PROFILE

I am a results-driven, professionally qualified humanitarian and development worker with 29 years of progressive experience in the Latin America and Caribbean region.  I am a mature leader who embraces challenging situations and bring on board innovative approaches based on emerging trends.  I have excellent diplomatic skills to manage relationships with Government, implementing partners, private sector and academia to generate results for children.

PROFESSIONAL

EMERGENCY SPECIALIST/MIGRANT RESPONSE COORDINATOR 

UNICEF EASTERN CARIBBEAN – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 

April 2020 – Present 

Coordinate UNICEF’s delivery of Core Commitments for Children (CCC) for children on the move in Trinidad and Tobago providing technical, managerial, planning and operational leadership to the R4V platform, implementing partners and Government counterparts, particularly in the education sector. 

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Planning, coordination and management of the Venezuelan Outflow Response.  Led internal planning and supported, inter-sectoral and inter-agency coordination.  Led sectoral (education) and cross-sectoral needs assessments that identified humanitarian programme delivery gaps.  Used personal and organizational networks to support the expansion of the technical capacity of stakeholders to generate and amplify results for children.  Coordinated Venezuela outflow evaluation and implementation of management response. 

Inter-Agency coordination and the intersectoral work. Provided leadership for the effective and efficient coordination of the delivery of early childhood and education services for children on the move and their families.   Conceptualized intersectoral gender-responsive/gender-transformative approaches in education, child protection, social protection, adolescent participation and risk communication.  Provided technical support and guidance to implementing partners in intersectoral programming aligned with UNICEF’s CCCs.

Humanitarian programme implementation.  Had oversight over roll out of HACT assurance activities for five implementing partners supporting the migrant response, including PSEA.  

Develop, monitor and report on project proposals for UNICEF’s humanitarian response.   Developed donor proposals for ECHO and Education Cannot Wait (ECW).  Coordinated and managed implementation, monitoring and reporting of contributions from ECHO, PRM and other humanitarian donors.  

Donor relationship management.    Organized virtual and field donor visits for ECHO (2021 and 2023) and PRM (2023).  

See: https://www.facebook.com/100064812753599/posts/pfbid02WdwQimHKuUmcpnzvKn9tEEZJT15jGkuqjpgd5qThL2PL5TPQon9Zix5JKUvionaQl/?mibextid=cr9u03 

https://x.com/echo_latam/status/1667149035889733632?s=46&t=d-mO1CsPCswEPD9Dx4B5JA 

Monitor, analyze and produce updated situation assessment.  Monitored the situation of children on the move and generated evidence to inform R4V platform programme targets, and other strategic decisions across sectors.  Led capacity building of implementing partners to strengthen monitoring frameworks and employ Kobo and powerBI tools.

Support development of innovative approaches.  Identified emerging trends in online learning to support children on the move access accredited education.  

EMERGENCY CONSULTANT

UNICEF EASTERN CARIBBEAN – ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

April 2018 – December 2019 

Coordinate UNICEF’s emergency and recovery response in Barbuda following Hurricane Irma.  Enhanced the education sectors efforts on disaster preparedness, particularly in mental health and psychosocial support.

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Positioned UNICEF and further developed existing relations with the government, UN agencies, INGO’s, NGO’s for the purpose of improving response and disaster preparedness in the education sector through advocacy and partnership.  Led the coordination of the Basic Services Working Group.  

Strategic, technical support and advice for the execution of the post-Irma response and recovery of the education sector in Antigua and Barbuda:  programme planning, implementation, evidence generation, monitoring and reporting. 

Technical assistance and capacity development to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) on inclusive and quality education as well as education in emergencies standards for preparedness and response.  Supported the development of technical capacity of the MoEST to provide an integrated psychosocial support (PSS) strategy for children and teachers affected by Hurricane Irma.  Supported the implementation of early childhood education initiatives.  

Monitored the situation of children and adolescents in Antigua and Barbuda.  Supported preparedness initiatives, as well as mental health and psychosocial support activities led by the Child Protection sector.

Elaborated donor proposals and managed donor relations.  Wrote proposals to mobilize funds for disaster preparedness and response, and child friendly schools.  Organized donor visit of US Natcom.  Supported development of media products for advocacy and awareness raising on forced migration.  See: https://www.unicef.org/reports/children-uprooted-caribbean-2019 

[DEPLOYMENT] EMERGENCY COORDINATOR 

UNICEF EASTERN CARIBBEAN – ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

October 2017 – March 2018        

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Supported strong inter-agency coordination at the planning and operational levels with national and local governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations (national and international) and UN agencies working in the emergency and recovery phase.  Provided technical assistance to key Government partners and other humanitarian actors to inform planning for resumption of education and other services in Barbuda.  Supported the development and implementation of programmatic interventions in line with the ECA Response Plan.

Provided input to inform ongoing supply planning and distribution liaising with Supply and Logistics Specialist based in Barbados.  Provided operational support to deployment of supplies during the response phase in Dominica, BVI and Anguilla.

Gathered data for the HPM, and elaborated progress reports for decision making and information purposes for UNICEF management, donors, partners and allies.

MONITORING AND PLANNING SPECIALIST

UNICEF PANAMA

April 2011 – October 2017     

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Country programme design and implementation.  Provided strategic leadership to develop and implement the UNICEF-Government of Panama 2012-2015 country programme with an emphasis in public policies.  Led the participatory process with Government, civil society, private sector and academic institutions to draft the 2016-2020 country programme document.

Change management of the 2012-2015 country programme.  Provided strategic leadership to consolidate the public policy approach (previous cycle was a project-based country programme) that is sustained to date.  Led and coordinated the Programme Group in the establishment of a public policy framework.  Managed administrative and statutory processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of results.   

Planning and monitoring.  Elaborated risk-informed planning and monitoring of the country programme implementation with partners and counterparts based on organizational priorities; country priorities; and in attention to bottlenecks for children, adolescent, and women´s rights fulfillment.

Capacity Development.  Supported building the internal capacity of UNICEF Panama, and that of partners and government counterparts for a sound public policy analysis that can close gender and ethnic/racial gaps.

Inter-Agency collaboration.  Established programmatic alliances with other UN Agencies to develop joint initiatives regarding adolescent rights and access to services with a public policy approach.  Leveraged on UNFPA’s programme delivery for adolescents to scale it into a costed national gender-responsive policy. 

Child Rights, Women’s Rights Monitoring and Evidence Generation.  Led with the National Statistical Institute the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS).  Generated evidence, and monitored the situation of children, adolescents and women following CRC and CEDAW recommendations.  Led UNICEF’s reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and provided support to alternative civil society reporting.  Oversaw the first Panama Country Office Gender Action Plan in 2013.  

SDG implementation framework.  Oversaw the design of a strategic framework that identifies the intersectionality of national priorities, child rights and the SDG agenda.  Also led and oversaw mapping of baseline indicators for the SDG agenda in Panama. 

Education Sector Outcomes in the 2012-2015 and 2016-2027 CPD.  Oversaw and provided quality assurance to the education sector outcomes of the UNICEF Panama country programme, including Early Childhood Development.

Disaster Preparedness and Response.  Acted as emergency focal point.  Supported the GoP in developing a sector-wide disaster risk reduction strategy.  Supported the country office in building its capacity for DRD, and humanitarian action.  Led country office efforts for preparedness and business continuity.  Built alliances with private sector to ensure there was consideration of child rights in disaster risk reduction/preparedness, and their needs in emergency situations.  See: https://integrarse.org/en/la-proteccion-y-seguridad-de-la-ninez-en-las-acciones-de-rse/ 

Partnerships with Private Sector.  Established partnership with SUMARSE (Panama´s Global Compact Network) to provide strategic support to private sector that wanted to implement the Business Principles for Children.  Provided technical input and support to the first study on Philanthropy and Corporate Giving in Panama.  

Fundraising and donor relations.  Elaborated donor proposals, donor reports, and organized high level donor visits with UNICEF National Committees.

EDUCATION SPECIALIST

UNICEF PANAMA

March 2015 – October 2017     

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Inter-sectoral Programming in Early Childhood.  With participation of a wide range of stakeholders, led the formulation of the National Early Education Plan.  Led the roll out of the Care for Child Development.  Supported the introduction of the Care for Child Development and child friendly policies like breast feeding as part of the HR policies for private sector through building an alliance with SUMARSE.  See: https://integrarse.org/en/sumarse-y-unicef-panama-celebran-foro-sobre-lactancia-materna/ 

Programming for the most vulnerable.  Led evidence generation on the situation of OOSC in the Colon and San Miguelito District.  Led efforts to build the capacity of government actors at national and local level to programme for OOSC.  Designed model intervention in San Miguelito District.  Supported the National Intercultural Bilingual Education Programme in the development of a roadmap for the implementation of EIB (Intercultural Bilingual Education).

OFFICER IN CHARGE

UNICEF PANAMA

April - August 2016     

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Representational Role.  Represented UNICEF with Government counterparts and partners in the development, implementation, and monitoring of annual workplans.  Represented UNICEF in the United Nations Country Team for Panama.

Partnerships.  Widened UNICEF´s engagement with private sector to position children and adolescent rights, and raised awareness based on evidence regarding the importance of policy frameworks, particularly in middle income countries.

Managing for Results.  Led the UNICEF Panama Office in closing all audit recommendations.

OFFICER IN CHARGE

UNICEF PANAMA

September 2013 – June 2014

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Representational Role.  Represented UNICEF with Government counterparts and partners in the development, implementation, and monitoring of annual workplans.  Represented UNICEF in the United Nations Country Team for Panama.  Led the joint Government of Panama-UNFPA-UNICEF mid-term review.

Advocacy and Social mobilization.  Led the UNICEF Panama office in establishing alliances to position children´s and adolescents rights in the country´s political agenda (MICS country).  Developed the communication and mobilization strategy to position children and adolescent rights in the country´s political agenda in the 2014 general elections.  Mobilized all presidential candidates to sign the Pacto por la Niñez.   See: https://www.critica.com.pa/politica/arias-reafirma-compromiso-con-la-ninez-y-adolescencia-panamena-322585  and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EXYyNRbW7Q 

MULTICOUNTRY INITIATIVES FOR INDIGENOUS AND CHILDREN OF AFRICAN DESCENT PROGRAMME OFFICER 

UNICEF REGIONAL OFFICE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

January 2004 – April 2011

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Advocacy and Social mobilization.  Developed alliances with civil society organizations, indigenous and Afrodescendent leaders, academia, and other UN Agencies in the context of UN Reform.  Coordinated high-level side-events and special sessions to advocate, promote exchange of experiences with governments, and consultations with other UN Agencies.    

Child Rights, Women’s Rights Monitoring and Evidence Generation.  Coordinated the regional study that monitored MDGs looking at indigenous and Afrodescendent peoples in the Latin America and Caribbean region.  Provided technical support to the inclusion of ethnicity and race in censuses throughout the region.  See: https://www.cepal.org/es/publicaciones/1446-contar-todos-caja-herramientas-la-inclusion-pueblos-indigenas-afrodescendientes 

Fundraising and donor relations.  Developed donor proposals for the Regional Programme for the rights of indigenous and children of African descent.  

Technical assistance.  Provided technical assistance to country offices and kept linkages with HQ to support the development of national, regional and global initiatives.  

Programme monitoring and implementation.  Monitored the programme budget implementation for resources mobilized for the regional programme for indigenous and Afrodescendent children´s rights.  Particular consideration was given the contribution of the Kingdom of Spain for the Regional Programme for the rights of indigenous and children of African descent.    

CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAMME OFFICER 

UNICEF REGIONAL OFFICE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

June 2002 – December 2003

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Partnership, Communication and Social mobilization.  Expanded UNICEF´s partnership with the Latin American Council of the Catholic Church on issues related to birth registration, OVC, and migrant children and adolescents.  Supported the design of programmes in partnership with religious leaders.  Elaborated culturally relevant communication material.  Prepared reports related to programme communication related to integral protection of children.

Evidence generation.  Facilitated the development of research and studies for the social mobilization of partners and allies around child protection issues such as birth registration, child soldiers, and OVC, etc.

Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response.  Provided regional and country office support to humanitarian situations in collaboration with the TACRO Emergency team.

Partnerships. Supported the development and strengthening of strategic alliances with governments, inter-governmental bodies, civil society and academic institutions.   

PROFESSOR

UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA SANTA MARIA LA ANTIGUA/SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

April 1998 – July 2003 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lecturer on Social Psychology, Community Psychology, and Social Issues.  

Supported the coordination of the University’s social service for Psychology students.

Coordinated the professional practice of students in their third year of Psychology.  

Conducted research on areas related to applied social psychology, community psychology, particularly related to vulnerable groups.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CATHOLIC COMMISION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

April 2002 – June 2002 

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Strategic Planning.  Led the institutional strengthening of the organization through a strategic planning exercise and the implementation of change management.

Managing for Results.  Coordinated the administrative processes in the office.  

Advocacy and Representation.  Spokeperson on issues related to human rights violations, and other issues of national interest.   

Fundraising.  Elaborated programme proposals and plans for the Commission.

SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY PROJECT MANAGER

ROOTS INTL., S. A.

March 1999 – March 2002   

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Researcher for community initiatives.  Conducted research in the areas of prevention, and designed Community interventions.  Developed research protocols. Trained personnel in evaluation protocols for process evaluations, audits and assessments.  Developed innovative methodologies to work with the community.  Supervised all programmes and projects developed by the firm.  

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

WOMEN´S CENTER -DEPAUL UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, IL 

August 1997- December1997     

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Programme Development and implementation for women who were personnel, faculty, administrative and students at DePaul University, particularly affirmative action programmes for women of ethnic or racial minorities.  Supervised all activities and programmes carried by the Women´s Center.  

Evidence generation. Conducted situation analysis of the situation of women in the university.  

COORDINATOR/CO-INVESTIGATOR OF THE CHICAGO HEALTHY START INITIATIVE

CHICAGO HEALTHY START PROGRAMME CHICAGO, IL

Sept 1995-Jun 1997    

ACHIEVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Research Assistant.  Developed evaluation protocols for the impact evaluation for both communities participating.  Trained the personnel that conducted the field work (surveys and focus groups).  Prepared reports for the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Grant management.  Administered funds granted by the Illinois Department of Public Health to conduct the evaluation of the Chicago Healthy Start Initiative.

EDUCATION

2020 – PRESENT

PHD. IN INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Chicago, Illinois

2020 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE 

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY 

Chicago, Illinois

1995

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY 

Chicago, Illinois

SKILLS & INTERESTS

Fluent in Spanish and English • Basic French and Portuguese • Use of SPSS and other data research tools • Strategic • Action for system´s building • Master collaborative tools for online engagement • Partnership oriented •