Irada Garakhanova
Baku
Summary
Programme and operations professional with over 10 years of experience supporting the delivery of development initiatives across public and international sectors. PMP- and PMI-ACP-certified, with a strong background in strategic planning, resource mobilization, and operational management of complex, multi-million-dollar programmes. Experienced in leading and coordinating cross-functional teams and supporting implementation in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Programme Management and Operations Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
10.2023 - 12.2025
- Managed the country office trust fund programme portfolio, including FAO Azerbaijan Partnership Phase projects and USAID-, GEF-, GCF-, and EU-funded projects, ensuring planning, budgeting, and implementation in compliance with FAO corporate procedures and donor requirements.
- Contributed to resource mobilization through the formulation of project proposals for international financing mechanisms (GEF, GCF) and bilateral donors (EU, USAID), aligning funding initiatives with FAO strategic priorities and donor requirements.
- Led the formulation of the FAO Country Cooperation Framework (2026–2030), coordinating inputs from technical units and partners, conducting contextual analysis, and aligning priorities with national development strategies and FAO strategic objectives.
- Advised senior management on country context and situational analysis, including agriculture, food systems, climate resilience, and sustainability trends, to inform strategic planning, programming, and resource mobilization decisions.
- Applied strong knowledge of FAO corporate project cycle management to support all stages of the project cycle, including formulation, implementation, monitoring, reporting, evaluation, and closure.
- Formulated project concept notes and supported their operationalization in FAO corporate project formulation and management systems, in line with approved programming frameworks and funding modalities.
- Coordinated implementation of projects and activities across technical areas, ensuring timely delivery of planned outputs, effective use of resources, and compliance with approved work plans and budgets.
- Managed and monitored project budgets in alignment with approved work plans, including adjustments to allocations and timelines, ensuring availability of funds and compliance with FAO corporate and donor frameworks.
- Ensured application of FAO operational procedures related to human resources, procurement, contracting, and financial management throughout all stages of the project cycle.
- Monitored project and programme implementation against approved indicators, work plans, and budgets; identified risks and implementation constraints; and supported timely corrective actions.
- Prepared and consolidated technical, financial, and results-based inputs for donor and corporate reporting, including PIRES, FAOR Annual Report, Country Annual Report, and UNINFO, in line with FAO reporting requirements and deadlines.
- Prepared and finalized donor and government reports (semi-annual, annual, and terminal), ensuring analytical quality, results-based framing, and accurate financial reporting.
- Administered contracts and agreements with partners and service providers, including preparation and management of Letters of Agreement and Operational Partner Agreements (OPAs), ensuring compliance and timely delivery.
- Supported project and programme evaluations and reviews, including preparation of documentation, coordination with stakeholders, and follow-up on recommendations.
- Maintained coordination with headquarters, regional offices, government counterparts, UN agencies, and implementing partners to facilitate implementation, reporting, and resolution of operational and programme-related matters.
- Advised senior management on programme performance, implementation progress, operational risks, and resource utilization to support informed decision-making.
Programme Support Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
09.2019 - 09.2023
- Provided programme and operational implementation support to FAO Azerbaijan’s environmental and natural resource management portfolio, contributing to planning, execution, and monitoring of project activities in line with approved work plans.
- Supported preparation and updating of annual work plans and implementation schedules, coordinating inputs from technical and operational teams.
- Drafted and reviewed programme documentation, including Terms of Reference, Letters of Agreement, and official project correspondence, in compliance with FAO corporate procedures and donor requirements.
- Supported procurement and contracting processes for assigned projects, including preparation of technical specifications, coordination with service providers, and follow-up on delivery to facilitate timely implementation of field activities.
- Monitored financial transactions and supported payment processing, consolidating expenditure data to inform budget tracking, financial reporting, and monitoring of implementation progress.
- Supported coordination and implementation of national-level technical workshops, field activities, and stakeholder consultations, including logistical arrangements and coordination with service providers.
- Supported outreach, communication, and visibility activities through preparation of training materials, knowledge products, and media inputs in coordination with the communications team.
- Consolidated technical, narrative, and financial inputs to support internal reporting, donor updates, and coordination with government counterparts and UN partners.
- Supported resource mobilization processes by assisting in the preparation of project concepts, budgets, and donor submissions.
- Facilitated coordination between technical, procurement, and finance teams to address implementation constraints and ensure continuity of project delivery.
Senior Specialist
Ministry of Education
02.2014 - 08.2019
- Served as Department Focal Point for the implementation of state-level inclusive education programmes and projects within the framework of deinstitutionalization and child protection reforms, coordinating planning, implementation, and reporting.
- Contributed to the drafting, inter-ministerial coordination, and advocacy of the national State Programme on Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities (2018-2024), supporting its approval and formal adoption by the Government of Azerbaijan.
- Designed and piloted inclusive education measures, including interventions targeting special and boarding schools, supporting their deinstitutionalization and national scale-up in line with government priorities, child protection reforms, and national education standards.
- Conducted legal and policy research and contributed to the preparation of legislative proposals, regulatory drafts, and policy briefs, ensuring alignment with international child rights conventions, national education laws, and the Ministry's regulatory framework.
- Provided legal and procedural guidance to regional education authorities, school administrators, boarding school management, and citizens, ensuring consistent interpretation and application of inclusive education and child protection legislation.
- Reviewed legal documents, citizen appeals, and administrative submissions related to education institutions, ensuring compliance with national regulations and recommending corrective measures where required.
- Supported coordination between central and regional education authorities and external stakeholders on inclusive education, disability inclusion, and equitable access to education across mainstream and boarding schools.
- Organized national-level policy and coordination events, contributing to both technical agenda development and operational delivery under state child protection and education policy frameworks.
Education
Diploma - Innovation in Governance for Urban Nature-based Solutions
Lund University
Sweden06.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Academy of Public Administration Under The President of The Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan07.2012
Advanced Programme Diploma - European Law and Economics
Riga Graduate School of Law
Latvia07.2019
Master of Arts - Comparative Social and International Studies
London Metropolitan University
United Kingdom/Netherlands08.2013
Skills
- Project & programme management
- Strategic planning & programme/project design
- Resource mobilization & donor engagement
- Budget and financial management (including planning, monitoring, and revisions)
- Monitoring, evaluation & results-based reporting
- Data analysis & performance tracking
Timeline
Programme Management and Operations Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
10.2023 - 12.2025
Programme Support Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
09.2019 - 09.2023
Senior Specialist
Ministry of Education
02.2014 - 08.2019
Diploma - Innovation in Governance for Urban Nature-based Solutions
Lund University
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Academy of Public Administration Under The President of The Republic of Azerbaijan
Advanced Programme Diploma - European Law and Economics
Riga Graduate School of Law
Master of Arts - Comparative Social and International Studies
London Metropolitan University