The RE: Project

📻 In this podcast:

Mahek shares how she found passions in environmentalism and community building through

her studies. She speaks candidly about her positive experience working in the government, from the changes she has seen in working conditions to the unique path she took to her current role.

Mahek offers her best advice on how to navigate career uncertainty and continue building

“identity capital” when you feel stuck. Listen to the full podcast for a heartening conversation that will help you foster resilience and reflect on your potential to make the greatest impact.

☁️About Mahek:

Mahek has worked across the Civil Service in three government departments, and completed the Summer Diversity Internship Scheme (SDIP). She previously worked at HM Treasury on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and currently acts as the Head of Clean Energy and Advanced Economies in BEIS. Mahek has a BA in History and International Relations from Loughborough University, including an ERASMUS at Maastricht University, and a MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development from UCL. In her free time she enjoys reading, growing vegetables and learning about the built environment.

🎙 Our guest mentor is Localised Humanitarian Assistance Expert Katharina Ahrens, Programs Quality Director at Violet Organization for Relief and Development.

📻 In this podcast:

Katharina shares the most candid advice on finding filed work opportunities, getting started in the ID industry, maintaining motivation during challenging times. She also spoke on skills and character traits she look for when she hires new team members. Tune in to listen to her truth bomb for students and young professionals who wish to build a career in the international Development industry.

☁️About Katharina:

Originally from Germany with a Master’s in Humanitarian Action, Katharina has worked with local and international organisations in the Middle East and North Africa region for over 5 years, focusing on locally led humanitarian assistance and quality programming. She is currently the Programs Quality Director for the Violet Organisation for Relief and Development.

Here is a skip time for you:

[00:47] Would you first give us a brief introduction about who you are and what you do?

[01:18] As a localization expert, where do you think foreign EXPATs can best add value in a localized development model/humanitarian response?

[02:47] Now that more and more international organizations are starting to localize, there are less and less opportunities available for foreign students to work in the field. What advice would you give people who would like to gain some hands on field experience? Where can they find such opportunities?

[05:07] And what are some things they need to especially be aware of when working in the field?

[06:49] Could you speak more on the cultural sock many Western students/young professionals may face when first starting the field work? Ie. especially on how to appropriately engaged with the locals.

[08:34] We all know that the ID and humanitarian sectors face criticism for unpaid internships. It for sure is a barrier that prevents those who don't have financial means to gain the experience they need to break into the industry. What do you think one can do to gain that experience without an unpaid internship?

[11:29] As someone who leads a big team, what are some key skills (soft & hard) you look for when you hire someone to be on your team?

[13:39] "follow up question" What are some highly valued hard skills for a career in ID and humanitarian work?

[15:04] As a WIAN mentor what’s the most common question you get from your mentee? Do you mind sharing your answer to their questions?

[17:05] Katharina's Advise on CV/Cover letter writing

[20:24] What is the best piece of career advice you would give your younger self?

[22:43] Any final thoughts?

Hi Everyone! We are excited to launch a special podcast.

🎙 Our guest mentor is M&E expert Katherine Liakos, senior consultant at IMC worldwide.

📻 In this podcast:

Katherine shares fascinating stories of how she was able to work and live in 8 countries across 4 countaints over the past 10 years. Tune in to listen to her expercience  on how she set foot in the international development industry; how she became an expert in M&E; her tips on professional skill development, as well as her best career advice for students and young professionals.

☁️About Katherine :

Katherine is a senior consultant at IMC worldwide. She has over 10 years of  experience in M&E/project management in the International development sector. Katherine has lived/worked in Belgium, France, Peru, Ethiopia, Pakistan and the U.K., with shorter country missions to Burkina Faso, Kosovo, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Here is a skip time for you:

[00:35] Would you first give us a brief introduction about who you are and what you do?

[01:21] You have a very diverse professional path, you have been in many different fields in different countries, how has such a journey came about?

[03:13] Since you have extensive fieldwork experience in places Peru, Pakistan, Mozambique, what advice would you give students who wish to work in the field? Where is a good starting point/how do they find such an opportunity?

[07:52] Freelance consultancy projects is usually a great way to set foot in the industry and build connections, can you share with us more about your experiences working freelance work? How did you first start? Where is a good place to find project openings?

[15:26] You are an expert in monitor and evaluation, which is a key “hard” skillset need for the international development/ humanitarian sector. What advice would you give students and graduates who wish to build their careers in a similar direction?

[22:50] What is the best piece of career advice you would give your younger self?

[24:18] Any final thoughts?

Hi Everyone! We are excited to launch a special podcast. 

 🎙 Our guest mentor is Pavitra Raja, Program Lead at The World Economic Forum, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. 

 📻 In this podcast, Pavitra shares her inspiring professional journey transitioning from a career in law to working on social innovation at a large international organization. Tune in to listen to her interesting work in social innovation, her tips on language learnings & skill development as well as her best career advice for students and young professionals.    

☁️About Pavitra : Originally from the South of Australia, Pavitra speaks six languages and had an amazing .  Pavitra also leads the program work on social innovation, having launched programmes, initiatives, announcements, and reports at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Sustainable Development Impact Summit in New York, and leads the global launch of the Social Innovators of the Year Awards at the World Economic Forum.  

Pavitra has previously consulted with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on legal affairs, public policy, and communications at the UN HQ in Geneva, Switzerland. She managed several policy advocacy campaigns to promote the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Pavitra also worked in the private legal sector on cases involving individuals as well as firms in corporate affairs, defamation, intellectual property, and technology law. Pavitra managed legal, policy advocacy, and communications at Music Rights Australia (which works jointly with the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA)) designing and implementing national campaigns to preserve copyright laws in Australia to protect the rights of musicians. Pavitra has also worked in digital marketing, media, and fashion industries.  

Pavitra holds a Juris Doctor (specialising in Intellectual Property Law and International Law) along with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Political Sciences, and Marketing & Communications from the University of Melbourne. In addition, Pavitra has undertaken study abroad programmes at the University of Oxford, Maastricht University, and the School of Business, Economics, and Law at the University of Gothenburg.

Here is a skip time for you:   

[00:45] Pavitra's introduction

[02:40] Can you tell us about your career translation from legal professions to this international affairs/development/social innovation space? What triggered the transition?  

[08:05] Transitioning from two completely different fields is difficult, how do you leverage those difference to your advantage?  

[12:19]What kind of work do you do  in facilitating social innovation at the World Economic Forum?  

[14:28]what advice would you give someone who is interested in this space?  

[19:08] How do you managed to speak 6 languages?   

[22:00] You help social enterprises in developing countries to build capacity, what would you say is the recipe for success for a social enterprise?   [24:56] What is the best piece of career advice you would give your younger self?  

[26:05]Any final thoughts?

The RE: Project has partnered with the WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network for a special podcast interview with the founders of WIAN, Amandla Uzoka-Jarrett and Demiladé Falola-Apooyin.

Learn about the process and the purpose behind the creation of The Women in International Affairs Network, and listen in on some insights about their upcoming virtual conference event on July 3rd, 2021 (3pm-6.30pm BST) , 'Women, Tech and the Global Good', featuring inspirational and phenomenal speakers from IBM, Deloitte, United Nations Telecommunity Agency, and SEIDEA.

Check out their website: https://www.wianetwork.com/

Sign Up for the event: https://www.wianetwork.com/event-details/women-tech-and-the-global-good

About Amandla:

Amandla Uzoka-Jarrett is the Co-Founder of The Women in International Affairs Network. Balancing a career as a Freelance Consultant and Social Entrepreneur, she is passionate about harnessing private sector development and social enterprise for women’s economic empowerment, and helping clients to unlock new ideas and innovations that address global issues. PRINCE2 Practitioner Certified, with an MSc in Public Policy and Administration from The London School of Economics and a PPE BA degree from The University of Birmingham, she has professional experience in business plan writing, pitch deck development, project management (R&D and innovation) and impact reporting.

About Demiladé:

Demiladé Falola-Apooyin is the co-founder and CEO of the international career network and social enterprise, The Women in International Affairs Network (WIAN), tackling gender and youth inequality in international recruitment and workplaces. As an international trade and development specialist with a background in law, diplomacy and human rights, her areas of expertise are sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethical business, social rights and inclusion, with a keen interest in modern slavery and sustainable supply chains. She is passionate about empowering young women and making the international affairs industry fairer and more equitable through innovation.

About The Women in International Affairs Network (WIAN):

The Women in International Affairs Network (WIAN) is a digital membership platform that renovates the mainstream narratives about gender, youth equality and career development in the international industry. Access one-on-one mentorship and industry experts, join forums for answers on critical career questions, and build lasting connections using WIAN. As the number one destination for women in international affairs, they have built a powerful community that spans the globe and connects women of all backgrounds, orientations and experiences.

The RE: Project has partnered with the WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network to create a podcast interview series about the career experience of remarkable women from the international development and humanitarian sector. They will be sharing their experience about the obstacles they faced, how they overcame them, and advice for other women embarking on a similar path.

Our sixth #podcast features Catherine (Kate) Kiama, Director of Programs at She's the First, a global community of ambitious students, dedicated teachers, inspiring artists, hardworking policymakers, community organizers and business leaders who are fighting for a world where girls have the right to choose their own futures and be empowered and educated in their communities.

In this podcast, Kate shares about the creation and meaning behind her organization, She's the First, the #challenges of gender norms and communal norms as a female in Kenya, and the fight against prejudiced #identity and #perspective.

Kate is a born feminist and is passionate about the law and in addressing social injustices that affect women and adolescent girls globally. She holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of London and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya. Kate is currently the Director of Program at She's the First (https://shesthefirst.org/). Kate previously worked as a Lawyer and Program Associate at the Aids Law Project and undertook her articles at Tripleoklaw Advocates LLP. She also served as a grant manager at the Nike Foundation supporting the Girl Effect Movement.

The RE: Project has partnered with the WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network to create a podcast interview series about the career experience of remarkable women from the international development and humanitarian sector. They will be sharing their experience about the obstacles they faced, how they overcame them, and advice for other women embarking on a similar path.

Our fourth #podcast features Cianne Jones, an International Development Consultant, Lawyer, Women's Right Activist, Career Development Coach, and Founder of Women In Leadership, a grassroots female led charity in Uganda.

In Part 2 of the podcast, Cianne shares her experience as a founder of the Women In Leadership - Uganda organization, and advices and knowledge that a young professional entering the  International Development and/or Political sector should know as we become the generation to further create changes in our society.

Transitioning from a career in family law in London to a thriving career in the international sector, Cianne Jones has spent over the last 7 years spanning youth development, early childhood development, and women's empowerment. As a strong advocate for decolonisaton of the development sector and empowering people to become agents of change in their own communities, Cianne is also passionate about women empowering each other, and leads and holds monthly group coaching workshops to support women to fulfill their potential.

The RE: Project has partnered with the WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network to create a podcast interview series about the career experience of remarkable women from the international development and humanitarian sector. They will be sharing their experience about the obstacles they faced, how they overcame them, and advice for other women embarking on a similar path.

Our fourth #podcast features Cianne Jones, an International Development Consultant, Lawyer, Women's Right Activist, Career Development Coach, and Founder of Women In Leadership, a grassroots female led charity in Uganda.

In this podcast, Cianne talks not only about diversity inclusion and intersectionality issues within the #international development sector but her path to the sector starting from a lawyer.

Transitioning from a career in family law in London to a thriving career in the international sector, Cianne Jones has spent over the last 7 years spanning youth development, early childhood development, and women's empowerment. As a strong advocate for decolonisaton of the development sector and empowering people to become agents of change in their own communities, Cianne is also passionate about women empowering each other, and leads and holds monthly group coaching workshops to support women to fulfill their potential.

The RE: Project has partnered with the WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network to create a podcast interview series about the career experience of remarkable women from the international development and humanitarian sector. They will be sharing their experience about the obstacles they faced, how they overcame them, and advice for other women embarking on a similar path.

Our #third podcast features Ezinwa Chinyere, the coordinator of Girls in Parliament of Anambra State.

In this podcast, Ezinwa discusses the gender #discrimination and #norms that she has experienced growing up in Nigeria, the #changes and #improvements that has occurred in recent, and her advice for #women aspiring toward their future #careers!

Ezinwa Chinyere is the coordinator of Girls in parliament Anambra State, a public speaker, passionate volunteer, Girl-child advocate and social entrepreneur. She has been working to empower young girls on building a healthy self esteem and preparing them to become job creators rather than jobseekers. She has a keen interest in humanitarian, gender and social change, and has worked as Project Manager at Whispering Hope Africa Initiative and as a volunteer for the Youngstar Foundation.

The RE: Project has partnered with the WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network to create a podcast interview series about the career experience of remarkable women from the international development and humanitarian sector. They will be sharing their experience about the obstacles they faced, how they overcame them, and advice for other women embarking on a similar path.

Our second #podcast features Bhanvi Anand the Director of Education Initiatives at PNG Sustainable Development Program.

In this podcast, Bhanvi talked about diversity inclusion and intersectionality issues within the #international development sector (where she shared her perspective as an Indian Australian) as well as advice she has for women just #starting their careers in the aid and development sectors.

Bhanvi Anand is currently based in Sydney, Australia and is the Director of Education Initiatives at PNG Sustainable Development Program, a fund that invests in initiatives supporting the development of communities in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea through a focus on health, education and upliftment of livelihoods. Prior to joining PNG, Bhanvi worked across various finance, banking and strategy roles within the Commonwealth Bank and as an independent consultant. She seeks to solve social problems through data-driven development and impact programs, particularly in the areas of financial exclusion and vulnerability. Lastly, she is a passionate advocate for creating diverse and inclusive workplaces.

The RE: Project has partnered with the WIAN | The Women in International Affairs Network to create a podcast interview series about the career experience of remarkable women from the international development and humanitarian sector. They will be sharing their experience about the obstacles they faced, how they overcame them, and advice for other women embarking on a similar path. 

Our first podcast features Chris Franks the Chair of Women in Aid and Development. 

Chris has worked in the aid and development sectors for over four decades. Chris is based in Sydney, Australia and she is currently Chair at Women in Aid & Development, a networking group that encourages and inspires women working in the aid, development and humanitarian sectors to secure leadership roles, and the sector to achieve gender equity. Chris also has experience working in Cufa, an International Development Working Group, Habitat for Humanity Australia, Family Planning NSW, among other humanitarian organizations. 

In this podcast Chris talked about diversity inclusion and intersectionality issues within international development sector(with a special focus on the Australian ID sector) as well as advice she has for women just starting their careers in the aid and development sectors.

👋Hi Everyone!

We are proud to release our interview with Dr. Romina Istratii, Pursuing A Decolonial Academic Career Path in Times of Crises.

⭐️ Dr. Romina Istratii is the co-founder of the open-access publishing platform Decolonial Subversions, and currently a Research Associate at the Department of Development Studies and the Centre of World Christianity, SOAS University of London, UK. Previously serving as Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of History, Religions and Philosophies, she has been an active member of the Decolonising SOAS Working Group since 2016, initiating the Decolonising Research Initiative on behalf of the #SOAS Research Directorate. As a critical international development thinker and practitioner with a decade’s experience in reflexive, decolonial and community-centred methodologies for researching and addressing issues with gender dimensions in sub-Saharan Africa, her research lies at the intersection of gender, religious and development studies, with application of a decolonial perspective. She has written on the ethics of international development, western gender metaphysics and religious knowledge systems, and the discourse of fundamentalism in gender studies. Dr Istratii’s most recent research project was a decolonial ethnographic study of conjugal abuse in the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwahәdo community of Aksum, which has evolved into the on-going HFGF-funded project “Religion, conscience and abusive behaviour: Understanding the role of faith and spirituality in the deterrence of intimate partner violence in rural Ethiopia.”

🎵 Born in Eastern Europe, she has worked to expose and subvert western European #epistemic dominance in #African development theory and practice, improve representations of eastern #worldviews and religious traditions in western epistemology and subvert elitism and higher education and knowledge production. She is especially committed to the promotion of language learning in #research and #publishing as a means to the decolonisation of knowledge production and international development.

☁️ Listen in as we discuss with Dr. Istratii about pursuing a Decolonial Academic Career Path in #postcovid, career advices for those interested in #academia, and for #minorities trying to pursue this career path!