Dr. Farah Usmani

Experience

• 

  Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh India

  Jan 1987 - Jan 1989

  Lecturer, Obstetrics & Gynaecology

  As Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, provided delivery of obstetrics and gynaecology clinical services at the medical college hospital. Served as consultant-on-call for emergency services and supervised the resident registrar and unit to provide quality services, maintain records and supplies. Taught obstetrics and gynecology to medical students through lectures, practical demonstrations as well as clinical bedside teaching seminars. Conducted examinations for undergraduate students and organized seminars and discussions on emerging issues and case studies.Paper from my MD thesis was accepted at the International Conference on Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Rio, Brazil and presented. Developed and published in the in Obstetrics and Gynaecology journals in India. Co-led the use of ultrasound in the department for antenatal screening for analytical work. Show less

• 

  State Government of Uttar Pradesh, India

  Jan 1990 - Jan 1993

  Senior Medical Officer

  Served in public sector health institutions in three districts in India's largest state of Uttar Pradesh, and worked at tertiary as well as community health care centres in maternal and child health and reproductive health service delivery. Also served as In-Charge of the post-partum centre of District Sonbhadra and established the functioning of the Post-Partum Center at the district hospital for the first time and served as its in-charge. As only trained obstetrician and gynaecologist at the hospital provided of all clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology services. Also provided family planning services and travelled to remote and tribal areas of the district. Awarded certificate of merit for commendable work and contribution to the family welfare program of the Government of India for 1993-94. Show less

• 

  State Innovations In Family Planning Services Project Agency www.sifpsa.org

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1996

  Project Coordinator

  SIFPSA [State Innovations in Family Planning Services Agency] is set up as an autonomous agency in the largest Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, for managing and implementing the comprehensive US $ 325 million USAID-supported Innovations in Family Planning Services Project. As Project Coordinator responsible for Program Development and Project Operations, Management, Monitoring and Coordination with Government, NGOs and bilateral partners with focus on capacity development. Coordinated, managed and provided technical advice to the Quality of Care Family Planning/ Contraceptive Update training program for the state, which was successfully piloted in collaboration with USAID cooperating agencies and later scaled up in 7 Medical Colleges. Led the development of the State Reproductive Health Resource Document for the state of UP, India that was published as the state guidelines. Provided project supervision, field monitoring visits and monitoring fiscal and physical progress to all clinical training projects. Managed NGO service delivery projects in my portfolio for monitoring program and resource management. Developed and managed projects/proposals with several NGOs to provide quality services to under-served communities. Show less

• 

  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

  Jun 1997 - May 2022

  As Senior Adviser, Organizational Development and Alignment at Director D-1 level, serve as lead advisor for the realignment process for Headquarters- Regional Offices-Country Office functions. Working with stakeholders across teams to develop structure options and working modalities that reflect the needs in the current post COVID-19 change context and the new UNFPA Strategic Plan 2022-2025 for achievement of the organizational outcomes and transformative results. Also, responsible for portfolio for Country Office re-structuring exercises and lead on the redesign of the Internal Consulting Group for effective support to field offices and business units. Show less Took over the charge of serving as Deputy Director of Policy and Strategy Division, besides the Chief portfolio. Led on the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. Lead on theme of Financing for the ICPD+25 Nairobi Conference. As Chief of Operational Support & Quality Assurance Branch, responsible for leading and coordinating critical global programme functions for moving forward organizational mandate for women and girls and young people focusing on sexual & reproductive health, population and development and gender issues. Key result areas include: (i) Strengthen programme quality assurance & established global quality standards and procedures for use by UNFPA-supported programming in over 125 countries (ii) Manage and lead institutionalization of systems/procedures for operational support to field offices, including the global Internal Consulting Group (iii) Manage strategic advisory, liaison and regional representation for all six UNFPA regional offices in New York (iv) Coordinate the implementation of alignment to UNFPA's Strategic Plan 2014-2017 (v) Conceptualize and develop country programme implementation analysis to identify good practices and bottlenecks and solutions. Show less As Chief, responsible for leading and coordinating critical global programme functions for moving forward organizational mandate for women and girls and young people focussing on sexual & reproductive health, population and development and gender issues. Key result areas include: (i) Strengthen programme quality assurance & established global quality standards and procedures for use by UNFPA-supported programming in over 125 countries (ii) Manage and lead institutionalization of systems/procedures for operational support to field offices, including the global Internal Consulting Group (iii) Manage strategic advisory, liaison and regional representation for all six UNFPA regional offices in New York (iv) Coordinate the implementation of alignment to UNFPA's Strategic Plan 2014-2017 (v) Conceptualize and develop country programme implementation analysis to identify good practices and bottlenecks and solutions. Also manage and institutionalize innovations for effective administration, communication and resource management in the unit. Show less As lead adviser in planning at UNFPA’s Programme Division and earlier with the Strategic Planning Office, coordinated organizational planning processes, serving as focal point for the development, review and reporting of the Fund’s Strategic Plan and the results framework in the mandate areas focussing on women/girls and young people. Developed the Executive Director’s Annual Report, UNFPA’s main accountability instrument for reporting on overall performance to its Board. Served as focal adviser on Results Based Management (RBM), representing UNFPA in inter-agency policy/programme groups; chaired the Task Team to develop the first UNDG RBM Manual, being used globally. Developed organizational global programme policy/procedures. Show less As regional coordinator for HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health, worked in nine countries of South & West Asia providing programming support and advisory services, capacity development and leadership for positioning UNFPA in HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health agendas. Provided coordination and support to national, regional and organizational strategy development, regional analysis, technical reviews & presentations, country programming support and knowledge management. Represented UNFPA in UNAIDS and regional inter-agency forums and inter-governmental meetings. Show less

  • D-1 Director I Senior Advisor I UNFPA HQ New York

    Feb 2020 - May 2022

  • Deputy Director, Policy & Strategy Division & Chief, Operational Support & Quality Assurance

    Jan 2018 - Oct 2020

  • Chief, Operational Support & Quality Assurance, Programme Division

    Apr 2012 - Dec 2017

  • Strategic Planning Adviser, SPO, Office of the Executive Director & at ESPB, Programme Division

    Mar 2007 - Dec 2012

  • Regional Adviser for South & West Asia , UNFPA CST

    Mar 2001 - Feb 2007

  • Technical Adviser

    Jun 1997 - Feb 2001
• 

  Rising Beyond The Ceiling

  Apr 2020 - now

  Chairperson and Founder Rising Beyond The Ceiling
• 

  SAFAR Foundation

  Jun 2022 - now

  Global Vice President, SAFAR Foundation

  As Global Vice President responsible for the overall strategy of the Foundation towards its vision of advancement and rights of minority and marginalized women and girls in India. Working closely with SAFAR President and Executive Committee on the annual strategic plan resources and results to implement the organizational mission and vision. Founded 'Rising Beyond The Ceiling' (RBTC), a global initiative to shine a spotlight on Muslim women of India and contribute towards changing their stereotypical narrative. Conceptualized the RBTC 100 Inspiring Muslim Women platform. Leading on the development of the Rising Beyond The Ceiling compendiums with 100 stereotype shattering profiles of Muslim women from the state of Uttar Pradesh to be launched in August 2022. Leading on development of RBTC chapters in other states of India as well as the RBTC Women's mentorship program. https://www.inspiringindianmuslimwomen.org/home Show less