Country Director
International Youth Foundation (IYF)
Total years of experience :16 years, 3 Months
Jordan
•Specialized in the design and implementation of Youth development & employability programs in Jordan tailored to the specific characteristics of the targeted group. This covers proposal writing, assessment of needs, partnerships creation, and identification of main interventions, planning implementation and following up achievement of targeted objectives. Programs include: school to work transition models, Apprenticeship, youth technical / vocational training and job matching programs, life skills training, career counselling, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, creation of youth friendly services, parent’s engagement, youth workers’ capacity building and community outreach.
•Supervising around 12-15 full-time employees and over 500 part-time field supervisors and outreach workers to carry out the work under the IOWP project.
•Manage the relationships with existing national and international partners and contributing to other donor discussions and relationship development efforts as needed. Existing partners include among others: The International Labor organization (ILO), the world bank, Ministry of planning and International cooperation MOPIC, Ministry of Labor, ETVET council, ETVET fund, Vocational Training Corporation, National Center for Human Resource Development (NCHRD), Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (CAQA)), and Ministry of Social development. In addition to a wide base of community based organizations in the different governorates.
•lead the design and implementation of $ 4.84 million poverty alleviation project in partnership with World Bank and MOPIC (Integrated Outreach Workers Program) in Zarqa, Amman, Irbid and Ma'an aiming at building case management studies to 22, 400 poor households in Jordan, and referring them to supporting services including employability, starts up projects support, national monetary aid, health insurance and disability services through 11 national entities and building database on youth profiling and services utilization.
•lead the design and implementation of a $273 K Apprenticeship Program in Irbid, Zarqa, Amman, Tafileh and Maan Funded by ILO aiming at providing labor market research data, Development of taring curricula using DACUM methodology, providing life skills training (PTS), sectoral technical training in addition to on-job training with craftsman
•Lead the implementation of a School to Work Career Counseling program ($263K) in 5 universities funded by World bank and managed by ETVET covering outreach to 10000 university students, providing one to one and group counseling sessions, labor market assessment and counselors training using the IYF model “My Career My Future)
•Life skills training “Passport to Success” with different clients
Strategic planning and M&E expert for the National RH / FP Strategy
Worked with Abt Associate (JCAP) on the development of the M&E situational analysis for the National Reproductive Health/ Family Planning Strategy (2013-2018), this included analyzing the gaps in the basic information foundation and developing recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the strategy’s M&E approaches. Also included training and coaching to build the capacities of the strategy’s partners.
Hay Group (2015)
Associate Performance Management Trainer-
Conducted 7 training workshops for the Saudi Electricity Company staff in Dammam on performance Management System
AGADIR Agreement-Transportation Expert
with a team of consultants from AGADIR countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan) on a study to reduce transportation costs among AGADIR countries and with the EU and to study the feasibility of developing fixed sea shipping line to serve this purpose. Compiled all the inputs and analysis into the study Final report.
Monitoring and evaluation
Participated in the Coordination of laws and legislation related to foreign trade in AGADIR Agreement countries:
•Identified and reviewed existing regulations and laws relating to the foreign trade in each AGADIR individual member state and provided an initial screening of all categories of laws. This included conducting field visit to AGADIR member states to meet and collect data from the related entities contributing to foreign trade activities in each country.
•Analyzed the different laws related to foreign trade in each individual member state and compared it with the other countries while referring to EU best practices in the different areas.
•Provided conclusions and recommendations to better coordinate legislations of AGADIR members counties to achieve higher economic `integration between countries and boost their exports to the EU utilizing accumulation of origin rule
Overseeing and Managing the work, staff and consultants of the policy reform component with related ministries and other public institutions.
•Leading the design, planning and management of evidence-based policy interventions to support at risk youth development in Jordan based on the analysis and research of available M&E data. Policies developed were mainly aiming at: Guaranteeing the sustainable implementation of employability models being adopted by public sector partners, establishment of certification and professional development structures to professionalize youth worker field and Support reducing working conditions barriers that would affect the job retention and job acceptance rates among youth. Main achievements included:
•worked with the Vocational Training Corporation Director on the Integration of quality life skills (Passport to Success Program) and career guidance programs into the Jordan’s national vocational educations systems including the PTS licensing of VTS, establishment of the change unit responsible for the sustainable implementation of the programs, development of PTS trainers job descriptions
•Managed a Study to identify local transportation challenges in number of Y4F targeted communities including Zarqa, Mafraq, Russeifeh, Sahab, East Amman and Jordan Valley and the Development of possible solutions to overcome transportation challenges contributing to the low job retention rates and refusal of jobs among youth. This covered conducting several consultation and advocacy meetings with related stakeholders, the development of the technical framework for short term transportation solutions and, review of the main policies supporting the implementation of those recommended solutions
•Worked on the design and implementation of Employability One -stop Shop model in three MOL employability directorates. This covered the development of work flow, standard operating procedures, main indicators, organizational structure and roles and responsibilities
•Enhancing women’s participation in the labor market through the activation of article (72) of labor law and the formal issuance of new instructions for licensing of daycare facilities in the workplace approved by MOL and MOSD. This included: Conducting a study covering the technical and legal aspects and requirements of the activation by identifying a model for a daycare facility in the workplace and proposing alternative regulatory frameworks to support its implementation. The formulation of a technical committee to follow up on the study’s progress The formulation of a technical committee to follow up on the study’s progress and decide on next steps with related stakeholders including the following members: MOL-SG, MOL women directorate, SADAQA and ILO.
•Conducting a one-day National Consultation Workshop led by MOL Secretary General to create the awareness of the study and get national consensus and buy in from all the related stakeholders on models and solutions recommended
•Introducing professional standards for youth workers to enhance the quality of persons dealing with youth and to guarantee that they possess the minimum competencies that enable them to deal with this sensitive age group. This included: the signing of an MOU with Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (under the ETVET council) to proceed with the accreditation process for the Youth Workers Training Program and introduce the national standards for this program to become the base for certification of youth workers and training providers. In addition to the formulation of a steering committee that would lead the accreditation process for the training Program. She worked with the International Labor Organization (ILO) on the pilot implementation of Non-Formal Apprenticeship program and Occupational Health and Safety Standards (OSH) for the Automotive Repair Sector.
•Managing the preparation of a Policy action plan for Ministry of labor to adopt and implement an Employer Ambassador Award to recognize a model employer who exemplifies the qualities of a youth-friendly work environment and fully complies with the Labor Law.
•Prepared suggestions to amend the Youth centers regulatory frame work to reflect the improvement to the services offered by Ministry of Youth centers and amend the articles to improve the quality of services for youth and for these centers to meet the minimum YFS standards.
Worked as The Government Innovation Advisor on the area of building Result Oriented Government (ROG) with public sector organizations through the design and management of an Innovation Award Program to improve the quality and innovativeness of strategic planning among and between ministries. Her responsibilities included the development of the eligibility conditions, criteria, assessment process and related training and communication.
silver sponsorship, informative and networking sessions, Jordanian Booth, Presentation opportunity, publicity conference publication website and main magazine).
•Processed and presented a mini grant to PHA to implement Promotional Campaign to promote Jordanian Private Hospitals Medical services in Yemen
•Participated in the overall SABEQ work planning activities
•Acted as the focal point internally and externally responsible for leading and monitoring the implementation of the different activities and programs with the different components of SABEQ and with the related external stakeholders of the sector
•In coordination with the related component managed and follow up on all outreach activities related to public-private dialogue events, focus groups, training, and press releases.
Euro-Jordanian action for the development of enterprise (EJADA)
European-five years Economic Growth Aid Program
Sector Lead/
International training on market trends and strategies, Jordanian pavilion, site visits, Presentation opportunity., publicity in conference publication and website)
•Planned and Managed in coordination with Private Hospitals Association (PHA) a delegation of private hospitals to participate
Task Force
Conducted more than 30 diagnostic visits to eligible enterprises interested to benefit from JUSBP services in Manufacturing, IT and Services sectors and submit an initial client’s needs assessment report.
•Monitored contract execution, provision of services and executed quality control of output for 8 clients to be ISO certified, 3 clients to develop their Business plans, 7 clients to get and complete specialized training services in addition to the delivery of 5 different Marketing services.
•Managed and coordinated the participation of 6 Jordanian IT companies in GITEX 2002 in which they managed to sign number of export contracts.
•Prepared TORs for Voluntary and geekcorp’s experts for three clients and facilitated all phases of services.
•Prepared work plans & a scope of work for the different projects assigned with detailed estimation for projects budgets and other needed resources.
•Assisted in the evaluation and selection of potential service providers’ awardees.
•Prepared Agreements and contracts (complying with USAID terms) with JUSBP’s clients and service providers and approve reimbursement payments for them.
•Prepared quarterly report about my portfolio of clients including achievements, statistics, financial Commitments, results and next quarter objectives.
•Member of the FTA team working on Jordan Fast Track Trade Activity designed to accelerate export trade transactions between Jordan and USA through direct advice to potential enterprises. Received intensive training on US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) HS coding and rules origins
Small Medium Enterprises Department (SMEs)
Industrial- Development Directorate (IDD
of SMEs and Subcontracting Department- Ministry of Industry and Trade- Jordan
•Participated in the business planning phase for the Jordanian Upgrading and Modernization Program (JUMP) in cooperation with team of local and international consultants.
•Participated in the development of the vision, mission strategies and action plan for the SMEs section within the Ministry.
•Coordinated and followed up the efforts of donor agencies in the field of industrial capacity building and Provided SMEs with guidance for international programs offering technical and financial assistance.
•Participated in the MIT different initiatives on industrial policy formulation, trade and investment development
•Coordinated as a counterpart for the Jordan -US business partnership (JUSBP) team the execution of the development projects at the Ministry (ISO 9000 Certification, redesign of office space at IDD, one stop service center at MIT).
•Coordinated and followed up the implementation activities for the first phase of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Integrated Program for enhancing food Industry in Jordan.
•Coordinated and followed up fund raising and implementation activities for the second phase of the UNIDO Integrated Program.
•Coordinated & communicated with other Governmental organizations to solve problems facing the enterprises and to restore conflicts of overlapping roles of governmental institutions.
•Prepared proposals of assistance needed for the full activation of the Subcontracting unit.
Advocacy & Policy Reform
She was leading the Enabling environment and Policy reform work at the International Youth Foundation, responsible for the design and planning of evidence-based policy and procedural reform interventions to support workforce and employability of youth in Jordan. Worked with several Public sector partners including Ministry of Labor, ETVET council, ETVET fund, Vocational Training Corporation, National Center for Human Resource Development (NCHRD), and Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (CAQA). Main areas addressed through her work included: responding to the National Employment Strategy initiatives mainly on enhancing women participation in the workforce (the activation of Article 72 of the labor law related to the establishment of day care facilities in the workplace and simplifying the daycare licensing process for employers through development of new instructions), Enhancing employment retention by addressing Transportation challenges &working conditions and policies to support the adoption and sustainability of employability models for vulnerable groups by the related public sector partners including the Integration of quality life skills training programs (Passport to Success - PTS) and career counseling model into Jordan’s national vocational educational system. Her work also covered building the capacity of public sector institutions to be able to respond to these changes such as the establishment of a change unit in the VTC and changing their internal procedures. Also worked on the design and implementation of Employability One -stop Shop model in three MOL employability directorates. Worked on the design of a national employment system (FURASS) to ensure availability of labor market information and was involved in the design of a sectoral based employability approach to ensure better match of labor market supply and demand. Also worked with the Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance to proceed with the accreditation process for the Passport to success and Youth Workers Training Programs which covered introducing the national standards for this program to become the base for certification of youth workers and training providers, in addition to the formulation of a steering committees that would lead the accreditation process for the training programs. In support of improving working conditions, she also worked with the International Labor Organization (ILO) on the pilot implementation of Non-Formal Apprenticeship program and Occupational Health and Safety Standards (OSH) for the Automotive Repair Sector. She was also involved in the design of Employer Ambassador Award to recognize a model employer who exemplifies the qualities of a youth-friendly work environment and fully complies with the Labor Law.
Head of Small Scale Enterprises Component
•Managed the work of the small scale enterprise component of the NLP and Intensively monitored the achievement of the pilot Program's targets
•Identifying supply needs of big companies in Jordan and Identify potential local suppliers
•Capacity Assessment of potential supply companies: Carried out, with other professionals, audits of selected potential supply companies. Based on audits, shortlisted potential suppliers for development and suggested participation of small scale enterprises in training
•Worked with purchasing company technical staff to review capabilities, targeting companies for development
•Assisted suppliers in drawing up development plans aiming at becoming accredited suppliers and in gaining access to finance, technology and training
•Worked on organizing training and networking events for the small scale enterprise
(