ABDOUL KARIM COULIBALY Design Monitoring and Evaluation (DM&E) Coordinator, CARE Mali Assignment: Technical Advisor for Village Savings & Loan (VS&L) Information Management, Economic Development Unit, Atlanta Headquarters

Focus: Lead an organizational effort to mainstream a management and information system throughout all VS&L programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Abdoul, a statistician and demographer, joined CARE Mali in March 2000. His achievements include leading CARE’s Strategic Impact Inquiry (SII) process in Mali to evaluate the impact of CARE work on gender equity and women’s empowerment; conducting household livelihood security (HLS) studies targeting the most vulnerable populations; contributing to the development of DM&E systems that respond to CARE standards; and building a team of field M&E coordinators. He enjoys travelling and learning from different cultures and people of the world. Abdoul, a native of Mali, holds a Master’s degree in Demography from the Institut de Formation et de Recherche Démographiques (I.FO.R.D), Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Ecole Nationale D’Economie Appliquée (E.N.E.A.), Dakar, Republic of Senegal.

What my fellowship means to me: “This fellowship represents a great opportunity to contribute to CARE’s work at a global level; to contribute to the fight against poverty through promoting rights of most vulnerable populations throughout the world; and to develop my knowledge about the organization. Since CARE is a learning organization, I am convinced that my involvement in this fellowship with the Economic Development Unit will be of value for my professional development and for CARE.”

ASTOR CHIRINOS Information Technology Coordinator, CARE Honduras Assignment: Emergency Integration Fellow, Emergency & Humanitarian Assistance Unit (EHAU), Atlanta Headquarters

Focus: Support EHAU’s work in the areas of Emergency Preparedness Planning, Emergency Capacity Building and, if necessary, Emergency Response.

Background: Astor, who grew up in Honduras, has spent the last nine years working with CARE Honduras in the Information Technology (IT) unit. With more than 16 years of experience in IT, his background includes electronic technology and system development. He has extensive experience in computer troubleshooting and maintenance, and a passion for emergency preparedness and response. Astor’s educational background includes technology and emergency relief studies at Georgetown University. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Kenia, and their two children, Amanda and Astor, Jr.

What my fellowship means to me: “Being selected as a CARE Fellow is one of the best things in my life and for my family. I’m very anxious to start and be part of EHAU, to learn and fortify my capacity on emergency preparedness and response, and to have the opportunity to implement my experience. My fortress comes from God, and the love of Amanda, Astor and my wife Kenia.”

FRANCIS LWANDA Manager, Learning and Design Unit, CARE Malawi Assignment: Long-Term Program Design and Development Advisor, CARE Bangladesh

Focus: Contribute to building support, shared understanding, and capacity among country office and key partner staff for designing and implementing long term programs and shifting emphasis from project to programs.

Background: Francis currently serves as Learning and Design Unit Manager for CARE Malawi, and is responsible for developing coherent, consistent project and program information systems and procedures. A native of Malawi, he joined CARE Malawi in 2001, working for CARE International’s Livelihood Security Project as Monitoring Evaluation Research and Documentation Coordinator. Prior to joining CARE Malawi, he worked on government projects in the ministries of women and child development and the ministry of education. His professional experience includes advocacy, project planning design (in the areas of gender and Rights Based Approaches), policy development project evaluation and organizational learning. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Econ.) from University of Malawi, Chancellor College.

What my fellowship means to me: “I have always sought opportunities to deepen my understanding of how the frameworks we develop seem to be shared by many others in different contextual setups. I have hoped that that would help me grow in understanding and building of relationships with the people we work with, and help position my contribution to a global force to end poverty. This fellowship provides me with an immense opportunity and platform for me to embrace that dream.”

MAIMOUNA TOLIVER Program Officer (TDY), Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit, Atlanta Headquarters Assignment: Mother and Child Health Fellow, CARE Rwanda

Focus: Contribute to the development and strengthening of CARE Rwanda’s health portfolio, with a particular focus on mother and child health.

Background: Maimouna is originally from Niger, but growing up, moved around much of West Africa with her family. Maimouna recently received a Master of Public Health from Morehouse School of Medicine and a Master of International Affairs and Development from Clark Atlanta University. She has completed two temporary assignments as Program Officer at CARE Headquarters in the HIV/AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health units. Her professional interests are in the areas of gender, development, reproductive and sexual health and HIV/AIDS.

What my fellowship means to me: “This fellowship is a tremendous opportunity to gain invaluable field experience in reproductive health. I am particularly intent on acquiring experience in program development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. I’m also looking quite forward to exploring a different part of Africa!”

MALAIKA WRIGHT Accountability and Impact Measurement Initiative Coordinator, Emergency Capacity Building, Atlanta Headquarters Assignment: Learning Coordinator, LARMU/CARE El Salvador

Focus: Collaboratively develop and implement a systematic, organic learning process that engages CARE Central America staff on an ongoing basis to guide their learning and reflection processes.

Background: Malaika is currently responsible for coordinating the collaborative processes and activities of participating agencies in the Accountability and Impact Measurement Initiative. She joined CARE in 2003 as an Emergency Assistant, and previously worked as a Communications Assistant and Knowledge Management and Research Officer for CARE USA. Malaika grew up in Nigeria and Sierra Leone and has lived in the U.S. for the past 12 years, the last seven in Atlanta. “Growing up in pre-war Sierra Leone was fun, despite the hardships, and I maintain that happiness is not always a function of economic wellbeing,” says Malaika, who has a love of different places and cultures. She holds a Master of International Affairs and Development from Clark Atlanta University and a Bachelor’s in English and French from Lebanon Valley College.

What my fellowship means to me: “I believe the start of success is realizing how much you need to grow and develop to get there. It’s a rare opportunity to get such invaluable assistance in this process.”

NELLY KUBANEISHVILI Human Resources Coordinator, CARE International in the Caucasus/Georgia Assignment: Human Resource Unit Capacity Building Advisor, CARE Bolivia

Focus: Build human resources capacity in areas including performance management, recruitment, orientation, sexual exploitation policy analysis and implementation, and closure of Title II program.

Background: Nelly currently serves as Human Resources Coordinator for CARE International in the Caucasus/Georgia, a position she has held since 2003. In her current role, she provides all personnel administration services to national and international staff. Her past experience with CARE also includes serving as a Programming Assistant from 1998 to 2000. “I have promised, as I work on this assignment, to bring commitment, eagerness to learn and hard work; integrity in my words and actions and an enormous desire to contribute to achieving CARE's mission and vision,” says Nelly, who holds an Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from the Caucasus School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Georgian Technical University. Fluent in Georgina, Russian and English, Nelly also speaks French and is learning Spanish. Her daughters, Ana and Lea, are her pride and joy.

What my fellowship means to me: “I am very proud to be the part of this global force that is dedicated to ending poverty in the world and honored to be part of this cohort of fellows. I see my fellowship as an opportunity to support people living in poverty beyond the borders of my home country and gain more experience to become a global player.”

SAMANTHA LACH Graduate, Columbia University, New York, Master’s of International Affairs Assignment: Program and Policy Analysis Fellow, CARE Peru

Focus: Conduct analyses of CARE Peru’s programs in several key areas (maternal mortality, child nutrition, economic development, water and sanitation, or HIV & AIDS), both in terms of programmatic results and costs, and potential for adaptation and replication by the Government of Peru or other actors.

Background: Samantha recently earned her Master’s degree from Columbia University, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Anahuac University, Mexico. She most recently worked as an associate at NBA Enterprise Solutions to Poverty where she designed and implemented policies to engage the private sector in developing countries to build opportunities for low income people. A Mexican national, Samantha has undertaken in-depth research in Development Economics and in 2004 was the recipient of a national award for a study applying Amartya Sen’s Poverty Index in Mexico.

What my fellowship means to me: “I am very excited to be selected as a CARE Fellow and I am looking forward to joining the CARE Peru Team in the coming months. I am deeply interested in the work CARE does and thankful for the opportunity to acquire more in-depth experience with and contribute to an organization that is committed to finding sustainable answers to poverty: a goal which I profoundly identify with."

STEFANIE BADOUD CARE Treasurer, Atlanta Headquarters Assignment: Business Policy and Systems Development Fellow, CARE Sierra Leone

Focus: Help improve CARE Sierra Leone’s structures, systems and functions to respond to a shift from emergency and transitional programs to development programs with a focus on grant making, business policy development and management training.

Background: Stefanie joined CARE’s Atlanta headquarters in 2003 as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with eight years of experience in public accounting and independent financial consulting. After extensive work in sectors ranging from the music industry to mortgage banking, her 2002 experience as a CARE Corps volunteer in Ayacucho, Peru, sparked new meaning for her career. Today Stefanie serves as CARE Treasurer, managing the strategic and operational responsibilities for Treasury, Accounts Payable and Payroll. Stefanie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Auburn University.

What my fellowship means to me: “I am honored to have this incredible opportunity to diversify my understanding of our organizational needs and challenges while providing meaningful field support.”