Samira Nikaein Towfighian's Email

Education policy analyst, project manager, and community worker with international working experience at NGOs, government, and UN agencies. I am passionate about improving access to quality education in the world.

International Education Consultant @ From July 2014 to Present (1 year 4 months) Assistant Specialist for Gender Equality and HIV/AIDS Prevention @ Planning responsibilities • Prepared annual work plans, reports, reviews, and budgets for the Education Sector. • Prepared all briefs for high-level meetings and missions of the Director of the UNESCO Office in Mexico. • Prepared Ms. Irina Bokova’s (Director General of UNESCO) executive briefings during her four-day official visit to Mexico in 2013. • Tracked and monitored projects’ activities and budget under the Education Sector through detailed Gantt charts and the periodical update of (UNESCO’s System of Information on Strategies, Tasks and Evaluation of Results. Project design and management • Designed and oversaw the implementation of a project aimed at empowering indigenous adolescent girls in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, to change social norms in their communities through audio soap operas broadcasted in the community’s radio. • Designed a teacher’s guide on gender equality and oversaw its piloting in fifteen multi-grade indigenous elementary schools in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. • Provided technical training and ongoing support to local implementing partners (local NGOs) on good practices and innovative tools on education for gender equality. From March 2012 to June 2013 (1 year 4 months) Mexico CityUNESCO’s Focal Point @ • Coordinated UN advocacy to prioritize education in emergency in the Mexican government’s emergency response plans. • Collaborated in preparing rapid educational assessments of the state of basic education after natural disasters in Southern Mexico. • Liaised and coordinated roles and responsibilities with other UN agencies and the Mexican government in preparation for an emergency response. From March 2012 to June 2013 (1 year 4 months) Mexico CityUNESCO's Focal Point @ - Coordinated UN advocacy for gender equality mainstreaming in the Mexican government’s education programs. - Co-hosted UN events and press conferences on gender equality. From March 2012 to June 2013 (1 year 4 months) Mexico CityUNESCO's Focal Point @ • Co-hosted workshops for developing capacity of UN staff on HIV/AIDS prevention and early treatment. • Co-hosted UN press conferences on reducing stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS. From March 2012 to June 2013 (1 year 4 months) Mexico CityField Assistant Coordinator @ Field monitoring and evaluation of SEDESOL's Community Development Program in the most marginalized communities of the state of Queretaro: • Monitored the program’s youth development workshops and vocational training courses through weekly field visits to communities in Queretaro. • Prepared monthly reports of the progress of the program as a feedback loop for senior management. • Prepared the 2011 impact evaluation report of the program in Queretaro. From January 2011 to December 2011 (1 year) QueretaroCommunity Volunteer @ Community worker for the children and adolescents development program in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica: • Facilitated workshops for children and adolescents on peace-building, human rights and micro-project development. • Supported children and adolescents, especially girls, to developed service projects on education, health, and sanitation to improve their community. • Oversaw the implementation of children and youth-led service projects in the community and met with local authorities to encourage them to engage in the projects. From July 2009 to December 2009 (6 months) Costa Rica

Master of Education (M.Ed.), International Education Policy @ Harvard University Graduate School of Education From 2013 to 2014 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), International Relations, Graduated Summa Cum Laude @ Tecnológico de Monterrey From 2007 to 2011 Samira Nikaein Towfighian is skilled in: Program Development, Program Management, Emergency Response, Youth Empowerment, Violence Against Women, Program Evaluation, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research, HIV/AIDS Prevention, Interagency Coordination