Farishta H.
Senior Program Manager
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Farishta H., based in Washington, D.C., is a seasoned Strategic Programs Manager with a PMP® certification, specializing in operational governance, strategic program leadership, and cross-functional stakeholder engagement. She currently excels as a Program Coordinator at the Norman Borlaug Institute, contributing to the Department of State Women’s Scholarship Endowment by ensuring compliance and operational continuity during program transitions. Previously, as Chief of Party for the USAID Young Women Lead Program, Farishta led a multimillion-dollar initiative focused on youth leadership and women's empowerment, demonstrating strong capabilities in risk assessment and executive communication. Her tenure as Deputy Chief of Party at USAID involved overseeing the Women’s Scholarship Endowment Program, where she enhanced program quality and performance oversight. Farishta's educational credentials include an MSc in Advanced Management Practice from the University of Bath and a BBA from Kardan University in Kabul.
Experience
Chief of Party
U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Young Women Lead Program · 2023 — 2025Provided programmatic and operational leadership for a multimillion-dollar initiative focused on youth leadership and women's empowerment. Directed cross-functional teams while liaising with government entities, NGOs, and private-sector partners to ensure effective service delivery.Deputy Chief of Party
USAID Women’s Scholarship Endowment Program · 2019 — 2023Managed program quality and operational performance for a national initiative aimed at expanding scholarship access for women. Ensured compliance with USAID standards while improving data workflows and reporting for enhanced visibility and decision-making.Program Coordinator
Norman Borlaug Institute · 2019 — PresentFacilitated operational coordination and transition activities for an international initiative that supports Afghan women in STEM. Contributed to program transition from USAID to the Department of State while ensuring stakeholder coordination and compliance across various workstreams.Deputy Chief of Party, Contractor
Tetra Tech, USAID Women’s Leadership Development · 2018 — 2019Oversaw operational management for a large-scale women’s leadership and community development program across multiple provinces in Afghanistan. Managed staff supervision and compliance with USAID regulations within a complex operational environment.
Skills & Expertise
Education
- Master of Science in Advanced Management PracticeUniversity of Bath
- Bachelor of Business AdministrationKardan University