MOHAMMED M. ARARSA
Addis Ababa
Summary
Deputy Chief of Party (Operations) and senior operations leader with 24+ years of experience across humanitarian response and international development, including Ethiopia based leadership on large scale US Government funded multi region health and resilience programs. Trained nurse with an MPH (Nutrition), grounded in Child Survival platforms supporting MNCH and HIV community systems. In Ethiopia, I supported delivery and operational governance for USAID Feed the Future Growth Through Nutrition (GTN), a flagship multi sector nutrition and WASH activity designed to benefit 6+ million people, operating through decentralized structures and government systems. Under ENGINE, I supported a national flagship program reaching 3.2 million children under five with nutrition specific interventions and training 22,440 health and agriculture specialists and managers on MIYCN and nutrition sensitive approaches. I combine governance with delivery discipline by strengthening internal controls, compliance, supply chain, HR, security, duty of care, and partner performance routines while enabling teams to deliver under volatility. Using quarterly scorecards and clear accountability rhythms, I drove an average 20% improvement in team performance, measured quarterly and reviewed in leadership meetings. I embed MEAL readiness and evidence use, including routine triangulation of DHIS2 and program monitoring data to support adaptive management, reporting quality, and timely course correction. While not a technical PHEM specialist, I have led emergency readiness and continuity planning in fragile settings that enables outbreak response functions through strong operations, logistics, security, partner accountability, and data informed decision routines.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
2026
2026
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Deputy Chief of Party (Operations), USAID BHA Uthabiti (Building Resilience Through Market led Livelihoods Opportunities)
SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL, Uganda
Kampala
07.2023 - 03.2025
- Led cross functional operations (Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Logistics, Admin, Security) for compliant delivery in volatile environments.
- Managed annual budgets exceeding $4.4M, strengthening forecasting, burn rate monitoring, cost controls, and decision discipline.
- Strengthened donor assurance through internal control routines and corporate systems use (PRIME, ProSave, PMM).
- Supported 22% over target performance reaching 27,430 beneficiaries; mobilized $256K digital savings and credit for 12,652 participants.
- Supported inclusive market outcomes enabling $3.88M in market transactions benefiting 5,839 farmers.
- Coordinated with 11 local partners, UN agencies, and OPM, strengthening localization, compliance, and alignment.
- Advanced risk management and duty of care through contingency planning and operational readiness, including MIS deployment to improve visibility and control.
- Strengthened reporting quality and course correction through triangulation of routine information sources (including DHIS2 as a secondary source where relevant).
Deputy Chief of Party (Operations), USAID Feed the Future Growth Through Nutrition Activity
SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
09.2016 - 04.2019
- Executive co lead for a $72M USAID FTF program across five regions, providing strategic operational and financial governance at scale.
- Managed annual operations budgets exceeding $14.4M, strengthening forecasting, cost controls, compliance monitoring, and multi office performance routines.
- Strengthened field and facility readiness by improving procurement, logistics, fleet, assets, warehousing, and supply chain controls to support timely delivery and audit readiness.
- Supported delivery enablement and quality systems at scale, including operational support linked to QI and HMIS platforms such as 101 model QI PHCUs, training and coaching support for 1,700+ providers, and HMIS strengthening through mentoring and coaching reaching ~2,800 facilities (program outputs).
- Supported integrated results including improved sanitation for 148,000 beneficiaries and improved food access for 153,096 people via SBCC and homestead gardening initiatives.
- Led and mentored 100+ staff across regional structures, reinforcing accountability, delegation, and consistent standards across operations and technical teams.
- Worked with government counterparts to support alignment with national nutrition priorities and implementation structures from federal to regional levels.
- Embedded contingency planning and crisis modifier readiness to protect delivery platforms during disruptions, supported by DHIS2 informed performance monitoring and reporting discipline.
- Supported multi sector implementation platforms aligned to reported improvements in nutrition outcomes in program areas through strengthened delivery systems and consistent standards.
Program Compliance and Operations Manager, USAID Flagship ENGINE Activity
SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
04.2013 - 09.2016
- Led compliance and operational systems strengthening during startup and early implementation of a national flagship nutrition program.
- Built operational frameworks and workflows supporting multi region execution, field enablement, and consistent controls.
- Strengthened accountability through financial oversight, partner compliance routines, audit readiness support, and corrective action follow up.
- Coordinated large scale recruitment and onboarding, rapidly staffing technical and operational teams while maintaining organizational standards.
- Led sub grant operational governance with local NGOs, strengthening localization, performance monitoring, and sustainability orientation.
- Strengthened monitoring discipline and reporting quality, including triangulation of DHIS2 as a routine information source to inform performance tracking and decision making.
Technical Coordinator (OVC Care and Support), USAID PC3 OVC (Positive Change, Children and Communities)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
Addis Ababa
03.2010 - 04.2011
- Provided multi regional quality assurance across health, nutrition, education, psychosocial support, livelihoods, and protection services.
- Strengthened partner performance through monitoring, coaching, report quality improvement, and corrective action recommendations.
- Supported coordination forums and national collaboration to strengthen learning and alignment.
Field Office Manager / Senior Program Officer (Local NGOs)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
Negele, Oromia
01.2008 - 03.2010
- Managed field operations, administration, staff development, and financial controls for multi sector programs.
- Supported governance strengthening through updates to Policies and Procedures Manuals and integration of an HIV workplace policy.
- Built partnerships with government, CBOs, and CSOs; supported proposals and local resource mobilization.
Coordinator / Regional Coordinator (OVC Care and Support), USAID PC3 OVC
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
11.2007 - 02.2008
- Coordinated partner capacity assessments, coaching, training, and sub award management.
- Strengthened referral linkages, service mapping, and learning forums to improve implementation quality.
HIV and AIDS Program Coordinator, SCALE UP HOPE Project (SUH)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
Negele
11.2004 - 11.2007
- Managed community-based sub grants and provided technical assistance to community groups, school clubs, local NGOs, and associations.
- Led advocacy and resource mobilization events reaching 25,000+ people; supported IEC and BCC materials and community monitoring tools.
- Supported institutional capacity strengthening confirmed by evaluation to remain functional post project phase out.
HIV/AIDS Unit Head, USAID Child Survival (CS 17)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
Negele
10.2001 - 10.2004
- Supported community health systems design aligned to MNCH outcomes, strengthening community to facility linkages through BHTs, TBAs, and HACs.
- Led training design and delivery for 1,450 community health workers and stakeholders.
- Developed IEC and BCC materials and monitoring tools; supported community-based information management and follow up routines.
Community Facilitator (Animator)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
01.1996 - 01.1997
- Led community mobilization and participatory planning, supporting community driven solutions and early warning reporting.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Liverpool John Moores University
Master of Public Health (MPH) - Nutrition
Addis Continental Institute of Public Health
Diploma - Clinical Nursing
Negelle Borana Health Science College
BSc - Applied Science (Biology)
Addis Ababa University
Skills
- Multi region operational leadership and supervision: multi-site management, coaching, delegation, performance management, staff care
- Program delivery management: translating strategy into quarterly and annual work plans, operational follow through, troubleshooting, issue escalation
- Facility readiness enablement: procurement and supply chain readiness, logistics, staffing enablement, supportive supervision structures, continuity planning
- Results based and adaptive management: performance tracking, gap analysis, bottleneck diagnosis, course correction with technical and LME teams
- Donor compliance and accountability: USAID compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, sub award governance, corrective action tracking
- Field operations, logistics, and security: duty of care, security protocols, contingency planning, continuity of critical services in fragile settings
- Partner performance and localization: partner compliance strengthening, capacity support, sustainability orientation, contract and deliverable follow up
- Government engagement: collaboration with government counterparts from federal to regional and woreda levels
- Health resilience enablement: emergency readiness and continuity systems that support outbreak response operations in real field conditions
- Digital and data use: DHIS2 triangulation, reporting quality, decision support for evidence-based course correction
- PRIME
- ProSave
- PMM
- DHIS2
- Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Certification
Project Management Methodology (PMM) | USAID Rules and Regulations and Compliance | Humanitarian Standards and Systems | Fraud Awareness and Investigation | MEAL Training (Jimma University, 1 year, 2018–2019) | Master Trainer in Community Mobilization
Languages
English (Fluent)
Amharic (Fluent)
Afaan Oromo (Fluent)
REFERENCES
- Mwesigwa, Bikie Isharaza, Chief of Party, Pathways to Empowerment (Former CoP, USAID Uthabiti, SCI Uganda), +256 774 111 000, +211 922 221 74, LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/mwesigwa-bikie-isharaza
- Lauren, Zunno, Senior Program Manager (Former Senior Program Manager, Save the Children US), LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lauren-zunno, Phone/Email: Available upon request
- Dan (Daniel), Abbott, Senior Program Executive (Former CoP, Growth Through Nutrition, SCI/CARE), abbott.dp@gmail.com, LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danielabbottdevelopment
- Rachel, Holtzman, Program Management Professional (Former Senior Program Manager, Save the Children US, indirect supervisor), rholtzman@savechildren.org, +1 717 448 5910, LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rachel-holtzman-81a3b7202
- Josephine, Alidri, Deputy Director, REACH Consortium, IRC (Former Supervisor, USAID Apolou, SCI Uganda), alidrij@gmail.com, +256 772 375 561, LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/josephine-alidri-0b2015b5
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Best Performing Award (2021): outstanding project outcomes and efficiency, Innovation Award (2018/2019): cost saving process redesigns, Employee of the Year (2015): exceptional performance and dedication, Leadership Award (2012): exemplary guidance and team motivation
SELECTED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS (Most Relevant to MIHR)
- DCOP Operations, USAID FTF GTN ($72M), Ethiopia: executive co lead for multi region delivery; managed $14.4M+ annual operations budgets; strengthened forecasting, compliance monitoring, and delivery discipline across decentralized offices.
- Facility readiness and quality systems enablement (GTN): supported operational systems enabling service delivery platforms at scale, including 101 model QI PHCUs, training and coaching support for 1,700+ nutrition service providers, and HMIS strengthening through mentoring and coaching reaching ~2,800 facilities (program outputs).
- Adaptive delivery under volatility: embedded contingency planning and crisis modifier readiness to protect delivery platforms and maintain continuity during disruptions, supported by DHIS2 informed performance monitoring and reporting discipline.
- DCOP Operations and Acting COP, USAID BHA Uthabiti ($13.3M), Uganda: led startup and operational governance; supported 22% over target performance reaching 27,430 beneficiaries, enabling $3.88M in inclusive market transactions for 5,839 farmers, and mobilizing $256K digital savings and credit for 12,652 participants.
- Program Manager and Team Lead, USAID Apolou: delivered 79 ODF villages, improved sanitation for 61,462 people, and enabled sustainable water access for 81,297 people under drought and conflict conditions.
- Pastoralist and hard to reach experience: supported delivery in high risk, remote contexts including pastoralist settings such as the Somali region, where access, mobility, security, and continuity planning are essential.
Timeline
Deputy Chief of Party (Operations), USAID BHA Uthabiti (Building Resilience Through Market led Livelihoods Opportunities)
SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL, Uganda
07.2023 - 03.2025
Deputy Chief of Party (Operations), USAID Feed the Future Growth Through Nutrition Activity
SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL, Ethiopia
09.2016 - 04.2019
Program Compliance and Operations Manager, USAID Flagship ENGINE Activity
SAVE THE CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL, Ethiopia
04.2013 - 09.2016
Technical Coordinator (OVC Care and Support), USAID PC3 OVC (Positive Change, Children and Communities)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
03.2010 - 04.2011
Field Office Manager / Senior Program Officer (Local NGOs)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
01.2008 - 03.2010
Coordinator / Regional Coordinator (OVC Care and Support), USAID PC3 OVC
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
11.2007 - 02.2008
HIV and AIDS Program Coordinator, SCALE UP HOPE Project (SUH)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
11.2004 - 11.2007
HIV/AIDS Unit Head, USAID Child Survival (CS 17)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
10.2001 - 10.2004
Community Facilitator (Animator)
SAVE THE CHILDREN US / Local NGO Experience
01.1996 - 01.1997
Master of Public Health (MPH) - Nutrition
Addis Continental Institute of Public Health
Diploma - Clinical Nursing
Negelle Borana Health Science College
BSc - Applied Science (Biology)
Addis Ababa University
MBA - Business Administration
Liverpool John Moores University