About Mobeen

Senior humanitarian and development leader turned funding strategist for U.S. nonprofits.

My Story

18+ years turning field evidence into funded programmes

I'm a funding strategist, proposal writer, and international development leader with more than 18 years of experience designing, securing, and managing complex humanitarian and development programmes across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. My work has spanned Mali, Pakistan, and multi-country portfolios, covering women's rights, governance, nutrition, food security, WASH, protection, economic empowerment, and civil society strengthening.

Across my career I've contributed to more than $60M in institutional funding through donor engagement, proposal development, programme design, grants management, partnership development, and portfolio leadership — working with INGOs including Oxfam, Humanity & Inclusion, and Action Against Hunger, as well as UN, EU, bilateral, and foundation funders.

My strength is helping organizations move from a broad idea to a fundable, well-positioned proposal. I support the full funding cycle: identifying realistic opportunities, assessing eligibility and funder fit, shaping programme concepts, developing LOIs and proposals, aligning budgets with narrative logic, and strengthening donor reporting and compliance systems.

I believe strong funding strategy isn't only about writing proposals — it's about understanding what an organization is truly fundable for, choosing the right opportunities, and translating field realities into clear, credible, compelling donor-facing narratives.

Since early 2026 I've been adapting this institutional fundraising experience to the U.S. nonprofit market, currently advising organizations in women's economic mobility, community development, and historic preservation remotely.

Key Expertise

  • Strategic & Operational Leadership — translating organizational strategy into workplans and coordinated delivery
  • Resource Mobilization & Donor Engagement — institutional donor positioning, foundation pipelines, proposal strategy
  • Programme, Financial & Risk Oversight — multi-sector portfolios up to $15M annually
  • Partnerships & Stakeholder Coordination — government, UN agencies, donors, INGOs, 44+ local NGOs
  • Humanitarian Response, Quality & Accountability — MEAL, inclusion, gender, protection, conflict sensitivity
Career Highlights

Selected experience

Funding Strategist & Grant Writer — Independent Consultancy
Three U.S.-Based Nonprofit Organizations (Remote)
May 2026 – Present

Home-based consultancy supporting nonprofits in women's economic mobility, community development, and historic preservation. Advise executive leaders and boards on funding strategy, build and manage funding pipelines, and develop donor briefs, LOIs, proposals, and budgets.

Technical Head of Programme
Humanity & Inclusion (HI) — Mali
Apr 2024 – Apr 2025

Led programme design, quality assurance, and funding strategy integrating inclusion, protection, and conflict sensitivity. Defined and executed funding strategies for new initiatives and supported regional programme expansion.

Head of Programme / Deputy Country Director
Oxfam GB — Mali
Dec 2020 – Apr 2024

Member of the Country Management Team. Secured funding exceeding €25M over three years; led a team of 55+ staff; built a partnership framework covering 44+ local NGOs; navigated crisis management through the 2022 ECOWAS sanctions; developed the “Decision Making – My Right” civic participation campaign for women and youth.

Senior Programme Development & Partnerships Coordinator
Action Against Hunger (ACF) — Pakistan
Mar 2018 – Nov 2020

De facto Deputy Country Director managing a €15M annual portfolio across nutrition, food security, WASH, and emergency response. Secured the flagship USD 31.9M EU-supported PINS nutrition programme and EUR 2M from the Skala Foundation.

Project Manager — SDGs (Sindh)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) — Pakistan
Jun 2017 – Oct 2017

Established the provincial SDG localization unit for the Government of Sindh; coordinated 15 UN agencies and 44 line departments; led public awareness campaigns on the 2030 Agenda.

Earlier Roles
The Asia Foundation, TDEA, Oxfam GB Pakistan, IRC Pakistan
2007 – 2017

A decade of programme, partnerships, and capacity-building leadership on USAID-funded civic engagement and governance projects (Citizens' Voice Project, STAEP), plus humanitarian response to major Pakistan emergencies (2008 Balochistan floods, 2009 IDP crisis, 2010 floods).

Education

Master of Arts in History
University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan (2014–2015)

Gender Leadership Programme
Bangkok, Thailand (2012–2013)

Bachelor of Arts
Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan (2000–2002)

Languages

English — excellent reading, writing, speaking

Urdu — excellent reading, writing, speaking

Punjabi — excellent speaking, good reading comprehension

French — Level 2

Sector & Donor Experience

Where I've worked

Women's Economic Empowerment Heritage Preservation Humanitarian Response Nutrition Food Security & Livelihoods WASH Protection & Gender Governance & Civic Participation Civil Society Strengthening Inclusive Education Peacebuilding Climate & Resilience

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