work plans with donors, host-country government officials, and national and international counterparts. Coordinated regional program expansion and staff recruitment and development. Provided creative and technical support to foundation-wide programs and regional department initiatives. Guided regional strategic planning process for program and staff development. Served as principal regional contact for IFES. Established and maintained relevant contacts with American and international government, non-government, and private sector officials. Developed and implemented IFES-wide initiatives to improve organizational performance and programmatic impact. Provided program updates and analysis to US government representatives, congressional staff, and international institutions.
For one year, supervised the Regional Directors for the Middle East and the Americas, the entire sub-Saharan Africa headquarters team, two London-based staff, and all Country Directors/COPs. Areas of concentration include team building, strategic planning, new program development, donor and partner relations, media contacts, and advocacy.
As a member of senior management, was also involved in various organization-wide initiatives, such as work climate improvement, budgeting, inter-divisional collaboration, links with Board members, etc. Job involved 25% travel to Africa, the Middle East, and periodically Europe and Latin America
Director of Humanitarian Assistance
International Relief and Development, Inc. Rosslyn, Va.
Dec. 2003 – July 2004
Lead person for IRD’s embryonic humanitarian division.
Senior Regional Representative Africa Representation Team, Catholic Relief Services/HQ
July 2002 – June 2003
Supervised a team of seven people who serve as the headquarters liaison for 26 Africa program offices; responsibilities include public resource acquisition (USAID Title II, etc.), advocacy on Capital Hill, media contacts, issues analysis, preparation of country and regional reports, operational support, internal coordination, as well as specific oversight of Southern Africa, in particular the current regional food security crisis.
Deputy Regional Director CRS West Africa Regional Office
Accra, GHANA Jan. 2001 – June 2002
Ensured high management quality in ten country offices in the areas of staffing, finance, administration, emergency response, security and staff safety, media relations, and information technology. Also served as principal deputy to Regional Director.
Country Representative
CRS/HAITI July 1998 – Jan. 2001
Directed an $11 million relief and development program implementing health, education, sanitation, agriculture, micro-credit, social assistance, monetization, and emergency response activities with local counterparts. CRS/Haiti had two principal offices employing over 250 staff, including ten expatriates, and several major USAID grants.
Senior Camp Manager
CRS/MACEDONIA May – July 1999
Managed Stankovic I, the largest Kosovar refugee camp in Macedonia. Oversaw the provision of daily services to 33,000 refugees, coordinated the activities of a dozen NGOs, liaised with UNHCR, WFP, USAID/OFDA, and supervised over 200 CRS staff. Hosted visits by President and Mrs. Clinton, Tony Blair, Madeline Albright, General Wesley Clark, et al. Dealt with dozens of international media outlets.
Other Employment
Country Representative, CRS/BENIN Feb. 1997 – June 1998
Country Representative, CRS/ZAIRE July 1996 – Jan. 1997
Kivu Coordinator, CRS/ZAIRE Oct. 1995 – June 1996
Country Representative, CRS/RWANDA April 1994 – Oct. 1995
Acting Country Representative, CRS/BURUNDI Feb. 1994 – April 1994
Desk Officer – Great Lakes Region, CRS/HQ Nov. 1993 – Jan. 1994
Country Representative, CRS/SENEGAL June 1991 – Oct. 1993
Desk Officer – West Africa, CRS/HQ July 1989 – June 1991
Asst. Country Representative, CRS/MOROCCO Feb. 1988 – June 1989
Asst. Country Representative, CRS/MAURITANIA Sept. 1986 – Jan. 1988
Program Assistant, CRS/BURUNDI April 1984 – Aug. 1986
Writer/Producer, Voice of America Jan. 1983 – April 1984
Passport Services employee, US State Dept. 1981 – 83
US Peace Corps Volunteer, GHANA 1978 – 80
Education
* B.A. in Literature, University of Maryland, 1978
* B.S. in Journalism, University of Maryland, 1978
* Peace Corps Training in Tropical Agriculture, New Mexico State U., 1978
*Aquaculture Training, University of Rwanda, 1984
* Workshops in Leadership training (CCL, Situational Leadership etc.), emergency mitigation and response, international humanitarian law, personnel management, finance and administration, grants management, staff safety & security, Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear/Explosive (CBRNE), etc.
* Currently Professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of International Relations. Have also guest lectured on international relief and development at Johns Hopkins SAIS, American U., George Washington U., and Georgetown U.
* Fluent French and English
Professional Affiliations
* Co-chair, Africa Working Group, Society for International Development-Washington DC
* ACE Electoral Knowledge Network
* International Humanitarian Studies Association
* Member of the Board, Safer Institute
References
Richard Soudriette, President Emeritus, IFES
Soudriette@aol.com
William F. Rastetter, Vice President, Catholic Relief Services
brastetter@catholicrelief.org
John Prendergast, Co-Chair, the ENOUGH Project
info@enoughproject.org
Lionel Rosenblatt, President Emeritus, Refugees International
lionelri@aol.com
Miscellaneous
Nationality – U.S.
Health -- excellent
Marital Status – single; one dependent child
Able to travel