Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Maria Chepurina-Deswel

New York

Summary

Senior strategic partnerships specialist with 10+ years of experience mobilizing resources across philanthropic and public sectors. Proven success in scaling global partnerships, diversifying funding streams, and leading complex donor engagement strategies. At the UN Secretary-General’s Office, mobilized $20M+ over the first 24 months in philanthropic funding commitments and private sector pro bono support, doubled the number of strategic foundation partners to 30+, and achieved a 45% increase in contributions. Track record includes funding the Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board, the Summit of the Future Action Days, climate action work, and the newly created Future Generations Envoy’s team. Known for data-driven decision-making, ecosystem-building, and strategic foresight. Fluent in four languages, including English and French.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Partnerships Officer, Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General (EOSG)

United Nations
03.2023 - Current
  • Develop and manage strategic partnerships with philanthropic organizations, opening new collaboration channels and engagement formats. Lead external outreach, coordinate internal inter-unit proposal development, oversee grant negotiations, and manage operational aspects of grant implementation. In collaboration with key philanthropic platforms (Philea, WINGS, and AVPN), established a data-driven database of EOSG philanthropic partners and prospects, mapping 150+ philanthropic institutions globally.
  • Achievements:
  • 1.Mobilized $20M+ over the first 24 months in office in philanthropic funding and private sector pro bono support, including commitments from the Wellcome Trust, funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and Bennett Foundation, and pro bono support from BCG, McKinsey, and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.
  • 2.Secured multi-year 7- to 8-digit funding for the Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), the convening of the Summit of the Future Action Days, the operationalization of the Future Generations Envoy’s Office, and the sustained support of the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Team.
  • 3.Streamlined the philanthropic workstream in the Secretary-General’s Office, providing expert advice on the UN’s strategic positioning with the philanthropic sector, including within the UN80 framework, and successfully led internal coordination and negotiations with key philanthropic partners.

External Relations Officer

UN-system Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
05.2017 - 02.2023
  • Led the development and implementation of CTBTO’s philanthropic engagement strategy, positioning the organization within the global philanthropic ecosystem and aligning with emerging funding trends. Managed the strategic partnership with the European Union, overseeing proposal development, grant negotiations, high-quality reporting, partner consultations, donor recognition, and support to senior management.
  • Achievements:
  • 1.Strategically positioned CTBTO with the philanthropic sector, opening new partnerships with North American and European foundations, notably MacArthur Foundation on risk reduction, Knight Foundation on disinformation, Riboud Foundation and Fondation de France around youth engagement.
  • 2.Established first CTBTO foundation’s database and partner engagement portal, streamlining grant making and grant implementation tracking processes. Circulated weekly newsletter on the latest trends in the philanthropic sector.
  • 3.Steered the full cycle of donor relationships with the EU, expanding it to a multiyear $15 million portfolio, and receiving recognition for donor steering.

Presidential Advisor

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA)
01.2016 - 04.2017
  • Led strategic Member State relationship management, devising and promoting the implementation of development programmes in 57 OSCE Member States. Oversaw integrated work planning, official high-level visits and political engagements of the President, including during four OSCE Ministerial and Bureau leadership meetings.
  • Achievements:
  • 1. Led the preparation and roll out of over 40 high-level presidential and ministerial-level country visits, ensuring efficient follow-up.
  • 2. Successfully oversaw the President’s secretariat, ensuring close organization-wide coordination and strategic planning for the President’s 24-month mandate, navigating political sensitivities and closely working across divisions.
  • 3. Led the President’s engagement on the European migration crisis, conducting field visits with OSCE country offices to support advocacy and fundraising efforts, and publishing a policy brief.

Programme Officer

OSCE PA
05.2011 - 12.2015
  • Led on leveraging parliamentary diplomacy for development cooperation, closely working with the OSCE country offices, identifying strategic opportunities for programmatic interventions. Tracked programme implementation and coordinated monitoring and evaluation. Developed country analysis, provided strategic partnership and policy advice to the OSCE Secretary-General, and published briefing materials.
  • Achievements:
  • 1. Successfully led and implemented the Helsinki+40 multipartner programme, coordinating with OSCE country offices, over 500 parliamentarians from 57 OSCE countries. Drafted the Final Report, successfully endorsed at the OSCE Informal High-Level Ministerial Meeting (2015).
  • 2. Deployed as a policy, programme and country coordination officer on 20+ OSCE needs assessment missions in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia, including long-term stretch assignments on election monitoring missions in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

Education

Senior Midcareer Fellow in Negotiations -

Harvard University
01.2021

PhD - International Relations

MGIMO University
01.2014

Master’s degree - International Security

Sciences Po Paris
01.2011

Exchange Programme - undefined

King’s College London
01.2011

Bachelor of Arts with Honours - International Relations

Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO University)
01.2009

Skills

  • French & Russian: bilingual
  • English: native fluency
  • Italian & German: competent
  • Computer skills: excellent command of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Lists)

Certification

  • PRINCE2 Project Management Certificate: Foundation and Practitioner, May 2022.
  • The Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the SDGs: Certificate of Completion, UNSSC, May 2024.

Timeline

Partnerships Officer, Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General (EOSG)

United Nations
03.2023 - Current

External Relations Officer

UN-system Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)
05.2017 - 02.2023

Presidential Advisor

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA)
01.2016 - 04.2017

Programme Officer

OSCE PA
05.2011 - 12.2015

PhD - International Relations

MGIMO University

Master’s degree - International Security

Sciences Po Paris

Exchange Programme - undefined

King’s College London

Bachelor of Arts with Honours - International Relations

Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO University)

Senior Midcareer Fellow in Negotiations -

Harvard University

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