Lauren Whitehead
About Lauren Whitehead
Lauren Whitehead serves as the Director of Technical Assistance, bringing extensive experience in program design and implementation across various sectors, including financial inclusion and humanitarian response. She has worked with multiple organizations globally, including UNHCR and Mercy Corps, and holds advanced degrees from Georgetown University and Princeton University.
Work at BRAC USA
Lauren Whitehead serves as the Director of Technical Assistance at BRAC USA. In this role, she focuses on providing technical advisory services and support for program design and implementation. Her expertise encompasses various areas including livelihoods, social protection, financial inclusion, gender, and humanitarian response. She collaborates with diverse stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of programming.
Education and Expertise
Lauren Whitehead holds a Master's degree in Human Development and International Development from Georgetown University, where she studied from 2012 to 2014. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Near Eastern Studies, Theater, Dance, Spanish, and Latin American Studies from Princeton University, completing her studies from 2005 to 2009. Her educational background supports her specialization in program design, implementation, and evaluation.
Background
Lauren Whitehead has extensive international experience, having worked in various countries including Bangladesh, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Lesotho, the United Kingdom, Colombia, and Ecuador. Her career includes roles in organizations such as UNHCR, Accion, and Mercy Corps, where she focused on areas such as financial inclusion, gender mainstreaming, and interreligious peacebuilding.
Professional Experience
Lauren Whitehead has held multiple positions across various organizations. She worked as a U.S. Fulbright Research Scholar at UNHCR in Geneva and served as a consultant for durable solutions. Her previous roles include positions at the Inter-American Development Bank, Mercy Corps, and Tomorrow's Youth Organization. She has also contributed to the arts sector through her work at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.
Achievements
Lauren Whitehead has managed both internationally and locally-based teams, demonstrating her leadership capabilities in diverse settings. She has collaborated with government ministries, multilateral institutions, and large NGOs to develop and assess programming effectiveness. Her work has focused on enhancing financial education and social transfer programs, contributing to improved livelihoods and social protection initiatives.