Deepa Ramesh

Directed USG-funded international labor rights projects in Honduras, leading cross-functional and multi-national teams from headquarters, AIR’s Mexico office, and Honduras, to develop and deliver high-quality products on time.

• Collaborated with the Honduran government, private sector, and workers’ organizations to address gender discrimination and ensure labor rights in the Honduran textile and garment manufacturing sector for a U.S. Department of State-funded project. Delivered a labor inspection protocol on gender discrimination, training on gender discrimination and unconscious bias, and an electronic complaints mechanism.

• Partnered with the Honduran Ministry of Labor to develop a procedural and operational manual, technology solutions, and asynchronous training for a new labor inspection audit unit under a U.S. Department of Labor-funded project.

• Pursued new business opportunities, including conducting capture planning, researching country contexts, developing strategies, identifying partners, coordinating with country staff, and drafting and reviewing proposals for funding.

• Streamlined project management resources by editing and consolidating templates and other resources for a centralized community of practice hub.

Provided technical expertise to US Department of Labor-funded Reducing the Incidence of Child Labor and Harmful Conditions of Work in Economic Strengthening Initiatives (RICHES) project, implemented by American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) and Grameen Foundation.

• Conducted pre-situational analysis, including literature review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions to better understand the interplay between child labor and women’s entrepreneurship worldwide.

• Assisted in developing and testing a global toolkit to help financial service providers support women entrepreneurs while reducing child labor and promoting acceptable conditions of work. Toolkit was piloted in El Salvador and the Philippines.

• Contributed to the development and testing of digital tools to expand access hindered by COVID-era restrictions.

• Oversaw pilot testing and toolkit rollout in the Philippines, supervising the work of a local technical expert to ensure successful implementation.

Supported clients with strategic planning, program design and implementation, gender analysis, and proposal writing in across labor rights, child labor, education, and women’s economic empowerment sectors, producing multiple award-winning proposals. Conducted analysis and developed technical tools to advance labor justice reforms in Mexico for US Department of Labor-funded projects.

Oversaw financial and performance audits of OCFT-funded projects worldwide; assessed validity of performance data; analyzed methodology and procedures; and developed methods to assess and improve program effectiveness.

• Collaborated with OCFT project managers and Grant Officer in developing appropriate corrective action plans to ensure remediation of complex problems and noncompliance with regulatory requirements. Drafted and oversaw completion of corrective action plans, initial and final determinations, and follow-up letters.

• Created and delivered training for program managers based on lessons learned from OCFT project audits.

• Authored white paper to examine strengths and areas of improvement in OCFT’s audit program.

• Planned and executed 3-day workshop for OCFT grantees worldwide, developing content and materials.

Managed $45 million Community Services portfolio in consultation with Government of Ghana, overseeing construction of primary schools, rural electrification, and water/sanitation facilities. Facilitated cross-functional partnerships with USAID, Peace Corps, and the Carter Center, resulting in broader and deeper impact of MCC project activities.

Developed a manual and CD-ROM for Peace Corps Volunteers worldwide teaching community English classes.

Designed and managed Peace Corps’ first Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) project in the Americas in partnership with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education. Project incorporated team teaching and youth outreach.

• Formed a Project Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from the Nicaraguan government, donor agencies, Peace Corps Volunteers and staff, and local stakeholders to assist with project design and monitoring.

• Developed project document, including M&E plan, indicators, and measurement and assessment tools.

• Supervised 32 Peace Corps Volunteers via site visits, term reports, and informal meetings.

• Selected project communities and counterparts and assigned Volunteers to work sites in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

• Trained Volunteers during 11-week pre-service training and organized in-service training activities for Volunteers and Nicaraguan counterparts.

• Hired and supervised Project Specialist.

Managed $43 million in DOL-funded projects implemented by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and NGOs to increase access to quality education in child labor-affected areas in West and Central Africa. Conducted scoping missions, developed solicitations for grant applications, and chaired selection panels. Reviewed project documents, monitored technical and financial progress reports, conducted site visits, participated in project evaluations, and coordinated with private sector partners, including the cocoa industry. Conducted research and drafted reports on country efforts to eliminate hazardous child labor. Joined as a Presidential Management Fellow.

Taught math to over 250 rural high school students, formed a Girls’ Club, and designed, wrote, and published a nationally-distributed math teachers’ guide in collaboration with other Volunteers. Trained teachers in basic computer use.