Afsaneh Najafzadeh
About Afsaneh Najafzadeh
Afsaneh Najafzadeh serves as the Project Development and Award Management Officer for the FOCUS and 4Children Projects at Catholic Relief Services, where she has worked since 2019. With extensive experience in project management and development, she has held various roles within the organization and other international agencies, contributing to the operational and technical aspects of program implementation.
Work at Catholic Relief Services
Afsaneh Najafzadeh currently serves as the Project Development and Award Management Officer for the FOCUS and 4Children Projects at Catholic Relief Services, a position she has held since 2019. In this role, she leads the development of sub-recipient program orders, operationalizes country-level work plans and budgets, and oversees consultant contract development and compliance. Her previous roles at Catholic Relief Services include Special Assignments in various departments, such as Global Grants, 4Children, and the Partnership & Capacity Strengthening Unit, spanning from 2018 to 2019.
Education and Expertise
Afsaneh Najafzadeh holds a Bachelor of Arts in English-Persian Translation and Interpreting from Islamic Azad University, completed between 1987 and 1991. She also achieved a diploma in Natural Sciences from Fadak High School from 1982 to 1986. Her educational background supports her extensive experience in project management and development within international organizations.
Background
Before her tenure at Catholic Relief Services, Afsaneh Najafzadeh worked with several international organizations. She was an Adolescents and HIV-AIDS Programme Assistant at UNICEF from 2008 to 2013 in Tehran, Iran. Additionally, she has held roles with the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Médecins Sans Frontières, among others, primarily focusing on program coordination and support.
Achievements in Project Management
In her current role, Afsaneh Najafzadeh supports the operational, programming, and technical setup of in-country projects. She leads risk management processes, coordinates the identification and reporting of issues, and analyzes processes to improve award administration. Her work includes maintaining resource and documentation databases and coordinating budget meetings to provide cost recommendations.
Professional Experience in International Organizations
Afsaneh Najafzadeh has a diverse professional background, having worked in various capacities across international organizations. Her experience includes roles as an Interpreter and Translator for Pharmaciens Sans Frontières and Médecins Sans Frontières, and as a Visa Clerk at the Canadian Embassy. She also served as a Global Fund Programme Associate at UNDP and a Repatriation Clerk at UNHCR, contributing to her comprehensive understanding of humanitarian and development work.