Stephanie Baric

About Stephanie Baric

Global development professional with over 30 years of experience in the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans, working with USAID, international NGOs, and UN agencies. Most recently served as Senior GBV Technical Advisor for child, early, and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) and FGM/C (female genital mutilation/cutting) in USAID\'s Gender Equality and Women\'s Empowerment Hub. Proven expertise in program design and management, strategy development, policy and advocacy, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), and partnership development. Technical background spans gender equality and women\'s empowerment, youth development, and democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG). Consulted with UNICEF’s Prevention of Harmful Practices team, focusing on FGM elimination. Previous roles include Program Director for ChildFund International’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) campaign, supporting quality program implementation, knowledge management, strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and advocacy engagement. Served as Director of USAID’s flagship governance project in Yemen, leading capacity building for civil society and government in policy formulation and implementation with a focus on gender and youth issues. Also worked as Acting Director and Senior Advisor for CARE’s “Power Within: Learning to Lead” initiative, supporting access to quality education and leadership development for adolescent girls in 20 countries. Extensive senior program management experience, including roles as Assistant Country Director for CARE programs in West Bank/Gaza, Tanzania, and Egypt, overseeing women and girls\' empowerment, civil society strengthening, economic growth, governance, food security and livelihoods, water and sanitation, education, and health projects. Managed multi-million-dollar portfolios funded by bilateral donors, the private sector, and foundations. Fluent in Serbo-Croatian with working knowledge of French.

Experience

1. Senior Gbv Technical Advisor (Cefmu and Fgm C)

   USAID

   Nov 2023 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Served as a subject-matter expert on gender and GBV, with a focus on CEFMU and FGM/C, providing gender analyses, integration, and programmatic support for GBV prevention and response. Provided technical backstopping for USAID investments in CEFMU, FGM/C, and adolescent girls’ empowerment throughout the program cycle. Supported missions and regional bureaus in the technical design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of GBV programs, while facilitating the design process for acquisition and assistance awards. Acted as the agency lead on strategies, evidence-based practices, and current research in CEFMU and FGM/C programming, ensuring evidence-based approaches. Conducted gender analyses and assessments to inform policy development and strategic approaches for addressing GBV. Strengthened coordination efforts with donors, experts, civil society organizations, and host governments to advance CEFMU and FGM/C interventions. Represented the agency at international conferences, engaging with donors and implementing partners to promote gender equality and GBV prevention strategies. Provided technical guidance on gender-transformative approaches, localization and partnerships, and behavior change programming. Supported monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) for gender equality and gender-integrated programming, ensuring impact-driven and sustainable interventions.

Education

• McMaster University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

• Concordia University

  Master of Arts - MA

• McMaster University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

  1985 — 1989

• Concordia University

  Masters

  1995 — 2000