John Stafford

About John Stafford

The Western world’s view of the Middle East can seem clumsy and simplistic, too often…

Experience

1. Program Associate

   American Red Cross

   Feb 2015 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead all research for American Red Cross (ARC) aid in the Middle East, focusing primarily on Syrian and Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons. Support current ARC programs in Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Ukraine. • Analyzed Arabic language news and social media to forecast potential for local-level ceasefires and gauge impact on humanitarian access in Syria. Assessed challenges of INGO, UN and USG response to Middle East population movement in multiple briefings for the regional manager.• Developing a smart card cash transfer program for Iraqi IDPs from Anbar province for a potential ceiling of $30 million in USAID funding. Analyzed IDP movements, conducted needs assessments based on Arabic sources, and assessed program feasibility.• Designed country profiles for Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal and Bangladesh based on open-source intelligence. Integrated quantitative data to assess disaster vulnerability for Nepal and Bangladesh. • Liaise with international organizations, partner national societies, and donors to develop plans for future Middle East programming.

Skills

• Blogging
• Research
• Microsoft Office
• Editing
• Editorial
• Human Rights
• Japanese Literature
• Ap Style
• Writing
• Public Diplomacy
• Leadership
• Editorial Calendars
• Islamic Studies
• Structured Analytical Techniques
• Marketing Copy
• Spanish-Speaking
• Web Content
• Modern Standard Arabic
• Public Speaking
• Copy Editing
• Proofreading
• Middle Eastern History
• Content Development
• Feature Articles
• Travel Writing
• Policy Analysis
• Newspapers
• Event Planning
• Middle Eastern Literature
• Proposal Writing
• Spanish
• Journalism
• International Relations
• Social Media