Humphrey International Fellows

Baba Ahmed Abdul-Rahaman is the Director of the West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly in Ghana. He is responsible for coordinating the design and implementation of Policies and development initiatives in the municipality, ensuring that delivery of municipal services are responsive to the needs and aspirations of communities in the municipality. Ahmed holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Ahmed’s goals for the Humphrey Fellowship are to strengthen his knowledge of US approaches to governance at regional and local levels, as well as expand his expertise in the provision of efficient and effective municipal services. Furthermore, Ahmed sees the Fellowship as an opportunity to deepen his appreciation of governance and decentralization in order that he is able to influence policy decisions for the development of local communities.

Hajar Chakkouri is a Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism. In this role, she is responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of plans and processes in furthering the country’s tourism industry. Hajar holds a Master’s in Tourism Marketing and Management from the National School of Business and Management. Hajar’s goals for the Humphrey Fellowship are to engage with American experts in the field and gain a firsthand view of how development policies are managed in tourism-focused organizations and to create innovative solutions to further tourism’s contributions to increased revenues and investments, job opportunities and the monitoring and evaluation of such initiatives in Morocco. Overall, Hajar’s vision of her Fellowship is to contribute to the development of a results-based management system, ensuring that the government will improve its effectiveness and accountability in its tourism strategies.

David Felipe Pérez Prieto is a Public Affairs Advisor for the Comptroller General of the Republic of Colombia. He advises the General Comptroller in institutional relations with the Colombian Congress in constitutional accountability, and transparency issues. He is a Professor for Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, teaching Colombian political and decentralization processes, and also teaches at several NGOs. He holds a B.A in Political Science from Javeriana, a M.A in Law from Universidad Nacional de Colombia and certifications in Constitutional Law and Public Finance from Escuela Superior de Administración Pública . During his Humphrey Fellowship, David aims to further develop his expertise through working with US agencies to promote institutional reform and accountability to achieve transparency in all governmental operations. He hopes to expand his knowledge about American political systems, understand their innovations, legal aspects in public policies, and the interaction with its operation for making transparency a public good that empowers citizens.

Lejla Ibranovic-Mulahasanovic is a Portfolio Manager for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She coordinates the multi-donor local governance portfolio, with interventions ranging from public finance management, public infrastructure rehabilitation and service delivery, to innovation ecosystem development, as well as offers guidance on matters of policy to governments and counterparts. Lejla holds a Master’s in Politics and Government in the European Union from the University of London - London School of Economics and Political Science. Throughout her Humphrey Fellowship, she wishes to further develop her professional skills and expertise in the design and implementation of policies and programs that advance democratization processes, generate transformative institutional change, and increase governance performance. Recognizing the importance of strong professional networks, Lejla believes that the Fellowship will enhance her networking skills to help her promote stronger relations between BiH, the United States and to foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

María José Romano Boscarino serves as the Director of Public Policy at the Federalismo y Libertad foundation in Argentina. She is responsible for planning, designing, and promoting a public policy program for the province of Tucumán. Additionally, she serves as Coordinator in the foundation's training area. Previously, she held various public positions, her most recent role being Director of Educational Strategies at the Ministry of Education of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. She holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from the University Torcuato di Tella. Through the Humphrey Fellowship, María José aims to advance her training in public management and leadership, governance and coalitions, political strategy, deepen her knowledge in specific public policy topics, and foster professional networking. This training will enable her to prepare for advancing her political career and furthering work towards economic and social development in her region.a

Stepan Karamalak is the Head of International Relations Service in the Council of Taraclia District of Moldova. He is responsible for developing relations with neighboring states and fostering integration and ensuring the rights of minority communities. Additionally, he is a Deputy of the World Parliament of Bulgarians to Bulgarians Around the World. Stepan possesses a Master’s in International Relations from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and a Doctorate in International Relations and Politology from the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria. During his Humphrey Fellowship, he plans to study international law in the field of protecting the rights of national minorities, public administration and management. Stepan sees the year as an opportunity to develop his skills in leadership and conflict resolution to prevent conflict on ethnic grounds.

Emmanuel Kwezi Tabaro is the Deputy Director of the LéO AfrIca Institute in Uganda. He is tasked with oversight of the Institute’s programming in Uganda and the wider East African region. Kwezi’s work over the last decade has focused on developing young and emerging leaders in public service. He is a renowned radio talk show host in Uganda where he discusses foreign affairs and domestic politics and regularly contributes to local and regional media publications like The Independent and The East African. Kwezi holds a Bachelor’s in Zoology and Chemistry from Makerere University. Throughout the Humphrey Fellowship, Kwezi aims to advance his expertise in public administration, policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, as well as policy analysis, strategic management, and open government. He recognizes the value of networking and seeks diverse professional experiences in the United States to broaden his understanding and foster invaluable connections in both public and private institutions.

Sreysrors Ly is a social activist and policy advocate. She holds two bachelor's degrees in Law and International Relations. She has worked extensively with local NGOs, and IOs, to push for policy changes in promoting human rights, transparency, and public health through research, training, and dialogue. Besides her key roles in social work, Sreysrors is a program coordinator at Transparency International Cambodia, where she has exercised her professional work on corruption. She provides legal advice and engages relevant stakeholders in the fight against corruption. Sreysrors has been involved in the education sector, where she was a lecturer at the university and author of Enabling Foreign Investment in Cambodia at New Mandala. Through the Humphrey Fellowship, Sreysors aims to deepen her expertise in public policy analysis. She plans to use the knowledge, skills, and experience gained during the fellowship to make positive changes in her home country.

Seoyoung Park is the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for the Republic of Korea. In her International Cooperation Division, she cooperates with international partners on Women’s empowerment. Seoyoung holds a Master’s of Public Policy from Seoul National University and a BA in Business Administration. She sees the Fellowship as an opportunity to enrich her knowledge in leadership among future generations, including women and to gain practical experience in addressing the needs of her own country, to narrow the gender pay gap, to expand women’s participation in the STEM fields, economic empowerment of women, such as balancing work and family responsibilities. She aims to gain diverse perspectives through connections with U.S. organizations and the global alumni network. Especially, regarding the rapid decline in South Korea's birth rate, she seeks solutions in ways of expanding gender equality and empowering women, aiming to enhance national productivity and competitiveness.

Aashraya Seth is the Founder of Impact91, an NGO based in Lucknow and Happy Periods India, a national non-profit initiative on menstrual equity. He is responsible for designing over a dozen non-profit projects in education, environment and public health, cross-cutting gender. Aashraya’s work has impacted over half-a-million underserved and tribal women and girls. He invented India’s most affordable sustainable period product vending machine. Previously he served as the Global Inclusion Lead at The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, mentoring social entrepreneurs and organizations across the Commonwealth. He holds a Master’s in Information Systems and a Bachelor’s in Science. Aashraya views the Humphrey Fellowship as an exceptional opportunity to learn, act, and engage with a diverse network of global leaders and further educate and upskill himself in the area of gender justice. He aims to expand his expertise in innovative practices of creating awareness of menstrual equity, sexual and reproductive health rights, and empowering girls in STEM.

PeerZada Waqar Alam is the Assistant Director of the National Accountability Bureau, the premier anti-corruption body of Pakistan. He is a leader in the struggle for inclusion and accessibility and committed to advocating for the rights of differently abled people. Previously, he served as a Deputy District Accounts Officer and Deputy Treasury Officer in the Finance Department of the Government of Punjab. PeerZada holds a Mphil in Management Studies from Gomal University and an MBA through the Virtual University of Pakistan. Throughout his Humphrey Fellowship, he aims to learn more about leadership, strategic planning, and project management, and acquiring the skills necessary for implementing effective policies and programs. PeerZada will use this opportunity to gain access to international best practices, enabling him to develop innovative anti-corruption strategies in an effort to create a more just and equitable society for all citizens of Pakistan.