Leena Maqsood
Malden
Summary
Insightful Individual Consultant known for high productivity and efficient task completion. Possess key specialized skills in strategic planning, process optimization, and stakeholder engagement. Excel in communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, ensuring successful project outcomes through effective collaboration and innovative thinking.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Individual Consultant
Ask Development
02.2023 - 07.2023
- Analysis of Planning and Development Department (Provincial Government Sindh, Pakistan)'s current functions, work processes and mechanisms through collection of relevant data on 1) performance levels and 2) resource allocation to these processes. This initiative has been executed under UNDP Project 'Reform & Innovation in Government for High Performance.'
Program Coordinator
Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston
10.2021 - 02.2023
Communications & Program Support Specialist
JSI Research & Training Institute Inc.
06.2015 - 12.2017
- Company Overview: JSI was implementing the Health Systems Strengthening Component of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Program in Pakistan.
- Facilitated the editing and design process of four provincial, 23 district health facility assessment reports and a provincial advocacy brief. Executed this task under the technical assistance provided to the provincial Department of Health Sindh, Pakistan.
- Prepared quarterly and annual work plans and reports for submission to USAID. Also developed a report on the Expanded Program on Immunization in Sindh, Pakistan for submission to the donor and other MCH stakeholders.
- Produced success stories for USAID. This covered beneficiaries and program interventions introduced to improve MCH outcomes in Pakistan.
- JSI was implementing the Health Systems Strengthening Component of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Program in Pakistan.
Individual Contractor
UNDP
08.2017 - 09.2017
- A home-based consultancy to develop a 1000-word photo article on Home Based Workers in Pakistan under Delivering Results Together–Fund (DRTF) of United Nations.
Advocacy, Communication & Outreach Specialist
UNOPS
04.2012 - 08.2012
- Company Overview: The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was implementing Legal Empowerment of the Poor Program in Pakistan.
- Produced documentary Justice for All to advocate for reforms in the justice sector. This documentary was showcased at the launching ceremony of the program.
- Liaise with the justice sector stakeholders to implement program interventions. This included capacity building training for police officers on how to file and investigate cases of honor crimes; establishing of anti-honor crime cells in Pakistan to prevent women becoming a victim of honor crimes; and Provision of legal support to the women survivors of honor crimes.
- Provided technical assistance to establish legal aid clinics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh province to help women access right to inheritance, dower, maintenance, and divorce.
- The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was implementing Legal Empowerment of the Poor Program in Pakistan.
Project Officer
UNOPS
04.2010 - 03.2012
- Company Overview: UNOPS was implementing the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) funded Gender Justice & Protection (GJP) Project in Pakistan.
- Prepared quarterly work plans; processed quarterly progress reports of GJP Project implementing partners; and coordinated with UNOPS regional headquarters, Bangkok, Thailand, for the release of project funds.
- Designed and launched 16 Days of Activism campaign to condemn violence against women. Developed and got published 16 print messages in an English Daily The News International and two Urdu Dailies Jang and Khabrein. In addition, produced montage Afraid and alone: Violence against women in Pakistan; Acid legislation in Pakistan; a cable advertisement; and organized orientation sessions to sensitize journalists on different facets of violence against women in Pakistan.
- Provided technical assistance to: A Think Tank Sustainable Development Policy Institute to do policy advocacy with women parliamentarians to support the legislation on acid control and crime prevention in Pakistan. This policy advocacy successfully culminated into Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act 2010.
- An NGO Marvi Rural Development Organization to set-up One Stop Resource Center for the women farmers to access social protection support interventions that Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund had designed. This included aiding women farmers to apply for micro-credit schemes.
- The Regional Directorate of Human Rights Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the release of 51 women prisoners on bail. Accordingly, hired 13 women advocates on payroll to suffice the release of women prisoners.
- The district government Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to establish sexual harassment complaint cell to address such cases, in Hattar Industrial State, if needed, following the procedures described in Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2010.
- Compiled a project Publication A Travelogue of GJP Project. Also, edited and supervised the design, publishing and dissemination of a success stories booklet Struggling for Justice.
- Facilitated the design, development, and content writing for the website of Insaf Network Pakistan, a consortium of civil society organizations and NGOs, GJP Project created in collaboration with UNDP to expedite the launch of unified advocacy campaigns for the socio-economic and political emancipation of women in Pakistan.
- UNOPS was implementing the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) funded Gender Justice & Protection (GJP) Project in Pakistan.
Communications & Reporting Officer
FAO
08.2009 - 04.2010
- Company Overview: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations was implementing the European Commission (EC)’s funded Food Facility Pakistan Project.
- Facilitated the documentary production Food Crisis in Pakistan to be broadcast during International Food Summit 2009, Rome, Italy.
- Produced newsletters and did grant writing for fundraising.
- Trained women farmers in Farmer Field Schools on the adoption of kitchen gardening practices.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations was implementing the European Commission (EC)’s funded Food Facility Pakistan Project.
Communication Officer
UNDP
10.2008 - 08.2009
- Company Overview: UNDP was implementing the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) funded Strengthening Public Grievance Redress Mechanisms (SPGRM) Project to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Federal Ombudsman Pakistan.
- Facilitated Federal Ombudsman Pakistan Office to: Establish education clinics in collaboration with civil society organizations to promote public awareness on the role of the Federal Ombudsman Institute.
- Compile, design and publish public complaints directory.
- Install universal access number and launch mobile-based SMS complaint tracking system.
- UNDP was implementing the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) funded Strengthening Public Grievance Redress Mechanisms (SPGRM) Project to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Federal Ombudsman Pakistan.
Media Officer
NGO-Interactive Resource Center, Pakistan
08.2008 - 10.2008
- Company Overview: Advocacy based NGO promoting human rights in Pakistan via theater and documentary production.
- Produced documentaries on how to use interactive theater to mobilize masses for adopting action-oriented approach to address social issues. This included an advocacy documentary for the provision of creche facilities to women laborers at the workplace.
- Liaison with other social sector organizations including donor agencies for fundraising.
- Organized theater and video production workshop for women university students in Lahore.
- Advocacy based NGO promoting human rights in Pakistan via theater and documentary production.
Field Interviewer
GFK-NOP & Ipsos MORI, UK
03.2008 - 07.2008
- Worked part-time with two social and marketing research companies.
Producer Current Affairs
Pakistan Television Corporation Limited
02.2006 - 01.2008
- Served Islamabad and Lahore stations to produce: Studio-based programs; outdoor broadcasts; live telecasts.
- Programs on key areas of integrated development inclusive of health & hygiene, water & sanitation, woman & child protection, environment & pollution control.
- Programs like Open Forum where federal ministers and ministers of states are invited to address public complaints received through email, telephone, and other media.
- A variety of Interviews that can be categorized as the informative, opinion, and personality interview.
Freelance Feature/Article Writer
English Magazine Weekly Independent, Pakistan
03.2003 - 01.2007
- Covered the issues related to poverty and environmental pollution.
Producer Programs
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Limited
12.2001 - 02.2006
- Served Islamabad and Lahore stations to produce women magazine programs, testimonies, and music.
Freelance Feature/Article Writer
English Daily The News International, Pakistan
09.2000 - 12.2003
- Contributed mostly on the social issues Pakistani women and girls were facing in Pakistan.
Advocacy Officer
NGO-Aurat Publication & Information Service Foundation Pakistan
10.2000 - 11.2001
- For women emancipation in Pakistan: Designed and launched advocacy campaigns in 17 districts of Punjab province. The objective of the campaign was to encourage the participation of women voters in the electoral campaign to support the increase of women's representatives in the federal and provincial legislative assemblies.
Education
Master of Arts - Conflict Resolution
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Boston, MA05-2021
Master of Arts - Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI05-2015
Ph.D. - Global Governance & Human Security
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Boston, MASkills
- Data analysis
- Report writing
- Program evaluation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Project management
- Advocacy strategies
Accomplishments
● Produced English documentary Education with Gender Bias that was broadcast during the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) 12th Annual Audio-Visual Exchange Program, Thimphu, Bhutan, Mar 2004, to represent Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation.
● Received twice, in 2007 & 2009, USAID’s Safe Motherhood Award along with prize money for producing a TV documentary on Maternal & Neonatal Health Situation in Pakistan to raise awareness at community level and strengthening the policy advocacy for improved population planning and use of contraceptives. The news story for 2009 call to create awareness of maternal health
Certification
Risk Management in Development Projects | Inter-American Development Bank, USA | 2024
Project Management for Development | Inter-American Development Bank, USA | 2024
Data for Effective Policy Making| Inter-American Development Bank, USA | 2023
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA| National Council for Behavioral Health | 2019-22
Collecting Social Media Data | Sage Campus | 2021
Serious Game Design & Research | Michigan State University, USA | 2013
● Designed board game ‘Why be hungry?’ to fulfill certification requirements.
New Media Driver’s License | Michigan State University, USA | 2013
Introduction to Television Reporting | Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, UK | 2008
Web Design & Development | London School of Computer Education, UK | 2008
Languages
English
Full Professional
Urdu
Full Professional
Punjabi
Full Professional
Skills
● Proficient in the use of MS Office 365; Google suite; video conferencing technology (Zoom); learning management system (Blackboard, OnCourse); social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn); data analysis software (SPSS and Stata); reference management tool (Mendeley); project management software/tools (Airtable, Gantt.); WordPress, and Canva.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Individual Consultant
Ask Development
02.2023 - 07.2023
Program Coordinator
Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston
10.2021 - 02.2023
Individual Contractor
UNDP
08.2017 - 09.2017
Communications & Program Support Specialist
JSI Research & Training Institute Inc.
06.2015 - 12.2017
Advocacy, Communication & Outreach Specialist
UNOPS
04.2012 - 08.2012
Project Officer
UNOPS
04.2010 - 03.2012
Communications & Reporting Officer
FAO
08.2009 - 04.2010
Communication Officer
UNDP
10.2008 - 08.2009
Media Officer
NGO-Interactive Resource Center, Pakistan
08.2008 - 10.2008
Field Interviewer
GFK-NOP & Ipsos MORI, UK
03.2008 - 07.2008
Producer Current Affairs
Pakistan Television Corporation Limited
02.2006 - 01.2008
Freelance Feature/Article Writer
English Magazine Weekly Independent, Pakistan
03.2003 - 01.2007
Producer Programs
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Limited
12.2001 - 02.2006
Advocacy Officer
NGO-Aurat Publication & Information Service Foundation Pakistan
10.2000 - 11.2001
Freelance Feature/Article Writer
English Daily The News International, Pakistan
09.2000 - 12.2003
Master of Arts - Conflict Resolution
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Master of Arts - Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media
Michigan State University
Ph.D. - Global Governance & Human Security
University of Massachusetts, Boston
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