Krista Riddley

Experience

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  Catholic Relief Services

  Jul 1992 - Apr 2003

  Served as headquarters point person for Southern and Central Africa, covering 12 countries with a total budget of approximately $40 million. Country Portfolio Management• Researched, analyzed and monitored country/regional developments and trends and served as HQ advocate for country program needs• Led reviews of country and regional strategic plans. Developed frameworks, facilitated process to ensure constructive and concrete feedback, and offered recommendationsRepresentation • Collaborated with other departments and field programs to facilitate exchanges between the U.S. and Southern/Central Africa, and to encourage policy change, namely: o Convened CRS staff and church leadership in the US and Southern Africa to build consensus on goals, and develop plan for the visit of South Africa’s Cardinal Napier to the US. Organized meetings with the Cardinal and Senators Biden and Durbin to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS crisis. Resulted in higher profile and increased Senate influence for CRSo Organized and facilitated an advocacy visit by Bishop Pomodimo from Central African Republic. Visit resulted in USG disaster declaration and the release of funds for CRS to carry out emergency health activities• Wrote media pieces and participated in media interviews (including CNN International) to increase visibility and fundraising base Show less

  • Regional Representative for Southern and Central Africa

    Aug 2001 - Apr 2003

  • Country Representative

    Dec 1998 - Jul 2001

  • Resident Representative

    Jun 1996 - Dec 1998

  • Project Manager/Internal Auditor

    May 1994 - May 1996

  • Projects Department Chief

    Jul 1992 - Apr 1994
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  ICAP International Career Advancement Program

  Sept 1999 - Sept 1999

  Fellow
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  Amnesty International USA

  Jul 2003 - Apr 2004

  Advocacy Director for Africa/Advocacy Director for Middle East

  Led policy development and advocacy efforts to influence US policy on human rights and humanitarian issues in the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa• Formulated and presented Congressional testimony on the situations in Liberia and Libya resulting in improved understanding and Congressional action• Convened a diverse coalition of humanitarian and human rights NGOs for joint advocacy. Raised $200 million in US appropriations for Liberia through building consensus amongst the two communities• Participated in three-person field mission to Liberia to report on human rights and civilian protection issues. Provided key contributions to the published paper on post-war reconciliation• Quoted by the Chicago Tribune and LA Times, and provided background for Washington Post and Washington Times to inform and influence policy on Zimbabwe and Liberia• Monitored legislation, developed legislative strategies, briefed Congressional staff for the purposes of improving human rights and humanitarian protections, and increasing emergency funding in Africa and the Middle East Show less

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  Oxfam America

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2010

  Director of Humanitarian Policy

  Led policy and advocacy efforts aimed at influencing the US government to improve response to humanitarian disasters and crises worldwide Humanitarian Response• Developed and implemented policy and advocacy strategies to respond to active disasters and humanitarian crises in DRC, Sudan, Liberia, Haiti, the Gulf Coast, and Indian Ocean region (Tsunami). Results included:o DRC Relief Security and Democracy Promotion Act signed into law through building partnerships with a diverse coalition of NGOso Appointment of a Special Advisor for the Great Lakes Region to provide sustained and consistent attention to resolving the crisis and providing adequate and appropriate humanitarian assistanceo Passage of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act via joint and sustained action with partner NGOso Congressional support for Haiti emergency supplemental o FEMA and Red Cross Disaster Centers established in East Biloxi, MS to support victims of Katrina• Brought together the diverse interests of Latin America groups, humanitarian response organizations, and advocacy groups into a focused and effective coalition advocating for Haiti (groups did not have a history of working together). • Secured $60,000 grant for Sudan Advocacy work as well as research reports on Security Sector Reform• Collaborated with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative to implement and disseminate results of study on rape in the DR Congo Leadership and Supervision • Led a multidisciplinary team including policy advisors, campaigners, researchers and media officers to ensure a holistic, strategic response to identified humanitarian crises and issues• Led NGO emergency working groups, developed strategies, talking points and letters, and secured high level meetings with USG officials to influence policy and programming for humanitarian disasters• Interviewed multiple times by global media (CNN, BBC) to disseminate critical information on new and recurring emergencies and to advance agency goals Show less

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  Krista J. Riddley Health and Wellness

  Sept 2010 - Dec 2014

  Holistic Health, Wellness and Fitness Coach
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  Oxfam

  Oct 2014 - Dec 2014

  Contractor/Humanitarian Policy Advisor - Ebola Response

  Overview: Provide discrete and focused policy input to support Oxfam’s response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa. This will involve research, policy development, political strategy and delivery of core products (talking points, lobby notes etc) working closely with the Ebola Response in the region in Oxford. Position includes lobbying, external representation, and external and internal alliance-building. Deliver such actions directly and support colleagues to deliver campaigns, advocacy and media in West Africa, Oxford, Oxfam affiliates and OI. • Develop and maintain cutting edge analysis, policy messages and influencing strategies on Ebola in close collaboration with in country staff and global cadre of policy advisors. • Prepare and contribute to high-quality briefings, talking points, letters and other written material for internal and external use.• Undertake a program support visit to Liberia. Collect information from key stakeholders on effectiveness of the Ebola response, challenges and gaps. Develop key messages, and document issues to be addressed in global advocacy and campaigning. • Assist in policy work in Oxfam’s New York Office Policy development on discrete issues: • UN Plan: Analysis of the UN's plan and strategy with targets for 30, 60 and 90 days. Analysis of whether the activities appear to match the goals of the plan, and around the achievement against the plan. • Gender: Pull together knowledge on the issue, find and analyze the data, and develop clear messages. Seek opportunities for Oxfam to engage on the issue. • Coordination structures: Collect information on how coordination is being achieved, identify and analyze challenges and gaps, and develop messaging on how coordination can be improved. Show less

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  USAID - Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)

  Jul 2015 - Jan 2017

  Senior Humanitarian Policy Advisor

  Overview: Provided expert analytical and advisory support for the planning, development and execution of US policy on the global response to humanitarian crises • Member of HQ management team for Haiti, Ethiopia and Ebola responses; engaged with UN agencies, donors, NGOs and the USG interagency to further organizational strategies and response goals. • Developed and contributed to policy papers to inform the USG position at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS); monitored and advised on Grand Bargain and WHS commitments and deliverables. • Collaborated with USG agencies, NGOs and experts on a strategy to improve protection and assistance to internally displaced persons; oversaw grants totaling $2 million to partners engaging on the issue. Show less

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  Clean Cooking Alliance

  Jan 2017 - Dec 2018

  Senior Director, Gender and Humanitarian Programs

  Overview: Provide leadership, and oversight of Alliance advocacy and program efforts to ensure crisis affected people have access to clean and efficient energy, and gender issues are mainstreamed in cookstove and fuel programs • Lead in the development of a Global Plan of Action with the Steering Group of UN agencies, NGOs, and donors, to advocate for the formalization of energy access into the humanitarian response system. • Develop and lead advocacy efforts to ensure cooking energy issues are prioritized in global gender and development strategies and frameworks. • Provide expertise and guidance to partners and grantees implementing $1 million Women’s Empowerment Fund, Education Fund, and Humanitarian Clean Cooking Fund programs. • Oversee development, monitoring and evaluation of cookstove and fuel projects including assessing health, environment and women’s empowerment impacts. Show less

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  Wellspring Philanthropic Fund

  Jan 2019 - now

  • Senior Program Officer

    Jan 2022 - now

  • Program Officer

    Jan 2019 - Dec 2021