Hanane Zelouani Idrissi

 Launched and managed the design and work plan of a program funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) at the U.S. State Department. This cooperative agreement grant aims to 1/ build and engage a network of over 1200 youth community leaders including national leaders, ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors, professional experts, and CEOs across the MENA region and 2/ support them to develop their professional and leadership skills for an effective community engagement that contributes to prosperity and stability.  Lead engagement and liaison with MEPI, posts in the MENA region, and other partners; including like-minded organizations, private sector, local governments, local NGOs, and influential community leaders.  Manage drafting and editing of complex documents, including reports to donor and to IREX, engagement plans, manuals, guidelines, briefs, translations, and resources for alumni.  Provide strategic and administrative support for program activities including managing beneficiaries’ database; rounds for grants for leadership and innovative community solutions; large-scale conferences; needs assessment and bi-annual surveys; mentorship; day of community service; recognition award; and online and in-person capacity building engagements (regional trainings, panel discussions, presentations, one-on one consultations).  Drive the process of multiple rounds of grants (calls for applications, proposals eligibility, review committee, risk assessments, funding recommendations, negotiations with donor and applicants, payment process, monitoring, evaluation, and closeout.  Oversee program monitoring and evaluation plan including data collection, analysis, visualization, and success stories.  Travel to the MENA region to implement, monitor, and evaluate program activities.  Manage and monitor the award budget (projections vs actuals, domestic and foreign expenditures, and procurement to ensure compliance with institutional and funder’s regulations and procedures.  Lead program contribution to IREX strategic planning process and performance indicators.  Champion high-level support to manage and coach staff team in Washington, DC and field offices in Tunisia and Jordan, including recruitment; on-boarding and training; assigning responsibilities; delegating work; providing feedback; conducting performance reviews; providing professional development opportunities.  Negotiate/manage contracts and consulting agreements with program service providers.

 Lead program work plan and annual coordination of the engagement activities to translate program objectives and ensure timely implementation. This global USAID funded program (a cooperative agreement) aims: 1/to protect civic space by training and equipping civil society activists in closed countries with digital security skills and resources and 2/ to support advocacy for internet governance.  Serve as a primary interface with senior management, donor, missions, chief of party, and other partners.  Coordinate with/and support chief of party and the field teams (in South Africa, Ukraine, Indonesia, Germany, Cambodia, …) in establishing programmatic targets, collecting and maintaining program monitoring records, and preparing reports.  Manage program budget and projections while working closely with headquarter finance office and field grants.  Monitor the grant making and management cycle: to ensure that requests for applications are strategically designed to reflect programmatic goal, to review sub-recipient grant packages for quality control, to review the grant tracker for timely payment disbursements and reporting, to ensure the cost share requirement is met (if applicable) and allocated appropriately, and to ensure timely closeout of grants in compliance with institutional and donor regulations.  Coordinate with field teams and M&E Officer for program data collection and analysis to inform program quarterly reports and learning and communicate impact to donor and stakeholders.  Lead program contribution in Counterpart strategic programmatic and financial planning process as well as performance indicators.  Contribute to business development opportunities, including research, success capture, and proposal review.  Co-lead hiring and on-boarding program new team members.

 Manage the grant making process of portfolios of over 300 cutting-edge of discretionary grants led by mission-driven NGOs and activists to respond to priority needs in the region in support of civil society role in peaceful democratic transition and process. The portfolio also comprised core institutes, including the International Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute, Solidarity Center, and the Center for International Private Enterprise.  Make funding recommendations for NED’s board of directors’ meetings: review and prepare proposals and board summaries (projects’ descriptions, budgets, evaluation plans, and assessments).  Take the lead on coordinating grants management: 1)with Grants and Audits Departments to ensure that grantees fulfill USG regulations and procurement compliance; 2)participation in thematic working groups at NED aimed at documenting best practices and improving the grant-making process.  Prepare timely reports for US State Department Special Funds  Manage portfolio budgetary projections for input to the institutional annual planning process.  Develop relationships with like-minded donors, implementers, civil society representatives, political, and civic leaders.  Monitor and evaluate approved grants: review and analysis of financial and narrative reports, review of grantees publications and products, cross-check references, and provide/discuss solutions to challenges facing grantees:  Conduct field visits to the region to meet grantees, identify new funding opportunities for program development. The visits include meetings with NED grantees, meetings with core institutes, potential civil society partners, other donors active in the country, government representatives, and political analysts and opinion-makers.  Perform capacity building trainings for grantees on NGOs management and governance, proposal writing, and grants management.  Supervise field consultants in Iraq and other countries and provide support to coach program assistant and interns in Washington, DC.

 Lead the MENA program development and prepare country strategies to benefit women leaders and activists in the MENA region.  Lead program management, monitoring, and evaluation according to grants agreements and reporting requirements (related to US State Department and other donors, including corporations and foundations).  Design and draft proposals/concept papers addressing women’s civic and political participation in the MENA region.  Lead liaison and maintain contacts with women leaders and other key players in the MENA region.  Conduct field visits to the region to monitor and evaluate partners’ projects and to identify opportunities for program development.  Seek funding opportunities and cultivate relations with donors.  Represent Vital Voices’ MENA program in meetings, conferences, and public forums.

 Manage UAF’s projects funded by local and international donors. These projects aimed at providing and advocating assistance and protection for women victims of violence.  Provided crisis support to women victims of violence including referral resources specifically: safety tips, counseling, legal and court assistance, emergency shelter, support groups, medical, couple mediations, etc.  Support cases management: maintained records of cases of women victims of violence, data collection through screening questionnaires, support the preparation of the annual report on cases of violence against women that is shared with the public, government, and the media.  Manage UAF’s Annual Civic Awareness Tent Event in Casablanca coinciding with the United Nations 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.  Contribute to organizing advocacy and civic education campaigns, consultation meetings, capacity-building workshops, panels, and research for the reform of the Family Law in Morocco that culminated with the Parliament passing the law. This land mark law has been considered as a reference in the MENA region and the Muslim World.  Lead proposal writing process: concept development, proposal narrative, and budgets.  Prepare narrative and financial reports related to funded programs and projects.  Coordinate with projects’ teams, including volunteers and coordinate with other UAF’s chapters in Morocco.  Conduct research and provide information and resources related to the status of women in Morocco and the MENA region relevant to UAF’s projects.  Represent UAF at local, national, and regional events and ensure coordination and follow-up.  Build and consolidate relations with current and potential donors, local government, other NGOS, and partners.