Lesira Gerdes

Experience

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  African Community Education

  Jun 2012 - Aug 2013

  Grant Writing Assistant

  --Led the research of possible resource mobilization opportunities; --Developed grant proposals and manage all stages of the grant proposal submissions; --Redesigned a more efficient grants proposal management and archiving system.

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  World Food Programme

  Jul 2012 - Aug 2012

  Public Information and Reports and Operations Units Intern

  Responsible for analysing and interpreting programme data and producing public reports and communication products.

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  Common Pathways

  May 2013 - Sept 2013

  Outreach and Research Coordinator

  --Responsible for the coordination of an outreach programme which aimed to expand the access to mental and sexual healthcare systems for vulnerable communities. To this end, I co-conducted a situational analysis on the mental and sexual health of vulnerable groups and their access to different health systems. The study became an important advocacy tool as it provided evidence of how race, economic class, gender and age starkly affected the access to and the quality of the healthcare people received and highlighted some of the inadequacies of the mental and sexual healthcare systems to respond to the needs of these communities. Show less

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  UN Women

  Mar 2017 - Aug 2022

  -- Responsible for the planning, management, implementation, reporting and oversight of interventions on women’s empowerment, gender equality and human rights to ensure the delivery of results-oriented country programmes in the Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action portfolios. More specially, successfully led a 4 million USD project focused on the promotion of the women’s full and equal participation in political, peace and security processes in Mozambique (with strong focus on preventing conflict related violence against women and girls as well as the socioeconomic recovery of women affected by conflict and humanitarian crises).--Coordinated the implementation of and advocacy for gender, peace and security efforts with relevant stakeholders (including, various Government institutions, civil society, women-led and youth-led organizations, and academia) at national and local levels; directly contributing to the implementation of the Mozambican National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.--Conducted presentations, chaired discussion panels and meetings (include high-level conferences) and spoke at workshops on several issues related human rights and gender equality.-- Led the mobilization of resources for the implementation of interventions that seek to ensure women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action in Mozambique. Show less

  • Programme Officer/Manager-- Women, Peace and Security

    Sept 2019 - Aug 2022

  • Programme Assistant

    Dec 2014 - Aug 2019

  • Social Media and Communications Focal Point

    Mar 2017 - Mar 2019
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  Centre for Legal Initiatives

  Mar 2023 - Jun 2023

  Grant Writing Technical Expert

  -- Responsible for the research of resource mobilization opportunities and partnership building --Leading the conceptualization and programme proposals writing for the Centre for Legal Civil Initiatives. The proposals primarily focus on programmes that seek to eliminate violence against women and girls through the provision of comprehensive essential services to survivors of violence and the promotion of an enabling legislative and policy environment in line with international standards and requirements on ending violence against women and girls. Show less

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  Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

  Jul 2023 - Sept 2023

  Researcher: Sports, Gender Equality and Women's Rights

  -- Responsible for conducting a research analysis on how the sport ecosystem drives gender equality, namely by preventing and responding to gender-based violence whilst promoting social change and greater opportunities for women and girls.

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  UN Women

  Aug 2023 - Nov 2023

  Humanitarian Action Technical Consultant
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  United Nations

  Nov 2023 - now

  Reporting Consultant at the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat