Elizabeth Ceryak

● Based as a diplomat in Embassy Budapest, with frequent (90%) travel to Amman, Jordan and Adana, Turkiye.

● Managed and oversaw for compliance annual budgets of $350 million to $1 billion.

● Analyzed reports and assessments to provide internal and external recommendations on, and implementation through NGO/PIO partners, multi-sectoral (health, WASH, nutrition, shelter, food, economic recovery, agriculture, protection) awards benefiting up to 13 million people monthly.

● Built strategy for and directed USAID representation and engagement with WFP Yemen to refine ~$750 million food security program to improve beneficiary targeting and effectiveness.

● Led negotiations for and managed ~$150 million WFP Syria program to improve sustainability and efficiency.

● Led program team review and pivoting of program strategy to adapt to new access and needs, particularly in former-regime held parts of Syria after the fall of Assad.

● Initiated, advised, and built a process to bring direct funding to five local Syrian NGOs in four years. Mentored and assisted partners to ensure success with the USG.

● Main point of contact with UNWFP on each portfolio managing program effectiveness, compliance, reporting adherence, and organizational refinement.

● Designed, built, and implemented country-wide strategies and budgets around needs based information, team priorities, and external inputs. Collaborate with sectoral technical teams (in house and clusters) to ensure alignment and appropriate responses.

● Evaluated humanitarian assistance program applications for feasibility and technical rigor, adherence to USG funding regulations, relevance to USAID strategy, identified needs, resource prioritization, and partner capacity to implement within proposed timelines.

● Coordinated with UN agencies, NGO implementing partners, diplomatic missions, and non-USG donors to identify and map response gaps, overlaps, and operational challenges.

● Reviewed, documented, and provided innovative recommendations for improving the appropriateness and efficiency of grants management, including assistance procedures and policies linked to official guidance.

● Conducted remote programmatic monitoring, including triangulation of information from partner reports and assessments, external information, and third-party monitoring reports.

● Represented the US government at working- and high-level internal and external briefings, drafting and disseminate guidance, white papers, contingency plans and other resources used to inform and advise.

● Executed Acting Team Lead and Acting Deputy Team Lead roles as necessary; duties included attending, and providing, high-level advisory briefings (written and oral) to senior leadership with credibility and confidence, providıng timely reports to front offices, leading on and coordinating donor initiatives, overseeing and leading a diverse nine-person team as Team Lead.

● Provided oversight and onboarding to new colleagues, extended guidance, supervision, training, and mentorship to the programs team. Provided an intellectual and inclusive atmosphere conducive to the stimulation and interchange of ideas. Collaborated with diverse teammates based worldwide as a DEI champion and excellent cross cultural communicator.

● Maintained active AOR certification since October 2018.

● Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) on seven assistance awards, totaling more than $330 million of International Disaster Assistance Overseas Contingency Operations (IDA/OCO) funds.

● Alternate AOR on eleven awards totaling more than $305 million of IDA funds, as well as serving as activity manager for FFP Syria and Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)-funded third-party monitoring contract, covering nine NGO/PIO partners implementing in Syria.

● Acting Team Lead for more than six months; supervised and managed a team of nine people, overseeing the final stages of the transition of FFP and OFDA to BHA.

● Coordinated with interagency proposed response in Lebanon due to economic hardship, which was out of FFP/OFDA’s mandate.

● Analyzed situational reports to make internal recommendations for priorities, and implementation through NGO/PIO partners, food security strategies in Syria and surrounding regional refugee hosting countries; including needs assessments, market monitoring, or population movements.

● Engaged and coordinated with host country governments on strategy development for relief, transition, and resilience throughout the emergency responses.

● Compiled strategy for efficient and effective spending based on humanitarian impacts and budget availability.

● Designed, planned, and led three Sarajevo-based partner meetings each with over 120 international attendees; facilitated visa support, lodging, and catering.

● Researched, developed, reviewed, and disseminated office-wide procurement processes and policies. ● Trained staff members on standard procurement processes, award procedures, and policies.
● Researched, initiated, and updated forms and templates for awards, including memos, award documents, transfer authorizations, modifications, budget templates, and close-out documentation.
● Reviewed, documented, and provided recommendations for improving the appropriateness and efficiency of grants management, including assistance procedures and policies.
● Consulted, drafted, and published external guidance to streamline applications and reporting processes, in conjunction with external and internal stakeholders.
● Conducted briefings for both internal and external audiences on changes to laws, regulations, and policies.
● Planned and led two Food Aid Consultative Group meetings in DC with over 100 attendees.
● Built and maintained online repository for all office guidance and documentation: regulations, policy, laws, white papers, templates, informational papers.