Kristen Hamaoui

Select field-based assignments:

Grants Specialist, Bamako, Mali, 2015 and 2016 Delivered grants and subcontracts expertise to the Mali Climate Change Adaptation Program during the start-up phase of the program. Participated in work-planning with key stakeholders and government counterparts. Worked directly with nascent local NGOs to negotiate pricing and draft subcontracts with clear deliverables that reflected the urgency of the work while tailored to the capacity and capabilities of each institution. Wrote the project’s grants manual. Provided follow-up grants support in the following year by working directly with COP, DCOP, and technical leaders to evaluate applications from the project’s first round of APS solicitations. Trained local staff on USAID regulations and Chemonics practices for evaluating and negotiating grants to prepare the team for evaluating and managing their second round of applications under the same APS. Led TEC team as a non-voting member to facilitate discussion, point out best practices, and provide guidance on required documentation and compliance procedures as needed. Senior Contracts Specialist, Port au Prince, Haiti, 2016 Provided critical compliance, pricing, and contracts support for the complex transition of the GHSC- PSM Haiti program from the incumbent to Chemonics. Negotiated directly with the warehouse landlord for the timely acquisition of one of the most complex warehouses in the program. Liaised with and directly negotiated with three 3PL (third-party-logistics) providers in Haiti to secure fair and reasonable pricing while guaranteeing no gaps in services for distribution of medical commodities. Grants and Finance Capacity Development Specialist, Ulaan Batar, Mongolia, 2015 Established and strengthened financial and administrative capabilities of a nascent NGO receiving grant funding under Chemonics but was planning to transition to direct funding from USAID. Worked with the Executive Director to demonstrate to USAID in an upcoming audit that the organization was capable of managing USG grant funds in a compliant manner. Worked with the local team to prepare for an upcoming USAID review by completing one of USAID’s capacity building tools (the Non-US Organization Pre-Award Survey, or NUPAS). Conducted the review, identified areas of weakness, and recommended action items to improve their organizational capabilities to pass a future assessment conducted by USAID. Prepared a manual and relevant annexes for the organization to improve their internal controls and organizational capabilities. These included an overall financial manual and procurement manual with streamlined documentation templates and forms. Grants Specialist, Dar es Salam, Tanzania, 2014 Through close partnership and coordination with local grants manager, worked with grantees to improve their ability to manage direct assistance awards from USAID. Developed a unique, tailored 3-day training to local CSOs which included a review of key grants management regulations, and then focused on sub-granting regulations, procedures, and implementation challenges. This training served as part of the project’s overall mission of building the capacity of targeted local CSOs to receive and manage direct funding from USAID. As a follow-up to the training, met individually with each organization to review information from the training, answer specific questions, and provide detailed and tailored guidance based on each organization’s specific needs, especially in the areas of financial management, reporting, and award/sub-award compliance. Developed a short handbook tailored to the needs of these CSOs that outlines the subaward process, including identifying potential partners, reviewing key procedures, identifying potential risks and risk mitigation strategies, and factors to consider in overall technical and financial management of the sub-awards. Grants Specialist, Kigali, Rwanda, 2013 Completed three-month billable grants assignment on the Rwanda Family Health Project (FHP) to transition 178 grantees from FOGs to standard grant agreements by reviewing and compiling necessary budget information, and preparing all grant agreements and annexes in under six weeks. Prepared trainings for grantees on standard grant implementation, management, and expectations (delivered in local language) and prepared and delivered comprehensive training to FHP grants staff to build capacity in USAID-funded grants under contract and introduce staff to Chemonics processes. Through strong attention to detail and communication with the large grants team, successfully signed all grant agreements in time to prevent a gap in funding for grantee services and activities. Worked with senior technical staff to plan for additional relevant grants and wrote project’s first RFA to be used as a template. Worked hand-in-hand with local grants manager to build skills and provide support in managing this large grants program and a grants team of 20+ people. Project ultimately completed $800,000 in grants per month. Grants Specialist, Lusaka, Zambia, 2012 Completed three-month billable grants assignment on the Zambia Communication to Support Health (CSH) Project to improve performance of two large grantees, review workplans and technical activities, improve financial management and performance, and more effectively liaise with two large in-kind subcontractors. Prepared grant extensions that reflected timely and successful completion of grant activities without increasing costs. Recruited, hired, and trained a local grants manager, a new position for CSH.

Associate, Middle East Region

Provided associate-level support to the Egypt Water and Wastewater Sector Support (WWSS) project, the Egypt Water Policy and Regulatory Reform (WPPR) project, and the West Bank/Gaza Trade Facilitation Project (TFP). Worked closely with support departments in the areas of procurement, contracts, and personnel. Provided daily administrative support including fielding consultants, liaising with subcontractors and reviewing invoices, managing project files, overseeing monthly project invoicing, and backstopping long-term staff.

Manager, Middle East Region

Supported the $57 million Iraq Governance Strengthening project and the $17 million West Bank/Gaza Trade Facilitation Project in politically sensitive and complex operating environments, including ensuring contractual compliance with USAID rules and Chemonics policies; financial and personnel management; and subcontractor management. Trained as a regional compliance specialist; provided compliance and risk-mitigation reviews of contractual documents including delegations of authority, subcontracts and modifications, leases, and purchase orders. Provided project management unit and regional level leadership in the areas of mentoring, capacity building, and professional development. Through a regional-level program, formally served as a peer mentor to recent internally promoted staff to improve management, supervisory, and problem-solving skills; additionally, formally served as a peer mentor to mid-level staff joining the company from external hires to introduce them to company systems, culture, management styles, and internal procedures.

From September 2017 to May 2018, the JOBS contract was under protest and project implementation ceased. During this time, I completed various short-term assignments for Chemonics International including a three-month grants assignment in Istanbul, Turkey.

Finance and Operations Team Leader

Tunisia JOBS is a 5-year, $69.5M contract with a staff of 110 people in 10 offices throughout Tunisia. As Team Leader, I led and supervised a team of 25 professional staff and 15 support staff in the following areas: Finance: Supervised a 6-person finance team to process approximately 2,950,000 TND/month of unburdened expenses (approximately $1,100,000 USD/month). Approved and processed approximately 35 expense reports per month. Approved, managed, and reviewed petty cash transactions and limits. Coordinated monthly with headquarters on budget reviews, financial projections and reporting. Liaised with external accounting firm for routine transactions and ad hoc requests. Operations and logistics: Managed the operations and expenses of a main office in Tunis for approximately 80 staff and ten regional offices for approximately 20 staff (leases, utilities, office supplies, etc.). Managed a fleet of 8-10 drivers for daily travel within Tunis and Tunisia and associated lodging, in compliance with Tunisian, Chemonics, and JOBS COVID-19 protocols. Developed a project stipend policy to address frequent project travel that does not fall under USG per diem regulations. Completed procurements for project events and activities, as well as project operations, following micro-purchase threshold and competition requirements. Established a new legal registration for the program, and provided routine administrative oversight. Served as the project’s point of contact for all legal issues requiring local lawyer reviews. Backstopped eight expatriate and TCN staff. Human Resources: Provided HR support to the Tunis and regional offices for a staff of 100-110 (including subcontractors). Recruited and onboarded Chemonics long-term staff (approx. 80 employees). Implemented and managed performance management and salary increase processes for a large team with various hire dates. Developed systems for managing staff and associated administrative procedures (developing scopes of work, tracking LOE, payments, client approval, etc.). Onboarded and administratively managed approximately 200 consultancies local consultancies. Security: In consultation with the project’s security manager, managed travel requests within Tunisia to track movements for staff and consultants. Developed project security procedures, including emergency and evacuation plans, phone trees, and basic safety upgrades to offices and expat residencies. Developed and reviewed journey management procedures for incidents on the road and basic vehicle security features and requirements. Tracked Tunisia’s COVID-19 situation, GOT response, and developed and implemented project procedures and policies accordingly. Grants, Subcontracts, and Technical Assistance: For the first 1.5 years of JOBS, led and implemented the initial stages of the program’s grants and subcontracts portfolio. This included designing and releasing a RFP for business development consulting firms, a contractually and technically complex process that required extensive reviews and negotiations with dozens of companies. This resulted in a unique 30-firm IDIQ mechanism for the technical team to quickly source and engage hundreds of consultants throughout the country. In addition, directly contracted with a hundred consultants through individual contracts in response to technical needs. Led the development and release of the program’s first grants RFA which received more than 100 concept note submissions.

Senior Specialist, Financial Planning and Analysis

Provided routine and targeted support and analysis of corporate financial processes such as preparing monthly bank financial statements, preparing the monthly Audit Committee Report for the Board of Directors, liaising with projects and operations team to track and report on monthly and year-to-date variances, and incorporating monthly new business reforecasts into overall reporting figures. Supported projects, operations teams, and technical practices with corporate monthly budgeting and reforecasting.

Acting Deputy Chief of Party, Operations

Served on the SMT as acting DCOP-O, providing leadership and management to both Tunis-based and Libya-based finance and operations teams. Represented operations to OTI (via 2Cs and 4Cs discussions) in relevant budget scenario planning discussions, coordinated with program teams in response to support requests, and liaised daily with the COP and DCOP-P on routine implementation tasks and challenges.

Pricing, Compliance, and Business Development Specialist

Provide consulting expertise to various clients on pricing strategy, indirect rate build-up and verification, proposal section reviews on grants management, and cost proposal development.

Subcontracts and Procurement Specialist

Provide targeted procurement and subcontracting expertise to expedite complex international procurements on the FCDO managed Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine. Currently managing international competitive procurements for multiple large services procurements for all stages of the procurement lifecycle, from drafting solicitations, managing evaluation panels, and drafting and negotiating contract award while meeting all internal and client procurement standards. Provide targeted procurement support to Ukraine-based field team through quality control reviews of compliance and procurement related procedures.