Berta Fernandez-Alfaro

Experience

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  FEVECTA

  Nov 1998 - Dec 1999

  Project Assistant

  Monitored projects funded by the European Social Fund, aiming at fostering social and economic integration of at-risk women and youth, by using the co-operative model as a self- employment option. Handcrafts, Graphic design, and Commerce co-operatives are among the Federation members.Travelled to Nordic countries for study tours with partners (University of Helsinki, and University of Stockholm). Edited information material.

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  International Cooperative Alliance

  Mar 2000 - Apr 2000

  Consultant

  Drafted guide to analyze weaknesses and strengths as part of a project aiming at building capacities on co-operatives among indigenous women in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

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  IOM - UN Migration

  May 2000 - Jun 2011

  Liaised with relevant partners and counterparts (Donors, UN, IOs, NGOs, Academia, Government) on a regular basis, particularly in the framework of the Regional Conference on Migration, Central American Migration Directors OCAM, Central American Integration System SICA, and the GFMD4 in Mexico.Monitored and implemented a number of projects with Government and civil society counterparts, such as “Co-development project between Costa Rica and Nicaragua” (AECID), “Socio-economic reintegration of female trafficking victims” (US State Department), “Support to Regional Integration through improved migration management” (EU), “Statistics Information Systems on Labor Migration” (EU), “Modernization of the Directorate of Migration”, (1035 Facility), and “Regional initiative to promote migrants’ access to health” (UNFPA), among others. Organized videoconferences on Migration and Development for Central America, Dominican Republic, and Mexico (World Bank/GDLN). Trained UN colleagues, NGO staff, University students, and Ministry of Labor staff on International Migration Law and Labor Migration (120 persons). Participated in joint UNCT assessment mission and interviewed Hondurans in the north of Nicaragua who were potential asylum seekers after the coup d’etat. As part of ICMPD training, I organized field visit for EU officials from Latin America and the Caribbean to migrants’ center in Managua hosting African migrants and Directorate of Migration. Organized three remittances seminars in Central Bank and published proceedings, as part of projects “Bankarization, democratization, and investment opportunities” (IADB/IFAD), and "Financial education for families of remittance recipients" (AECID). Show less Started the Caribbean Unit in the regional office and established institutional relationships in Washington, DC with the Organization of American States, the Interamerican Development Bank, the Pan-American Health Organization, and the World Bank. Programs promoted human rights of migrants through trainings on International Migration Law at OAS and in Cuba; baseline assessment and raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and mobility in the Caribbean with PAHO (see attached); increasing the impact of Salvadoran migrant’s remittances in development; surveying migrants on labor conditions, and access to education and health with the College of The Bahamas; assessing migration management capacities and gaps in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Guyana; countering trafficking in persons in the Americas, and gathering and sharing migration data in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Guyana (ECLAC and IADB). Since 2002, co-organized with UNHCR an Annual Caribbean Seminar (100 participants) on mixed migratory flows, labor migration, brain-drain, and free movement of skills (CARICOM/CSME). Co-edited and contributed to book “Intra-Caribbean migration and the conflict nexus” (University of West Indies, Association of Caribbean States, and Human Rights Internet, 2006). Lectured on different topics related to migration at Georgetown, George Washington, and Basque Country Universities. Participated in RCM Vice-ministerial meetings in Cancun and San Salvador. Show less Managed two interagency Information Campaigns: Radio Soap Opera on Disasters, Gender and Migration for Central America (UN/ISRD, PAHO/WHO, and Radio Netherlands), and Labor Rights and Obligations of Domestic Workers and their Employers (ILO and Association of Domestic Workers). Also, I managed an awareness raising campaign as part of USAID funded program to promote migrant children integration in schools, which had as result an annual calendar with winners' drawings. Focal point for German Forced Labor Compensation Program in the office. As Gender Focal Point, I organized trainings. Show less

  • Chief of Mission in Nicaragua

    Apr 2008 - Jun 2011

  • Project Development Officer, Washington DC

    Jun 2002 - Mar 2008

  • Project Assistant

    May 2000 - May 2002
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  International Labour Organization

  Jul 2011 - Jun 2012

  Coordinator of Regional Project "Gender sensitive Labor Migration Policies"

  The project “Promoting Gender-sensitive Labour Migration Policies in Costa Rica, Haiti, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic”, funded by the EU (Migration and Asylum Thematic Program), had the overall objective of strengthening the capacity of policy-makers and social partners to adopt and implement gender-sensitive labour migration policies, legislation and administration, building up on work carried out by ILO, by the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Spanish Foundation Trade Union Institute for Cooperation to Development (ISCOD) (its two Partners in its implementation), and by IOM. The project aimed at promoting the adoption and implementation of gender-sensitive labour migration policies, legislation, and administration for the better regulation of labour migration flows in consultation with social partners. In addition, it aimed at supporting strategies to enhance social security coverage of migrant workers and their families as well as the improvement of skills’ matching between sending and receiving countries and reducing de-skilling by promoting the recognition of migrant workers’ certificates, diplomas and competencies. Work under this component was implemented in collaboration with CINTERFOR and National Training Institutes. Show less

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  WYG Group

  Apr 2013 - Jun 2014

  Migration and Development Expert

  Intra-ACP Migration Facility: supporting the ACP States to better understand and manage migratory flows. Launched in 2009, the project was initiated by the ACP Group of States, within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and funded by the European Development Fund (EDF). Its main objective is to mainstream migration into ACP national and regional development strategies and policies towards the improvement of living conditions and people's rights, by a) strengthening the institutional capacity of six regional organizations (ECOWAS, EAC, SADC, ECCAS, CARICOM, and PIFS) and relevant national institutions in twelve pilot countries (Nigeria, Senegal, Angola, Lesotho, Kenya, Tanzania, Camerou, DRC, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Papua New Guinea, and Timor Leste); and b) building the capacity of ACP civil society, at regional and national level, ensuring its enhanced participation to the dialogue on migration issues. Show less

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  University of Malta

  Oct 2014 - Oct 2016

  Visiting Senior Lecturer

  1) Research for policy papers for experts and general public: ‘Reflections on a decade of EU Membership: the impact of migration and asylum in Malta since 2004’ (Jean Monnet Occasional Paper, IES, 2016); ‘The impact of network migration on migratory flows’ (joint paper with Prof. Roderick Pace for Euro-Mediterranean Study Commission, EuroMeSCo); ‘Social remittances and their impact on gender and generational dynamics’ (2015); ‘Migration and asylum: the movement of people in the Mediterranean region: future scenarios and the EU response’ (Jean Monnet Occasional Paper No. 10/2014). Contributor to ‘Valletta Intercultural Strategy’ (CoE, City Council, and SOS Malta).2) Lecturer on ‘EU migration and asylum law’ and ‘Contemporary migration issues across the Mediterranean: History, Policy, and International Law’. Syllabus covers evolution of migration and asylum policy, TFEU, CEAS, ECJ case law, Schengen regime and entry bans, legal avenues to EU, vulnerable groups, detention and returns, EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, International Maritime Law, International Refugee Law, Human Rights of Migrants, and UN instruments.3) Conferences: ‘Building trust in diversity: universities and cities joining forces’ (Norway, 2015); 2nd European Conference on Overseas Filipinos (Malta, 2015); ‘Migrants and refugees impact and future policies: case studies of Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece’ (Jordan, Dec. 2015); ‘Situation in Syria’ (EASO, 2015); Policy Conference ‘EU solidarity in asylum and border policies’ (Odysseus Network, Brussels, Feb. 2016); 'Schengen at risk' (IED, Slovakia); 'Meditarranean basin: migration policies' (Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Turkey); 'Annual Trafficking in Human Beings Conference' (EASO, 2016)4) Plan and draft research proposals with colleagues, and institutions. 5) Mentor and provide feedback for dissertations on migration and asylum. Show less

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  IOM - UN Migration

  Nov 2016 - now

  The EURCAP Facility (2016-2023) provides a dedicated and flexible mechanism to respond to requests for assistance from EU partner countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, The Gambia, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) to support cooperation and facilitate dialogue on return and readmission. Other potential countries include: Armenia, Belarus, Cape Verde, China, Jordan, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey and Vietnam. The Facility has developed a Model Return/Readmission Case Management System (RCMS), an open source e-platform to process biometric data securely and transparently, and determine identity. In 2020 I was invited to lecture at the College of Europe in English and Spanish (for Mexican officials). https://eea.iom.int/european-readmission-capacity-building-facility-eurcap Show less

  • Chief of Mission - Switzerland & Liechtenstein

    Jun 2021 - now

  • Senior Project Manager, EURCAP Facility

    Nov 2016 - May 2021