Miriam Castaneda

A senior international development leader and executive with several years of proven experience in various capacities including program, country and regional leadership, program management, program and country office operations and strategic advisory roles. Successful track record in building and maintaining strong, collaborative work relationships and program partnerships with academia, development and humanitarian actors, as well as host governments. Work experience includes design, planning and managing development projects and programs and humanitarian interventions, in several countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Achievements during my career: • Initiated, implemented and managed strategic plans, including program development, design, inception and implementation, monitoring of existing programs, fund raising and brand development, budget planning and management of financial and human resources. • As Country Director of Save the Children in Haiti, I had to undertake a major reset of the Country Office. I restructured the Country Office to make it fit for purpose and to ensure that the proper accountability systems were in place. One of the major areas of work was to improve the transparency of the operations and during program implementation. As a result, the Country Office has a series of improvement plans such as: management improvement plan, supply chain manual for improved operations, improved fleet management, risk management plans, established the internal controller function to prevent fraud. Established the monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning unit to ensure the proper information gathering is established at all levels. • As Country Director for the International Rescue Committee, in charge of Strategic Planning and Management, Program Quality Development and monitoring, Key Partners and Donor Relations, Fundraising and Budget Management. Also overseeing the Security and Operations component of the mission as well as Human Resources Management including staff development and retention. • As Country Operations and Management Unit/Country Representative, I developed and implemented operational policies and procedures for Management Sciences for Health in Haiti; including HR management and recruitment policies, supply chain policies including procurement, fleet management and warehousing. • For 7 years, worked with the Red Cross International Movement and designed and implemented two major Mother and Child Health Programs in Nicaragua and Honduras. Designed and implemented Disaster Risk Reduction Programs in Haiti and Guatemala. • For 2 years, directed a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-bilaterally funded Water and Sanitation project in Honduras. • Started, organized, and managed Food Security programs and Disaster Response/Relief operations in Cuba. • Coordinated CARE Canada's emergency relief effort for Central America during the Hurricane Mitch emergency: * Liaised with national and international media. * Liaised with International Partners. * Liaised with institutional donors (CIDA, USAID, DFID). * Liaised with the Department of National Defense's DART team in Canada. * Coordinated shipments of food aid with the Red Cross. • Active during the Haiti Earthquake Response organized by the International Red Cross Movement (I was posted in Haiti when the earthquake struck): * Actively engaged in the disaster response operation in the hours after the Haiti Earthquake. * Received and assisted in the installations of several ERUs in the days after the Haiti Earthquake. * In charge of the set up and management of the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Base Camp in Haiti. The largest humanitarian response operation of the Red Cross Movement. * Responsible for the design of post-emergency programs for the Canadian Red Cross. * In charge of the elaboration of the 5 year Country Strategy for the Canadian Red Cross programmes. Summary of skills and experience: * Experienced in directing international agencies Country Offices. * Designed, Monitored and evaluated projects (Quality Assurance) in various geographical regions and programming sectors including Child Protection, Education, Women's Protection and Empowerment, Mother and Child Health and Nutrition, Supply Chain, Governance, Leadership, Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Response, Organizational Development, Capacity Building/Strengthening, Human Resources Management, Micro credit and Micro Enterprise Development, etc. * Excellent planning and analytical skills. * Excellent budget planning and management. * Excellent public relations. * Substantial experience in Human Resources Development, Management and coaching. * Significant experience in Financial Management and Administration. * Experience in Results Based Management. * Experience in engaging local partner's participation in design and implementation of projects and programs. * Experience in participatory development with a gender perspective. * Experience in gender mainstreaming in projects in a diversity of settings and sectors. * A Manager with first-rate hands on experience in developing countries. * A Manager with a high degree of flexibility, adaptability, interpersonal communications and intercultural interaction. * Excellent oral and written communication in English, French and Spanish. * Strength in analysis, decision-making, negotiating, creativity and innovation. * Highly responsible, self-motivated and able to work independently or in a team environment. * Able to travel at short notice. * I am an individual whose personal philosophy and values have enabled me to succeed and to inspire and lead others.