Expert in Donor-Funded Initiatives, Policy Alignment & Community Empowerment in MENA
With over 30 years of experience across the MENA region, Samah Goussous designs and manages donor-funded programs that drive measurable impact in education, health, governance, and humanitarian sectors. She specializes in aligning local needs with global strategies through data-driven planning, inclusive partnerships, and community empowerment.
Community Empowerment and Livelihood Development Programs
Amna Refugee Healing Network & The University of Virginia Humanitarian Collaborative (UVA HC) – Jordan and Lebanon
o Leading research and evaluation efforts to assess the effectiveness of community-based mental health, well-being, and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programs for refugees and host communities.
o Overseeing data collection, analysis, and reporting while ensuring alignment with safeguarding protocols.
o Coordinating with in-country researchers and stakeholders to adapt research methodologies based on community needs.
RTI International – Jordan
o Providing in-country support for proposal preparation related to USAID Project.
Project Manager with INTEGRATED to implement a baseline study for World Vision’s Protection, Education, and Renewable Energy (PEARE) Project
o Managed Project baseline study, evaluating its impact on community livelihood programs.
Oxfam & Save the Children
o Conducted research on country ownership in development initiatives.
Civil Society Facility (EU Program) – Tunisia
o Developed and conducted training for community and youth development initiatives.
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Integrated international (INTEGRATED)
USAID Makanati – Integrated Team
o Led the Policy Lab Community Learning Agenda and M&E, ensuring strategic alignment with USAID Makanati’s goals.
o Designed and developed Scopes of Work (SOWs) for research on gender equality, economic empowerment, and community resilience.
o Managed partnerships with USAID and other key stakeholders.
o Oversaw financial reporting, budget management, and compliance across all project phases.
Integrated – Let’s Live in Harmony Project (USAID-FCDO Early Grades Reading & Mathematics Initiative, Ministry of Education)
o Provided technical oversight, supporting educational initiatives to enhance early-grade literacy and numeracy.
Expertise France – Social Protection Initiatives
o Provided technical leadership, strengthening civil society engagement in social protection programs in collaboration with Expertise France and MoSD.
o Coordinated capacity-building efforts for 78 grant-supported projects, benefiting 17,000+ individuals (73% female).
o Engaged 700+ CSO representatives and 100 MoSD staff in training on crisis management, gender inclusion, and early intervention.
o Served as a technical focal point for gender, disability inclusion, and crisis management collaborations with key government entities.
o Supported the Social Innovation Challenge, engaging 300+ youth participants (65% female participation) with a 97.5% satisfaction rate.
Mathematica – Jordan Refugee Livelihoods Development Impact Bond (DIB) Project (funded by IKEA Foundation)
o Oversaw quantitative data collection in collaboration with Mindset, a Jordanian research firm.
o Conducted qualitative data collection and analysis from beneficiaries and stakeholders to support project evaluation.
Short-Term External Evaluations & Research:
o Conducted impact evaluations of the Madrasati Program, improving youth development outcomes in schools.
o Contributed to Political Economy Analysis for Jordan’s education sector in collaboration with DAI, Integrated International, and the UK government.
o Managed the Generation for Peace capacity-building project, enhancing the Ministry of Youth (MOY) team and supporting youth centers across Jordan
o Researched youth empowerment and community development initiatives for the British Council and Mercy Corps.
DT Global – USAID/Jordan Education and Youth Office (EDY),
o Advised the Ministry of Education (MOE) on policy reforms, aligning the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) with USAID priorities to enhance extracurricular education (ECA) programs and youth engagement.
o Led strategic policy discussions, assessing frameworks, identifying gaps, and institutionalizing the ECA Strategyacross Jordan’s education system.
o Strengthened MOE institutional capacity, providing professional development and technical support for sustainable education reform.
o Expanded extracurricular programming nationwide, engaging CBOs, NGOs, and private sector partners.
o Optimized USAID-funded education initiatives, integrating data-driven approaches from DEEP, RAMP, ESMP, CISLE schools, and Youth Power.
o Revitalized and led the MOE/ECA Technical Committee, defining its Terms of Reference (ToR) and strengthening policy influence.
o Prepared MOE leaders for global knowledge exchange, guiding their participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM LEAD
ABT Associates – USAID Health Service Delivery
o Designed and executed a strategic community engagement framework to increase demand for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) services, directly supporting USAID’s Health Service Delivery objectives.
o Led a multidisciplinary team to deliver impactful community outreach initiatives, ensuring alignment with project goals and measurable health outcomes.
o Provided technical and managerial oversight, fostering partnerships with community associations to promote sustainable behavior change and increased utilization of integrated RMNCH services among women of reproductive age and children under five.
o Strengthened collaboration with the Ministry of Health, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders to enhance capacity-building efforts and improve service delivery responsiveness.
o Coordinated cross-functionally to integrate community engagement efforts with other Health Service Delivery Activity components for maximum impact.
o Developed strategic plans, quarterly progress reports, and annual impact assessments, ensuring data-driven decision-making and continuous program improvement.
o Optimized data collection and reporting to meet USAID and program performance requirements, ensuring accountability and evidence-based program adjustments.
