Arjun Tasker
Silver Spring,MD
Summary
Highly accomplished and results-oriented international development and humanitarian assistance executive with 15+ years of experience, including 10 years designing, assessing, and leading USAID programs. Proven ability to drive strategic growth, lead and manage teams, develop and implement policy, build partnerships, and translate policy into action.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Adjunct Professor
Johns Hopkins University SAIS
09.2022 - Current
- Taught "Theories of Change: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", providing instruction to up to 25 graduate students.
- This course looks at the theory and reality of project planning in development agencies, and asks why it is so hard for them to plan to adapt. It covers the starting point of planning and project design and the most salient critiques. The course builds upon insider understandings of the incentives and processes within large donor bureaucracies and how those ultimately shape results.
Global Lead - New Partnerships Initiative (NPI)
United States Agency for International Development
10.2020 - 11.2024
- Provided strategic and technical leadership of NPI, advancing USAID's ability to work with nontraditional actors and support locally led development
- Grew NPI's portfolio of awards from $20M to over $1B in award ceiling
- Built, supervised, and managed the NPI team. Optimized resource allocation by establishing prioritization criteria based on scope, budget constraints, and strategic goals.
- Led a global process to develop country-specific NPI Action Plans in 80 countries
- Provided technical advice on localization reform efforts, democracy programming, civil society efforts, education programming, Northern Triangle strategic programming, digital development, and activities that promoted women's access to finance
- Developed and oversaw NPI's engagement and advocacy strategy, including Congressional engagement
- Represented USAID at external events in closed sessions and at public events such as AIDEx
- Managed NPI's $47M Incubator contract, providing technical direction and oversight
Senior Policy Advisor
DEXIS Professional Services
03.2020 - 10.2020
- Served as the USAID Office of Local Sustainability (E3/LS) policy lead
- Led the development of USAID's first Local Capacity Strengthening Policy
- Advised leadership on relevant policies and political priorities
- Represented E3/LS on the NPI Core Working Group
- Acted as Deputy Director of the Client Services Working Group during Agency Transformation
Mission Support Program Analyst
DEXIS Consulting Group/DPS
04.2018 - 03.2020
- Managed E3/LS's Europe and Eurasia portfolio
- Provided technical support to Local Works Missions as a Local Sustainability Specialist
- Provided substantive comments to solicitations; facilitated co-creation for the design of education and agriculture finance activities; and participated on technical evaluation committees for multiple community-led development activities
- Led the office's participation in the DDI Bureau visioning process and the development of NPI
- Served as the office lead on relevant legislation
Senior Outreach Specialist
DEXIS Consulting Group
10.2015 - 04.2018
- Led E3's Local Sustainability Office's communications and outreach efforts
- Supported Mission implementation of Local Works through TDYs for program design and consultation
- Provided extensive feedback on USAID/Macedonia's approach to organizational network analysis
- Facilitated a workshop for USAID/Serbia on social capital in program design
- Facilitated a Context-Driven Adaptation workshop
- Supported the development of a four-sector strategy for USAID/Serbia's Local Works program
Education
MS(c) & MPP - Public Policy and Human Development
United Nations University MERIT / Maastricht University
07.2013
BA - Religion
Haverford College
05.2007
Skills
- International Development
- Policy Development & Advocacy
- Strategic Planning
- Leadership & Management
- Cross-functional Team Building & Mentorship
- Facilitation
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Cross-Cultural Communication
- Proposal Evaluation
- Innovative Project Financing
Timeline
Adjunct Professor
Johns Hopkins University SAIS
09.2022 - Current
Global Lead - New Partnerships Initiative (NPI)
United States Agency for International Development
10.2020 - 11.2024
Senior Policy Advisor
DEXIS Professional Services
03.2020 - 10.2020
Mission Support Program Analyst
DEXIS Consulting Group/DPS
04.2018 - 03.2020
Senior Outreach Specialist
DEXIS Consulting Group
10.2015 - 04.2018
MS(c) & MPP - Public Policy and Human Development
United Nations University MERIT / Maastricht University
BA - Religion
Haverford College
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