Dilly Severin
About Dilly Severin
Dilly Severin serves as the Executive Director of the Universal Access Project at the United Nations Foundation, where she focuses on expanding sexual and reproductive health rights. She has extensive experience in advocacy and communications, having held various leadership roles in organizations such as PAI and the United Nations Foundation.
Current Role at Universal Access Project
Dilly Severin serves as the Executive Director of the Universal Access Project since 2023. In this role, she oversees the management of the project, focusing on expanding sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. She drives the project's policy and advocacy agenda, engaging directly with policymakers and decision-makers. Additionally, she provides oversight for the Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains, ensuring effective management and support for initiatives aimed at enhancing women's resilience in global markets.
Experience at United Nations Foundation
Dilly Severin has held multiple roles at the United Nations Foundation. She worked as Senior Director of Global Initiatives for Family Planning 2020 from 2020 to 2021. During this time, she liaised with UN Foundation leadership on issues related to the Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains. After this position, she served as Senior Director of Advocacy and Communications for Data2X, a project under the UN Foundation, from 2021 to 2023. Her work has involved significant advocacy and communication efforts within the organization.
Professional Background at PAI
Before her tenure at the United Nations Foundation, Dilly Severin worked at PAI for eight years, from 2012 to 2020. She began as an Online Outreach Associate and later advanced to the role of Director of Communications. In these positions, she was responsible for developing communication strategies and outreach initiatives to promote PAI's mission and objectives. Her experience at PAI contributed to her expertise in advocacy and communications in the field of public health.
Educational Background
Dilly Severin holds a Master of Arts in Communication from American University, which she completed in 2013. She also earned a Master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, where she studied from 2006 to 2008. Additionally, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in English Language and Literature from Towson University, graduating in 2006. This educational background has equipped her with the skills necessary for her roles in advocacy, communication, and public policy.
Involvement in Women's Global Value Chains
In her current position, Dilly Severin serves as the UN Foundation's representative on the Advisory Board for the Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains. She supports relationship development and fundraising efforts with investors and partners for this fund. Her work focuses on enhancing women's roles and resilience within global value chains, contributing to broader efforts in gender equity and economic empowerment.