Abdallah Jbarah
Programs Director
Amman
Summary
Career focused on leadership, strategic planning, and program management within complex multicultural rural and urban development projects. Proven expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation processes. Skilled in impact assessment, action research, policy development, and institutional capacity building, with a strong emphasis on effective communication with stakeholders and network members. Adept at proposal development, fundraising, resource mobilization, coordination, and fostering partnerships to drive project success at national and local levels.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Programs Director
Majlisna for community Development / Civic UK
06.2022 - Current
- Provide strategic and visionary leadership to advance Majlisna’s mission, institutional capacity, and community development objectives in alignment with national priorities and international donor strategies.
- Lead the design, development, and implementation of multi-sectoral programs focusing on civic engagement, governance, youth empowerment, and community resilience.
- Prepare, review, and manage Calls for Proposals and grant cycles in collaboration with program management teams and donor partners.
- Lead the preparation of high-quality project proposals and concept notes, including logical frameworks and detailed budgets, and implementation plans, ensuring alignment with donor and partner priorities such as localization, gender equality, innovation, digital inclusion, and climate resilience.
- Conduct due diligence, compliance, and institutional capacity assessments for CSOs and CBOs to ensure transparency, accountability, and readiness for funding.
- Establish and maintain a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework to track project performance, assess impact, and ensure continuous improvement.
- Oversee project implementation, ensuring deliverables are achieved on time, within scope, and according to quality, compliance, and financial standards.
- Lead coordination and strategic dialogue with ministries (including the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation), embassies, INGOs, NGOs, and UN agencies to strengthen partnerships and ensure policy alignment.
- Oversee financial management, including planning, disbursement, procurement, and reporting, ensuring adherence to donor regulations and organizational policies.
- Supervise and mentor program teams, providing technical guidance, capacity building, and performance oversight to enhance operational efficiency.
- Conduct regular field visits to monitor CSO-led initiatives, assess progress, and provide technical and managerial support to ensure effective project execution.
- Represent Majlisna in strategic steering committees, high-level forums, and national coordination platforms, contributing to evidence-based policy dialogue and advocacy for inclusive development.
- Lead organizational resource mobilization, donor engagement, and fundraising initiatives, securing funding from embassies, international organizations, and development partners.
- Ensure that all programs reflect Majlisna’s core values of community empowerment, transparency, partnership, and sustainable impact.
Program Manager
Majlisna for community Development / Civic UK (UNICEF Program)
09.2020 - 06.2022
- Rapidly get up to speed on a complex project, take over the forward planning, establish hiring priorities and quickly build the right team to deliver.
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with the project stakeholders including community leaders, relevant government bodies, CBOs, and communities.
- Oversee and provide guidance on asset -mapping using the tools developed by Majlisna.
- Ensure active participation of project participants in training modules, community mobilization, networking events and other project activities.
- Manage the contracts and oversee training providers delivering training modules and incubators and follow up and mentoring to the project participants.
- Manage the contracts and oversee mentorship providers delivering mentorship modules and follow up.
- Oversee monitoring of project activities, including focus group sessions and project implementation, and contribute to the project evaluation, including baseline and end of project survey and interviews.
- Oversee documentation of all program activities, achievements and challenges for internal purposes as well as according to UNICEF regulations.
- Take responsibility for financial planning for the project and work with the accountant and the project finance officer to ensure that management and UNICEF are fully informed
- Oversee financial reporting of all program activities per UNICEF regulations
- Oversee the delivery of different digital content to deliver to different stakeholders as a response to COVID-19 social distancing and health procedures.
- Create a new way to implement the activities in zaatari and azraq camps in addition to irbed and rwaished
- Writing proposals and concept note for the upcoming projects
- Coordinate the tasks with team members.
- Oversee programs and monitor their quality; identify gaps, additional community needs, or opportunities for improvement and take relevant actions to improve and expand programs
- Establish new programs in accordance with budget and work plan in response to community needs (design program, propose, procure materials)
- Represent Civic in coordination meetings and interagency projects, with regular participation Sub-Working Group as well as participation as needed in other sector level groups in addition to represent civic in the governmental institutions
Community Engagement and advocacy Manager
International Relief and Development/ Zaatari Camp (UNHCR Program)
06.2018 - 09.2020
- Manage five community centers and 11 Service Units distributed in 12 districts in Al-Za’atari Camp and six football fields, with a team consist of 11 Project Officers and 157 Syrian volunteers, as well as supervises 22 weekly programs and an average of 8 monthly special activities/events.
- Oversee programs and monitor their quality; identify gaps, additional community needs, or opportunities for improvement and take relevant actions to improve and expand programs
- Establish new programs in accordance with budget and work plan in response to community needs (design program, propose, procure materials)
- Gain approval for new projects/activities from UNHCR and Za’atari Police in coordination with IRD management and Security Officer
- Pro-actively identify new opportunities to improve programs or increase responsiveness to community needs as well as build new partnerships, gain donations, or promote IRD and Za'atari programming
- Delegate responsibilities, oversee implementation, and support officers to establish and manage projects, monitor performance and conduct performance reviews, and support problem-solving for issues within each project
- Project and propose component budget, as well as manage component spending needs in accordance with work-plan
- Propose, manage, and monitor indicators and ensure adherence to approved work-plan; draft and propose adjustments needs related to factors on the ground or community needs
- Ensure that protection principles are adhere to and integrated into all project cycle management, ensures that staff adheres to humanitarian principles, IRD code of conduct, Child protection and PSEA policies, practices and procedures and applicable Jordan regulations.
- Coordinate needs of various partners using the community centers and football fields (other IRD components, UNHCR, War Child, FPSC, UEFA, Save The Children and, JICA, etc.) as well as develop new partnerships to promote increased use of centers and football fields and develop partnerships with other agencies
- Represent IRD in coordination meetings and interagency projects, with regular participation the Za'atari level Youth Task Force and Education Sub-Working Group as well as participation as needed in other sector level groups
- Design reports, forms, and other paperwork to track and collect information from team and volunteers, and Prepare weekly reports and any other reports as requested by IRD management or UNHCR to report on programs, indicators, and activities.
- Recruit, train, and manage day to day responsibilities of team of Project Officers .
- Establish an innovation Hub
Project development and coordination Senior Officer
International Relief and Development/Blumont. (USAID PROJECT -SES II)
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Support activities to identify community stakeholders and analyze community assessments and town hall meetings data
- Prepare technical assistance plans based on priorities identified by Local Councils, CSOs/NGOs and communities in Syria.
- Develop project overviews by compiling technical intervention designs from Community Engagement., engineering, governance, livelihoods, and monitoring and evaluation teams.
- Facilitate innovation and collaboration between various SES II technical teams.
- Ensure that gender, environmental, Risk mitigation, sustainability and monitoring and evaluation considerations are incorporated into all project designs.
- Contribute to translations, work plans, and performance reports
- Facilitate innovation and collaboration between various SES II technical teams.
- Ensure that gender, environmental, risk mitigation, sustainability, and monitoring and evaluation considerations are incorporated into all project designs.
- Support activities to identify community stakeholders and analyze community assessments and town hall meeting data
Projects Coordinator
Vento di Terra(VDT)
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Provide guidance and support to the project partner and its staff members in assessing the context and needs; in planning and implementing activities; and in monitoring and reporting.
- Share within the team the lessons and knowledge of thematic approaches, particularly on strengthening civil society approaches.
- Lead the project team and coordinating the project on all matters related to project design.
- Assess capacity and needs of civil society network and partners in relation to organizing dialogue among diverse civil society actors and influencing national and international actors.
- Implement the agreed action plan to the agreed standards and deadlines.
- Ensure effective flow of information between team members, participants in project activities, and the NGO management.
- Ongoing evaluation of project activities and reporting on project progress to the board management.
- Present of the project final results to the Board.
- Assist the Project Manager in the drafting and issuance of project proposals, tenders, budgets, cash flows and preliminary schedules
- Prepare project organization and communication charts
- Track the progress and quality of work and make field visits when needed
- Use project scheduling and control tools to monitor projects plans, work hours, budgets and expenditures
- Effectively and accurately communicate relevant project information to the project team
- Ensure beneficiaries needs are met as proposed and agreed
- Review field inspection reports from field and/ or project staff throughout the lifecycle of the project
- Provide supervision, guidance and monitoring for project staff, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities and encouraging effective team work
- Effectively communicate with relevant local authorities including Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Prime Ministry and all Public.
Community Development officer and Advocacy
CARE International /Jordan Office
11.2015 - 05.2016
- Provide overall leadership, vision, strategic direction and management of the Urban program, local and national advocacy and campaigns work activities;
- Ensure advocacy coherence and reinforce strong and effective synergies between program and advocacy to maximize Care International impact;
- Position Care International as the leading organization for resilience issues in Jordan.
- Ensure that advocacy is an integral part of Care International work to achieve lasting changes and ensure that advocacy and campaigns approach and plans are part of the Strategic Plan, the Annual Plan and program strategies;
- Build advocacy capacity of program staff and of Care International partners and ensure advocacy is included in their plans and annual objectives;
- Use a strong project management approach in planning activities, maintaining financial control and cost-effectiveness of advocacy and campaign activities;
- Manage/co-ordinate ongoing relationships with private sector organizations at local and national level.
- Explore new opportunities for engagement of SMEs with private sector organizations at local and national level in line with CARE priorities and principles. Drive these relationships to maximize impact on DFATD program.
- Work with CARE staff, ensure that there is due diligence work undertaken to assess partners and potential partners.
- Present private sector engagement opportunities to VTCs field offices and CARE Jordan.
- Liaise with CARE and VTC to explore potential for expansion of network engagement.
- Support and assist with monitoring and evaluation of DFATD outcome related to the vocational training.
- Present project at conferences and networking events in relation with VTC.
- Develop and maintain excellent relationships with key local and international companies within the private sector
- Advise CARE Jordan/Urban programs on networking activities should be undertaken with private sector.
- Support job creation through MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprise) and private sector engagement to help Urban Program achieving its goals;
- Support CARE Jordan/ Urban Program and partner organizations in private sector engagement.
- Support internal plans through advice on appropriate means of private sector engagement.
- Arranging & attending meetings with senior governmental representatives (governors of Mafraq, Zarqa, Irbid and Amman) VTC general manager, senior private sector representatives (BDC, Luminous Group, Zain, Orange, Geneva and Asalah)
- Donor’s Reports Preparation
Program Officer
Local Democracy Consortium in Jordan -Democracy Reporting International (DRI)
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Progressive experience as an assistant for DRI’s local democracy consortium in Jordan (a coalition of 7 local CSOs active in promoting local participatory democracy national-wide).
- Provided regular political and legal updates on the local governance framework in Jordan.
- Networked and coordinated with local, regional, and international stakeholders within the consortium.
- Supported the project team with logistical, administrative, and financial operations.
- Developed and tracked monitoring and evaluation (M&E) indicators to assess project progress.
- Managed project documentation and reporting in alignment with donor and consortium standards.
- Contributed to fundraising efforts and the preparation of project proposals.
Senior Program assistant – Decentralization and Local Governance
Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Progressive experience as an assistant for Al-Hayat’s Decentralization and Local Governance program.
- Coordinated field activities and managed related financial procedures for the program.
- Tracked and reported on the program’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) indicators.
- Prepared timely progress and implementation reports in line with project requirements.
- Provided regular updates on emerging developments relevant to decentralization and local governance.
- Facilitated networking and collaboration among key stakeholders and local partners.
Program Coordinator - Youth Civic Education Program
Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Progressive experience as a coordinator of Al-Hayat's civic education program for university students.
- Led national promotion and media campaigns highlighting youth civic initiatives.
- Recruited and engaged university students to participate in civic education courses.
- Prepared financial reports, documentation, and administrative records for the program.
- Contributed to the development, editing, and implementation of civic education and political participation curricula.
- Delivered training sessions on public participation and peer-to-peer education for university students.
- Monitored and evaluated the progress and impact of the program’s advocacy and awareness activities.
Education
PhD - Sociology
University of Mutah
01.2023
MA - Sustainable Development-International Studies
University of Jordan
01.2017
BA - Computer Sciences
International Islamic University
01.2013
Skills
Excellent command of written and spoken Arabic (Native)
Very good command of written and spoken English
Excellent interpersonal skills and communication abilities
High ability to work under pressure and a team worker
Significant experience in reporting on donor-funded projects and tracking of M&E Indicators
Extensive experience in providing logistic support to CSOs’ activities
Delivered Training Courses
- Business development and Proposal writing.
- Social Responsibilities.
- Communication skills.
- Risk Management.
- Problem solving and diplomacy in negotiation.
- Sustainable Development and how to ensure it in the project.
- Women empowerment (social, political, economic).
- Youth empowerment (social, political, economic).
- Elections monitoring.
- Institutional strengthening training.
- Advocacy and initiatives creating.
Timeline
Programs Director
Majlisna for community Development / Civic UK
06.2022 - Current
Program Manager
Majlisna for community Development / Civic UK (UNICEF Program)
09.2020 - 06.2022
Community Engagement and advocacy Manager
International Relief and Development/ Zaatari Camp (UNHCR Program)
06.2018 - 09.2020
Project development and coordination Senior Officer
International Relief and Development/Blumont. (USAID PROJECT -SES II)
01.2017 - 01.2018
Projects Coordinator
Vento di Terra(VDT)
01.2016 - 01.2017
Community Development officer and Advocacy
CARE International /Jordan Office
11.2015 - 05.2016
Program Officer
Local Democracy Consortium in Jordan -Democracy Reporting International (DRI)
01.2015 - 01.2016
Senior Program assistant – Decentralization and Local Governance
Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development
01.2014 - 01.2015
Program Coordinator - Youth Civic Education Program
Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development
01.2013 - 01.2014
BA - Computer Sciences
International Islamic University
PhD - Sociology
University of Mutah
MA - Sustainable Development-International Studies
University of Jordan