Hajar Lamhamedi

About the Candidate

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS/ACHIEVEMENTS

• Awarded the 2015 Excellence Prize by Université Moulay Ismail for being the valedictorian among all master’s degree programs
• Versatile bilingual Program/Policy Coordinator with over 14 years managing social and human development programs. Committed to empowering communities and driving sustainable change
• Navigate complex challenges including meeting tight deadlines using limited resources
• PhD in Applied Economics
• Master’s degree in Territorial Governance
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing
• Effective communicator with experience presenting at public events and in promotional videos
• Flexible team leader with ability to multitask and adapt to changing circumstances
• Proactive and self-motivated with a solution-oriented mindset and a proven ability to take initiative
• Understanding of and ability to easily navigate different cultures and diverse backgrounds

WORK EXPERIENCE

Program/Policy Coordinator – Social Protection Service Head                                      08/2021 to 05/2023

Provincial Government, Tanger, Morocco

• Pioneered a Social Protection service division which launched several successful social programs
• Managed 4 complex government projects which ranked first in the country for project completion
• Coordinated a CAD 2.8 million employment program which created 1496 temporary jobs for NEET youth
• Implemented 2 social programs enrolling 10% of population in 2 months, surpassing targets by 25%
• Oversaw the transition to a new free health insurance system, covering 300,000 low-income individuals
• Resolved program implementation issues, mitigating risks, and ensuring seamless operation
• Collaborated with local NGOs to increase population engagement resulting in improved participation
• Empowered IT team to manage significant workload and meet tight deadlines by recruiting 15 IT interns
• Expanded the team from 5 to 30 members through proactive advocacy for recruitment and onboarding
• Assessed key stakeholders’ needs and translated them into project goals and roadmap
• Designed/reviewed project documentation, including plans, schedules, reports, and presentations
• Conducted daily stand-ups and weekly meetings with project teams to identify and resolve challenges
• Presented regular project status to senior staff, 4 project teams, and 50+ stakeholders
• Supervised 4 cross-functional teams during refurbishment and upgrades for 38 enrollment centers
• Advised senior management on program context and regulation, contributing to informed decision-making
• Assessed program impact and recommended improvements through efficient program evaluations
• Identified potential program risks and shortcomings through a comprehensive and thorough analysis
• Wrote and presented a program evaluation report, escalating identified risks and recommendations
• Demonstrated a commitment to discretion and confidentiality in handling sensitive information
• Executed impactful promotional activities leading to increased engagement and positive feedback
• Cultivated and managed strong relationships as the primary point of contact for stakeholders
• Facilitated information sessions fostering shared understanding among program partners
• Researched, compiled, and presented data, informing senior management’s decision-making
• Provided robust support to program partners and beneficiaries throughout all program stages
• Streamlined administrative processes, optimizing workflow, and reducing burdens for project teams
• Orchestrated meetings, conferences, and events, ensuring seamless logistics and flawless outcomes
• Optimized time utilization by skillfully handling intricate calendars, appointments, and meetings
• Ensured documentation organization and accessible records, facilitating easy reference and follow-up
• Managed office, client service, and database functions, consistently delivering exceptional service
• Trained 11 new recruits on administrative management and public administration
• Revitalized organization’s training methods by designing program-specific training materials
• Conducted train-the-trainer sessions, equipping trainers to disseminate IT and procedural knowledge
• Planned and organized training sessions for 76 enrollment agents, 38 supervisors, and 10 NGOs

Assistant regional coordinator                                                                                           06/2020 to 07/2021

Regional Government, Tanger, Morocco

• Supported the establishment of a regional division coordinating human development programs
• Coordinated programs across 8 provinces, enhancing effectiveness and fostering collaboration
• Certified as a human development Trainer, delivered impactful peer-to-peer training sessions
• Developed 5 strategic partnerships for economic empowerment of vulnerable youth, including NEETs
• Delivered a comprehensive progress presentation on human development initiatives since their launch
• Delivered compelling program progress reports through data collection, analysis, and synthesis
• Coached 5 new recruits, boosting engagement and productivity through effective onboarding
• Standardized tasks and processes by designing 40 administrative and reporting templates

Program evaluation officer                                                                                                  09/2019 to 05/2020

Provincial Division of Human Development, Tanger, Morocco

• Tracked project milestones and outcomes through regular monitoring and evaluation
• Strengthened program assessment through regular evaluation and information system updates

PhD researcher (2-year sabbatical to pursue my PhD in Belgium)                              09/2017 to 08/2019

Environmental Economics Research Group at Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium

• Produced impactful research on peri-urban forests’ ecosystem services valuation in Morocco and published the findings in a reputable academic journal (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127339)
• Presented the research at conferences, showcasing excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Fostered collaborative research environment through interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty
• Implemented robust research methodologies, drawing conclusions from complex data sets
• Secured funding for research projects through successful grant writing and garnering support
• Contributed as content writer and featured speaker in promotional video for the University of Hasselt, (video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRIfcLjo6p4)

Grants administrator                                                                                                          11/2016 to 08/2017

Provincial Division of Local Municipalities, Tanger, Morocco

• Evaluated funding applications, achieving effective fund allocation for impactful local projects
• Monitored subsidized NGOs, ensuring transparency and accountability with detailed quarterly report
• Showcased successful outcomes of subsidized NGOs through comprehensive annual report

Communications coordinator                                                                                           03/2015 to 10/2016

Provincial Division of Human Development, Meknes, Morocco

• Developed and implemented successful communication plan, fostering stakeholder engagement
• Created content and organized events to showcase program impact attracting wider attention
• Demonstrated program accomplishments and outcomes in comprehensive annual achievement report

Assistant procurement manager                                                                                      01/2012 to 02/2015

Provincial Division of Budget and Public Procurement, Meknes, Morocco.

• Streamlined tender committee activities, improving coordination and decision-making
• Ensured strict compliance and effective monitoring of public contract execution
• Provided accurate reports on bidding commissions, facilitating informed decision-making

Assistant policy analyst                                                                                                     10/2008 to 12/2011

General Directorate of Local Governments, Ministry of the Interior, Rabat, Morocco

• Supported local governments in formulating impactful community development strategies
• Drafted reports, presentations, documentation synthesis and data analysis, to inform decision-making
• Contributed to the design of an internal online platform for tax transfers to local governments

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Youth Trainer                                                                                                          04/2022 to 03/2023

Forum Méditerranéen de La Jeunesse FOMEJE.  Assilah, Morocco

• Trained 25 trainers and 60 young people on the themes of project management & grant writing

Lecturer                                                                                                                                                  10/2022

My Ismail University.   Meknes, Morocco

• Instructed 20 university master’s students on environmental economics and sustainability

EDUCATION

Doctorate in Applied Economics (WES Accredited)                                                                         06/2022

Hasselt University. Hasselt, Belgium

“Non-market valuation of ecosystem services: recreation and water resources in Ifrane National Park”

Master’s degree in Economics and Territorial Governance (WES Accredited)                             10/2015

My Ismail University. Meknes, Morocco

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Major: Marketing (WES Accredited)      06/2008

National School of Commerce and Management. Settat, Morocco

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Proficient in MS Office Suite, teleconferencing software (Zoom, Microsoft Teams), and data analysis tools, including IBM SPSS, STATA, and Le Sphinx software
• Familiar with Google Workspace and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
• Basic knowledge of MS Project for project management tasks

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• French (native)
• English (Advanced – recommended placement CLB 9)
• Arabic (native)

TRAINING

• Google Project Management: Professional Certificate – online                                                    ongoing
• Training of trainers in human development programs – LMS ORH – Rabat, Morocco                    2021
• Academic English – Hasselt University Doctoral Schools – Hasselt, Belgium                                       2018
• Stakeholders’ Management – Hasselt University Doctoral Schools – Hasselt, Belgium                       2018
• Self-Leadership – Hasselt University Doctoral Schools – Hasselt, Belgium                                           2018
• Introduction to R – Hasselt University Doctoral Schools – Hasselt, Belgium                                         2018
• Project and time management – Hasselt University – Hasselt, Belgium                                               2017
• Method in Data collection – Hasselt University – Hasselt, Belgium                                                       2017
• Method in Research Design – Hasselt University – Hasselt, Belgium                                                   2017
• PhD Summer School on methods and strategies to monitor and manage human impact on urbanized protected areas (UPAs) – Centre for Environmental Sciences – Hasselt, Belgium                                 2017