GETTING TO KNOW DANIELA FARINAS

Daniela is a Senior Program Associate in the Economic Growth Division, primarily focused on workforce programs tailored to the needs of communities, youth, and the private sector.

Through Economic Growth programming, we aim to take a systems approach to sustainably strengthen workforce systems around the world, attain scale and sustainability through aligning incentives, and build linkages and local capacity to achieve win-win outcomes for employers, youth, and their communities.

Please tell us about your area(s) of expertise.

As Senior Program Associate for the Economic Growth Division, I provide specialized support to project implementation and serve as a primary backstop for project field teams. I provide operational, financial, and programmatic support to several projects within the Economic Growth Division and take an active role in supporting the technical outcomes of programming. In addition to program support, I assist with business development opportunities, including capture and proposal development.

Do you have an accomplishment, programmatic result or activity that you are particularly proud of?

One of my proudest accomplishments includes leading the inaugural Fiesta del Barrio, a grassroots community celebration held in Mt. Pleasant that elevates La Clinica’s continued effort in building a healthy Latino community. La Fiesta del Barrio engages the community through collective co-operation and creates awareness on cultural and social challenges, conserving traditional culture, and reducing isolation of individuals and groups to further improve access to health services.

Through this work, my team and I strategically aligned with local small businesses, youth groups and other non-governmental organizations to create an experience that bridged education, storytelling, access to healthcare services and culture. As a result, marginalized community members received free health screenings, intergenerational connections were fostered and interventions were facilitated to connect women, youth and other minority groups to critical wrap around services including medical services, mental health and substance abuse services, community health services and language access services.

• EDUCATION:

  • M.A. in international development, George Washington University (Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2022)
  • B.A. in business management, University of Central Florida
  • Project management professional certified

• DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE:

  • Over five years working in international food security, workforce development and livelihoods programming. To date, my work and passion for development has taken me to countries around the globe including India, Indonesia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and more. Fortunately, I have also had the pleasure of working alongside the Latino community right here in Washington, D.C., to increase access to health care services and improve health outcomes through a community-based holistic approach, which includes medical services, education, outreach, and language support. My experience with both grassroots organizations and multilateral organizations has helped strengthen my ability to implement high-quality and high-impact programs.