Chris Donn

SPECIALTIES ---- Project management. Disability access. Field operations. Capacity building and training. Analyzing governance programs and political situations. Report writing. Electoral systems. Media and Public Relations strategy development. Internal communication assessments and reporting restructuring of governmental institutions. Event management. ---- SUMMARY---- Project Management: Inclusive management style, diplomatic, strong team leadership experience, managing 140 staff and external contractors within short-term and long-term project assignments. Strong communication skills orally and written. USAID proposal preparation. Analytical, creative, and strategic thinker.---- Field Operations: Broad experience in large UN and other international field operations including two good governance projects in Palestine (SAI) and Afghanistan (World Bank, Danida) and 18 electoral events in Afghanistan (IFES), Palestine (IFES), Iraq OCV in Syria (IOM), Haiti (UNOPS), Bangladesh (NDI), East Timor (ETAN), Iraq (IFES) and Indonesia (IFES).---- Communications and Public Relations: 14 years national and international experience in senior positions. Familiar with project- related development and implementation of internal and external communication strategies for governmental institutions and private sector. Organization of over 60 press briefings, conferences and work shops. Proficient in working with international media.---- Coordination and Liaison: Excellent skills related to the work with local government representatives, donors (USAID, World Bank, DFID, IDRC, Royal Dutch Foreign Ministry) and the international community, including a former US President, EU delegations, various ambassadors and diplomatic staff.---- PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND---- AGENDA PROJECT MANAGER, IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Washington, DC), May 2011-present, Location: Jakarta, Indonesia) Activities: Supervise an USAID funded project to improve election access for persons with disabilities in 9 Southeast Asian countries. Manage sub-awards for 3 CSOs in Indonesia and 9 in Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Manage the administration of the project of almost 3 million USD. Establishing a research and advocacy network with American and regional universities as well as over 100 CSOs on election accessibility in Southeast Asia.---- ELECTIONS OPERATIONS SPECIALIST, IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Washington, DC), October 2010-April 2011, Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Activities: Organizational review and restructure of the field office operation, improved financial reporting and administration systems, moved field office to a new location, hired several new staff, provided assistance to IFES DC and to local partners for the preparation of a USAID proposal on “Civil Societies Innovating Together” including structuring the sub-grants and capacity transfer, liaison with local partners, ASEAN, the international community and USAID, capacity building activities design for local staff.---- GOVERNORATE LIAISON OFFICER, IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Washington, DC), June 2008-March2010, Location: Baghdad, Iraq Activities: Assessed material and technical needs for 19 GEOs (Governorate Electoral Offices) and IHEC (Independent Higher Electoral Commission of Iraq) National Office in Baghdad. Increased GEOs’ capacity by facilitating access to resources from strategic partners with total value goods of 3 million USD. Identified communications, operational, and public outreach issues and provided advice to respective IHEC counterparts. Prepared Capacity Building Workshops for IHEC to increase institutional strengthening. Led Basrah Referendum Working Group. Officer in Charge for IFES Mission in Iraq in absence of Chief of Party.---- ELECTION OBSERVER, IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Washington DC), April 2009, Location: Banten Province, West Java, Indonesia Activities: Part of international expert team for IFES Indonesia’s Observation Mission of Legislative Elections. Assessed electoral preparedness of KPU Banten Office, West Java.---- CONFERENCE MANAGER, MRRD (Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Kabul, Afghanistan) September 2007- November 2007, Location: Kabul, Afghanistan Activities: Project Manager for of a DANIDA / DFID / World Bank-funded National Solidarity Program conference on “Role of the Community Development Councils in Good Local Governance and Development” with over 1000 participants and 34 simultaneous working groups over a period of six days. Managed core conference team of 14 staff during planning period, including capacity building on project management. Finalized project budget and supervised over 140 local staff, short-term contractors, hosts and MRRD employees. Liaised with all stakeholders and client organizations on conference issues including security, drafted VIP protocol, coordinated Afghan President’s visit, visitor accreditation and guest speakers.---- ELECTIONS OBSERVER, SOMET (Solidarity Observation Mission for East Timor) April 2007-May 2007, Location: Dili, East Timor Activities: Liaised with UN, European Union, and Election Commission on strategic issues to gather and assess information. Observed both election rounds. Produced detailed report with my national counterpart. Documented incidents to form part of final mission statement.---- ELECTIONS OBSERVER, NDI (National Democratic Institute, Washington DC, USA) December 2006 - January 2007, Location: Three provinces, Bangladesh Activities: Produced assessment reports on political situation in three provinces, focusing on campaigning, election administration, and voter registration. Met with representatives from participating political parties, including MPs, candidates, and other stakeholders, including NGOs, the UN, and civil society groups.---- MEDIA RESULTS CENTER MANAGER, UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services, New York, USA), November 2005- May 2006, Location: Port au Prince, Haiti Activities: Planned and operated “state of the art” (Haitian media comments) Media Results Center (MRC) to host up to 500 visitors for conferences of the Provisionary Election Commission (CEP) in challenging work environment and unstable security conditions. Supervised and coordinated team of 45 staff (short term contractors and service providers). Designed complete technical set up (including wireless Internet, satellite uplink, engineering, audiovisual presentation, the display of results, security, simultaneous interpreting, a call center with 10 land lines and related needs). Liaised with international media daily and with several UN agencies, the international community and donor USAID.---- GENERAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR, SAI (Strategic Assessments Initiative, Washington DC, USA) / ITAG, International Transition Assistance Group, April 2005-November 2005. Location: East Jerusalem, Palestine Activities: Coordinated activities of 15 international consultants, government secondees (Germany, UK, Canada) and local staff working for SAI / ITAG projects (security sector reform of Palestinian authorities and Gaza disengagement support). Assured consistent communication and reporting with project donors (Royal Dutch Foreign Ministry and IDRC) and other SAI stakeholders from international community. Administered complete country project, organized weekly ITAG staff travel arrangements to Gaza, media presentations and field trips to West Bank for media, and international community (convoy of up to 18 cars).---- EXTERNAL RELATIONS OFFICER, IOM (International Organization for Migration, Geneva, Switzerland) January 2005 - February 2005 Location: Amman, Jordan and Damascus, Syria Activities: External Relations Officer for the Iraq OCV (Out Of Country Voting) at the IOM Headquarters in Amman and the IOM Country Office in Damascus. Organized and prepared media conferences and workshops in Amman and Damascus. In charge of Count Location in Syria regarding external relations.---- MEDIA ADVISOR to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission, IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Washington, DC), December 2004-January 2005, Location: Ramallah, Palestine Activities: Advised Central Elections Commission Media Department in all matters of planning, construction, and operation of two Media Results Centers in Ramallah and Gaza City for Palestine Presidential Elections 2005. Managed 50 staff during operation. Outlined operation plan, budget and procurement needs, contracted and coordinated outside service suppliers, trained and prepared local staff for operation. Worked with international media daily and negotiated and organized satellite TV pool with four international networks to avoid bandwidth conflicts and overcrowding.---- DEPUTY MANAGER Media Results Center, IFES (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Washington, DC), August 2004 - November 2004, Location: Kabul, Afghanistan Activities: Planned and constructed JEMBS (Joint Electoral Management Body Secretariat) Media Results Center together with Media Center Manager in largest ever UN-supported MRC operation hosting 800 visitors and media. Liaised with international media during operation to fulfill media and VIP requirement as well as production of TV studio facilities. Served as primary contact person between various UN agencies outside JEMBS such as UNOPS, UNDP and UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) as well as external service suppliers, international military (ISAF), and private security contractors.---- MANAGING DIRECTOR, C&D Promotion GbR, “Agentur für Medienmarketing und Event Management” June 1997 - March 2004, Location: Cologne, Germany Activities: Established and operated successful startup marketing and promotion company during university years. Company grew from an idea with no capital to agency with three independent departments (marketing, promotion and event management), eight employees, several interns, 80 freelancers nationwide, and a annual budget turnover of close to $800,000USD. Generated all clients, including several international companies such as Deutsche Telekom, Levis Jeans, Warner Music, SONY and Ubisoft Computer Games. Overall responsibility for production of all public relations and image campaigns for all clients, including TV, radio, and print media. Awarded several prizes for innovative and effective marketing campaigns.

Thematic Areas of Expertise