Michael Despines. Profile. Relevant Work Experience

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1 Michael Despines Profile A powerful, visionary mind able to intuitively identify trends, core issues and solutions. Adept with science, numbers, and technology. A quiet, genuine passion and serenity that motivates and assures others. Able to solve problems and generate real-world solutions. Proven record of leading and collaborating with men and women of all cultures. Forceful presenter with strong written and oral communication skills. Relevant Work Experience Vice President for International Programs, Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), Montpelier, VT Successfully managed ISC's international program portfolio in China, India, Bangladesh and Serbia representing eighty percent of the organizational budget. Mentored country directors in developing robust security, administration, HR, and program related systems, policies and procedures. Using participatory methods, successfully developed rubrics for the agency's new strategic plan enabling program staff in the country offices and senior managers in headquarters to consistently monitor progress against key strategic objectives. Chosen to supervise and mentor the newly hired M&E Director to create an organizational culture focused on evidence-based programming, and establish agencywide M&E policies, procedures and protocols. Also led an initiative to develop common "mission-level" metrics across the agency. Provided strategic management and oversight to ISC's highly successful 9 year, $35 million civil society capacity building project in Serbia. The project supported over 250 local partners with sub-grants and custom-designed capacity building support significantly strengthening the civil society sector. Conducted donor and program assessments in Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Regional Director Asia, CHF International, Silver Spring, MD Provide strategic guidance, management support, and mentoring to country directors in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Mongolia, Georgia, and Armenia. Responsible for a regional budget valued at over $45 million/year. Directly supported the $150 million/5 year USAID FATA Livelihood Development program. Project focused on job creation, improved infrastructure, and value chain development (agriculture, gemstone). Successfully led negotiations with USAID and coalition partners (Abt Associates, IRC, J.E. Austin Associates. MERLIN)

2 Climate Resilience Campaign Coordinator, Washington, DC Friends of the Earth (FoE) Recognized as the driving force and leader of a coalition of NGOs focused on promoting domestic resilience to the impacts of climate change. Led in the development of key policy documents, coalition platforms, and advocacy strategies. Reached out to over 75 organizations to build and broaden a coalition that grew to include environmental, faith-based, international development, low-income, social justice, environmental justice, and advocacy agencies working together to promote action and sound policy on climate change. Met regularly with congressional staff offering guidance and feedback on legislative text, made policy recommendations, and built up support for action to address the impacts of climate change. Regional Director Great Lakes, Africa, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Nairobi, Kenya Active member of a key group of senior-level staff on the Strategy Development Council that generated and implemented agency-wide strategies, policies and guidelines; programming models; operational protocols and procedures; and made recommendations on human resource policies and practices. Core member of the team that conceptualized the Program Framework and developed the key content, the operational modalities, and the organizational training and institutionalization plan. Also developed and implemented a training curriculum and rolled out a global training program. The Program Framework has, for the first time in the history of the agency, provided a clear organizational identity and a shared programmatic vision and methodology. Supervised and supported the IRC Country Directors in Burundi, The Republic of Congo, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania and oversaw an annual $20 million combined regional program portfolio. Long-term catalyst and advocate for data and evidence-based programming. Contributed to the creation of the new Research and Learning Unit within the agency. Team leader on two successful USAID competitive applications. Senior Policy/Program Advisor, International Rescue Committee (IRC), New York, USA (6 month assignment) I was brought in to the head office by the Vice President for International Programs to oversee a diverse range of priority agency-wide initiatives: Successfully revitalized the agency s strategic planning process. Conceptualized, wrote and developed the policy documents, the training program, and oversaw the roll-out of the revised strategic planning system throughout 25 country offices. Provided oversight, input and technical support to the newly formed Post-Conflict Development Initiative (PCDI). The mandate of PCDI was to define, develop and institutionalize agency best practices in post-conflict programming.

3 Analyzed the role and function of the International Program Department s Grants Unit and made recommendations to the Vice President on the unit s structure, staffing and operating procedures. Country Director, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Bukavu, DR Congo Over a six year period transformed a $500k/year program into a highly respected $7 million/year program supporting communities with projects in rapid emergency assistance, primary health care, prevention of gender based violence, and civil society and local NGO development and capacity building. Supported and managed up to five field sites and approximately 25 expatriates and 300 national staff. Rallied and organized the NGO community to take strong and unified NGO policy positions. Often led and participated on joint NGO advocacy letters or press releases on key humanitarian issues, typically requiring delicate negotiation and networking to produce a final product. Extensive experience negotiating with donors and advocating with senior U.S. and non- U.S. government staff. Have conducted numerous private and public briefings for senate and congressional staff. Have written or been the team leader on numerous complex proposal submissions. Experienced writing for broad range of U.S. and non-u.s. donors. Country Director, Action Contre la Faim USA, Butare, Rwanda Managed a $1 million humanitarian project providing assistance in water, sanitation, and micro-credit. Supervised a team of 5 expatriates and 50 national staff. Liaised with government officials at the national and regional level generating support for program activities. Deputy Director, International Medical Corps, Luanda, Angola Responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations of IMC s humanitarian program. Designed and managed all administration and logistic systems to support 4 field sites that were completely reliant on the head office for food, program supplies, and operating materials. Managed and supervised 25 expatriates distributed over four sites. Responsible for overseeing the security for all staff and field sites. Director, Refugee Resettlement Program, International Rescue Committee, Freetown, Sierra Leone Supervised 4 expatriate staff and oversaw field operations in five countries including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d Ivoire and Nigeria.

4 In-Processing Coordinator, International Rescue Committee, Freetown, Sierra Leone Designed and implemented a range of administrative systems and procedures to streamline and document the processing of refugee applicants. Caseworker, International Rescue Committee, Freetown, Sierra Leone Spent 70% of time at field sites interviewing Liberian refugees and documenting their persecution histories for submission to INS officers for possible resettlement to the United States. Math Teacher, U.S. Peace Corps, Koulamoutou, Gabon Taught mathematics to 7th and 8th grades students in French. Designed and wrote a mathematics curriculum. Participated as an Education Technical Trainer of new Peace Corps volunteers for 3 months on teaching skills and methodologies, classroom management and discipline, and curriculum design. Consultancies and Other Work Experience: Program Consultant, American Refugee Committee (ARC), Lubumbashi/Moba DR Congo (3 Week Assignment) Supported and advised a joint team from ARC and the Center for Victims of Torture on a three week assessment trip to the remote area of Moba, DRC Congo. Produced a report outlining a programmatic strategy, key priorities and recommendations on how ARC can develop a viable country program in DR Congo. Developed and wrote a multi-sector project proposal for submission to the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Advised ARC staff on partner and donor relations and negotiations and facilitated donor meetings during the trip. Consultant, International Rescue Committee, Zagreb, Croatia (4 Month Assignment) Provided technical guidance on the design and format of a database to convert the paper-based refugee processing to a completely computerized system. Trained key senior staff on computer and database use. Education/Training: Masters in International Management, School for International Training Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

5 Member: Etta Kappa Nu: Electrical Engineering Honor Society Bachelor of Arts in General Arts and Science, Pennsylvania State University Para-Professional Counseling Course, 15 weeks, Pennsylvania State University Publications/Presentations: Despines, Michael, The American Dream -- The World s Nightmare, Keynote speech at International Education Conference, International Perspectives: What Do We Mean by Green?, Western Connecticut State University, October 16, Despines, Michael, Simon Bullock, Mike Childs, Tom Picken, A Dangerous Distraction: Why Offsets are a Mistake the U.S. Cannot Afford to Make, Friends of the Earth, September 2009, Brennan, Richard J., Michael Despines, Leslie F. Roberts, Mortality surveys in the Democratic Republic of Congo: humanitarian impact and lessons learned, Humanitarian Exchange Magazine 35, November 2006; Languages: French Interests: Wildlife Photography ( Tennis