Experience

The Bassiouni Group

• United States
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

  • 2008 - Present

  Strategic and overall leadership of The Bassiouni Group. The firm helps global organizations to solve complex strategic issues, manage global challenges, seize opportunities and develop sustainable solutions. Led by cross-functional specialists from the Corporate, Political, Diplomatic and International Development sectors, The Bassiouni Group operates through five practice groups – Business Strategy & Development, Integrated Marketing, Crisis Management & Conflict Resolution and Social Responsibility & Sustainable Development. The Bassiouni Group’s client base/client experience includes leading international development agencies, governments, global corporations and SMBs businesses across multiple sectors. Show less



UNICEF

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Principal Officer and Chief Humanitarian Policy Section

  • Jul 2008 - Feb 2010

  •Led and managed the Humanitarian Policy Section of EMOPS, introducing several new policy initiatives and greater collaboration between the Office and the Division of Policy and Practices.•Led the successful review of UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children (CCCs) now released and launched for application in the field.•As Chairman/Member of CEB/Steering Committee Operational Group on the Strengthening of the UN Security Management System (UNSMS) that developed major concrete recommendations for the Safety and Security of UN staff.•Coordinated the IASC-initiated collaboration between the UN and NGO Humanitarian organizations in the area of security based on the Principles of Saving Lives Together (SLT). Show less

• Representative for Bangladesh

  • May 2008 - Jul 2008

  •Established, managed and maintained an efficient and effective office structure and staffing to support the Country Programme of Cooperation.•Spearheaded the planning and organization of UNICEF’s response to emergencies and humanitarian action in close collaboration with OCHA and the other UN agencies. •Collaborated in a substantive way with the other UN partners in the RC system to ensure that the CCA/UNDAF process is undertaken efficiently and effectively and joint programming in Cox’s Bazaar received substantive inter-agency-support and gave the attainment of the MDGs a high priority. Show less



UNDP

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consultant on Humanitarian/Emergency and Early Recovery

  • Jan 2007 - Apr 2008

  Undertook consultancy for UNDP’s Bureau of Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction (BCPR) that: •Developed a Programming Framework for Local Level Early Recovery (LLER). •Developed and designed a Post-Conflict Early Recovery Rapid Needs Assessment tool. Undertook consultancy for UNDP’s Bureau of Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction (BCPR) that: •Developed a Programming Framework for Local Level Early Recovery (LLER). •Developed and designed a Post-Conflict Early Recovery Rapid Needs Assessment tool.



United Nations

• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Technical Coordinator UN-World Bank Somali Joint Needs Assessment (JNA)

  • Jul 2005 - Oct 2006

  •Co-coordinated and co-managed the Somali JNA with the World Bank •Completed the JNA Synthesis Report-“The Somali Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)” and three Regional Reports. •Co-coordinated and co-managed the Somali JNA with the World Bank •Completed the JNA Synthesis Report-“The Somali Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)” and three Regional Reports.



UNICEF

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Director/Rapporteur

  • Feb 2005 - Jul 2005

  •Served as Rapporteur to the Humanitarian Response Review (HRR) commissioned by the Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) for which he appointed a team of four independent consultants that undertake the Review. The Review:Assessed the global humanitarian response capacity of the UN, NGOs, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and other key humanitarian actors including the International Organization for Migration, and determined the gaps in these capacities. •Recommended concrete actions including the introduction of the Humanitarian Cluster System for addressing the gaps to create a cohesive and well-coordinated global humanitarian response system capable of responding effectively and speedily to the needs of affected populations in emergencies/disasters. Show less

• Representative for Egypt

  • Sep 2004 - Jan 2005

  •Established and maintained the highest level of contacts and commitments with Egypt's national and local decision-makers including the Head of State to establish children and women as the highest priority constituents in the country's agenda and its national development.•Secured greater commitment from Government of Egypt (GOE) to make Egypt Polio-free by 2005, including the agreement to re-establish and reactivate the moribund Supreme Council for Polio Eradication. •Collaborated in a substantive way with the other UN partners in the RC system to ensure that the CCA/UNDAF process is undertaken efficiently and effectively and joint programming and the attainment of the MDGs are given high priority. Left on appointment as Rapporteur to the Humanitarian Response Review (HRR). Show less

• Special Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory

  • Apr 2003 - Aug 2004

  •Establish and maintain the highest level of contacts with OPT's national and local decision-makers including the President of then Palestinian Authority (PA) to establish children and women as the highest priority constituents in the Territory’s agenda and its national development; established a dynamic working relationship with the host Government of Israel that facilitated movement of personnel and extension of services in the territory. •Strengthened the management of the OPT Country Office by quadrupling the annual budget from about USD$4m to $18m;by increasing the staff strength from 32 to 72 and by introducing many processes and procedures to guarantee an efficient and effective office to support programmes for Palestinian children and women. •Created a strong infrastructure for effective programme delivery by establishing six zonal offices (Gaza, Rafah, Tulkarem, Nablus, Jenin and Hebron) throughout the OPT. •Established a strong working relationship between the President, the Palestinian Authority and its government, the Palestinian Legislative Council and Civil Society to ensure greater commitment and support for UNICEF-assisted programmes. •Established a strong outreach programme with the local institutions through links with government ministries, the Knesset, the Israel Defense Force (IDF), Civil Society and the UNICEF National Committee to ensure free and easy access to Palestinians in need, especially children and women. Show less



UNICEF Ethiopia

• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Representative for Ethiopia

  • Jan 2003 - Mar 2003

  •Established and maintained the highest level of contacts with Ethiopia’s national and local decision-makers including the Head of State to establish children and women as the highest priority constituents in the country's agenda and its national development. •In the “Out-of-Addis Drive” succeeded to mobilize staff to spend for the first time, at least 40% time in the field implementing and monitoring programmes for children and women especially in the drought affected areas, winning UNICEF appreciation and respect especially from donors. •Established five sub-offices strategically located in the regions to facilitate the effective delivery of programmes on the ground for all populations in need. The “Out of Addis Drive” coupled with the functional zonal offices gave UNICEF the ability to establish a strong field presence resulting in a viable outreach programme reaching a larger number of children and women especially in the drought affected area with critical services reducing mortality. •Collaborated in a substantive way with the other UN partners in the RC system to ensure that the CCA/UNDAF process is undertaken efficiently and effectively and joint programming and the attainment of the MDGs are given high priority. Show less



UNICEF Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS)

• Geneva Area, Switzerland

• Deputy Director

  • Jan 2001 - Dec 2002

  •Provided leadership and managed and UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) from Geneva to support country offices in crisis. •Oversaw the strengthening of collaborative partnership with U.N. Agencies, donors, and NGOs within the IASC context. •Oversaw the contingency planning for all UNICEF countries as part of the organization’s preparedness for emergency. •Oversaw the effective management of the Stand-by Arrangements with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Netherlands whereby staff are annually provided gratis within 72 hours to deploy in the field to support UNICEF programmes in emergency countries. •Guided UNICEF’s active participation in the IASC process through the work of the IASC Sub-Working Group and its subsidiary bodies including the reference groups, the sub-working groups and task forces on the various thematic policy and operational issues. •Oversaw the preparation, publication and launching of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action Report 2002 which mobilized significant resources for the organization and has since then become UNICEF’s flagship publication in humanitarian action. Show less



UNICEF

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Representative for Sri Lanka

  • May 2002 - Jul 2002

  •Served as UNICEF Representative for Sri Lanka and Maldives: reorganized the office structure and functions into an effective machinery to support programmes; reviewed and streamlined the country programme to give a stronger emergency thrust focusing on the Tamil Tiger held areas; initiated a programme targeting the release, rehabilitation and reintegration of Child Soldiers. Coordinated and organized effective working relationship and consultation among the sixteen (OCHA, WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNOHCR, World Bank, ICRC, IFRC, INTERATION, ICVA, SCHR, RSF-IDPs) IASC members resulting in significant inter-agency collaboration and achievements in synchronized response to global humanitarian crises in several countries including Somalia, DRC, Sierra Leone, DPRK, Burundi, Sudan, FRY, Kosovo, etc., high-level advocacy e.g. pressure exerted by the IASC members with the support of the Secretary-General to compel the Burundi government to reverse its unpopular policy of forced displacement (Regroupment), and the development of major humanitarian policies including on coordination, internally displaced persons (IDPs), protection of civilians caught in armed conflict, human rights and humanitarian actions, small arms, sanctions, HIV/AIDS and the gap in post-conflict re- integration. Show less



Complex Emergency Response Branch (CERB) in OCHA

• Geneva, Switzerland

• Chief

  • Jul 2000 - Jan 2001

  •Led the review of the management and operations of the OCHA Angola office, resulting in substantive restructuring and streamlining of its coordinating activities and programmes. •Led and chaired the West Africa Sub-Region (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Conakry and Cotes d’Ivoire) Inter-Agency Consultation on strategies for contingency planning and preparation of the CAP in Accra, Ghana in October, 2000 leading to the development of the sub-regional contingency plan and the 2001 CAP for the sub-region. •Organized for the first time, the Annual consultations of Humanitarian Coordinators on major humanitarian issues for two successive years in Geneva and New York. Show less



Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

• New York City, New York

• Coordinator

  • Jun 1998 - Dec 2000

  •Coordinated the work of the IASC, the world’s highest policy-making body in the humanitarian field in coordinating response to emergencies, and disasters through policy development and advocacy. •Coordinated the work of the United Nations Secretary General’s Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (ECHA), the highest humanitarian decision-making body in the U.N. system through the development of crucial U.N. positions on interventions/withdrawals into/from crises and the development of U.N. positions vis-à-vis the coordination of humanitarian assistance as well as U.N.-specific humanitarian policies. Show less



Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB), Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)

• Geneva, Switzerland

• Chief

  • Jan 1997 - Jan 1998

  •Served as Chief, Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) on promotion and secondment from UNICEF to the U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs, in Geneva, Switzerland and was also appointed as the Coordinator, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). •Managed the Inter-Agency Support Branch (IASB) to provide effective programmatic and administrative support as well as policy guidance for the coordination of Humanitarian Assistance globally at the field level. •Managed and oversaw the preparation and launchings of the U.N. Consolidated Appeals Process (CAPs) totaling over $1.6b in support of humanitarian assistance in emergency countries globally. Promoted the introduction of major developments in the CAP, including guidelines for the field and promoting the CAP as programming and priority setting tool. And undertook effective consultation and interaction with donors and partners for resource mobilization against the CAP. Show less



UNICEF

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Policy Advisor

  • Jan 1993 - Jun 1997

  •Coordinated and managed the development of UNICEF’s policies in the humanitarian sphere. •Served as the Focal Point in UNICEF for all development of policies in the context of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) as well as preparations for the Committee’s periodic meetings. •Initiated the development of several major UNICEF humanitarian policies including on IDPs, sanctions, land mines and Unaccompanied Children. •Coordinated and managed the development of UNICEF’s policies in the humanitarian sphere. •Served as the Focal Point in UNICEF for all development of policies in the context of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) as well as preparations for the Committee’s periodic meetings. •Initiated the development of several major UNICEF humanitarian policies including on IDPs, sanctions, land mines and Unaccompanied Children.



Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA)

• Mogadishu, Somalia

• UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance

  • Mar 1992 - Dec 1992

  •Appointed by the U.N. Security Council as the first U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator the U.N. system and assigned to Somalia at the height of the civil war to oversee and coordinate the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance in Somalia, following the outbreak of the civil war and reported to the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. •Led negotiations with governments of Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya to provide asylum to Somali refugees and allow/facilitate the unhindered movement of humanitarian assistance into Somalia. •Negotiated successfully, the re-opening of the Mogadishu seaport (since then closed), allowing the massive flow of humanitarian assistance to Somalia and the vibrant resumption of trade. •Advised the Special Representative of Secretary-General (SRSG) and the UNOSOM Force Commander of the humanitarian imperatives in the first- ever military intervention in history in support of humanitarian interventions. Show less



UNICEF

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Representative for Somalia

  • Jul 1990 - Mar 1992

  •Oversaw, guided and managed the UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation directed at ensuring the protection and survival of children.•Oversaw and directed UNICEF’s programme of humanitarian assistance to victims of civil war in Somalia, initially from Kenya but as from late 1991, from Mogadishu under the most challenging war environment resulting in saving the lives of thousands, especially children and women.•Established the first UNICEF Somalia offices in Nairobi and Djibouti to support the Somalia operations.•Left UNICEF Somalia on appointment by the U.N. Security Council to the high level position of U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia in March 1992. Show less

• Senior Programme Officer

  • Jul 1984 - Jul 1990

  •Led, guided and oversaw the planning, implementation and monitoring of UNICEF’s Country Programme of Cooperation for Nigeria (largest in Africa), resulting in significant achievements in the health, nutrition, water and sanitation and education sectors.•Led and oversaw the successful implementation of UNICEF’s global campaign of the Universal Programme of Immunization (UCI) that protected over 20 million children against the five deadly preventable diseases of children contributing significantly to UNICEF achieving its global goal.•Established 4 zonal UNICEF offices in Enugu, Ibadan, Bauchi and Kaduna to support the decentralized implementation and monitoring of programmes directed from the capital, Lagos. Show less



USAID Mission in The Sudan

• Khartoum, Sudan

• Consultant

  • Dec 1981 - Sep 1982

  •Appointed by Director of USAID as consultant on Agriculture to the mission in Khartoum in December 1981 and led the planning, reviewing and screening of over 51 project proposals in the agriculture sector submitted by the Government of Sudan, parastatal bodies and national NGOs for funding. •Led the evaluation of the USAID-funded cotton, wheat and sesame agricultural schemes in the Gezira and Roseiries areas. •Appointed by Director of USAID as consultant on Agriculture to the mission in Khartoum in December 1981 and led the planning, reviewing and screening of over 51 project proposals in the agriculture sector submitted by the Government of Sudan, parastatal bodies and national NGOs for funding. •Led the evaluation of the USAID-funded cotton, wheat and sesame agricultural schemes in the Gezira and Roseiries areas.



Government of Sudan

• Juba, Sudan

• Regional Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources

  • Apr 1980 - Nov 1981

  •Appointed by the President of the Republic to the position of Regional Minister of Agriculture in April 1980. •As Chief Executive of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, was responsible for providing leadership, direction and guidance in the management of a major ministry, overseeing the preparation of the development plans and strategies for the agriculture sector in the region, and monitoring the priority development programmes. •Represented the Regional Government on major negotiations with the international development and financial institutions including the World Bankand thefrican Development Bank, U.N. and international agencies and NGOs. •Supported by 27,000 staff Initiated a Smallholder Farmer Credit Scheme that benefited a very significant part of the Southern Sudan’s farming community of about two million farmers and livestock owners. Show less



Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources

• Juba, Sudan

• Director-General

  • Aug 1978 - Apr 1980

  •Appointed by the President of the Republic to the newly created and elevated position of Director-General (the first ever position in Regional Government) of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in August 1978. •Advised the Regional Minister of Agriculture on the development of policies, strategies, budgets and funding proposals for the development of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Region. •Negotiated with the World Bank and the African Development Bank, Kuwait Fund and international agencies and international financing institutions on grants and loans. Concluded and implemented a number of assistance programmes with the U.N. and international agencies and NGOs. •Planned and oversaw the implementation of the major agriculture projects including the Imatong Forestry Project, the Aweil Rice Scheme,the Upper Talanga Tea Project and the Yei Small-holder Coffee Project with over 150,000 acres grown with coffee and various crops. Show less