Marianna Sanhurska
Bolton,United Kingdom
Summary
Experienced and values-driven project and programme professional with a strong track record of project management, support of community-based initiatives, leading and coordinating project teams, and delivering educational and other social cohesion activities. Offering strong communication and stakeholder management skills. Organized and results-oriented professional with proactive approach, comfortable at working remotely and unsupervised. Committed to preserving personal narratives for future generations and supporting deep engagement with history, culture and heritage.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work history
National Project Officer
IOM Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
01.2023 - 08.2025
- Managed the overall planning, implementation, and monitoring of projects within the Community Participation and Cohesion program.
- Coordinated the work of the projects` teams, ensuring smooth workflows with effective task delegation.
- Collaborated with diverse stakeholders and partners, including NGOs and authorities to gather their feedback and ensure high quality implementation of projects' activities.
- Coordinated hiring, recruitment and training strategies to build successful team of a new program.
- Oversaw programme reporting, budget monitoring, and compliance with donor frameworks (including monitoring and evaluation).
- Managed communication with team members and external partners to foster collaboration and information sharing.
- Supported development of learning outputs and public-facing resources.
Portfolio Specialist (Youth and Environment)
IOM Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
07.2021 - 12.2022
- Managed the overall planning, implementation, and monitoring of projects within the Youth and Environment portfolio.
- Led and managed support and processing services through directly supervising the work of subordinate staff engaged in the provision of support services and controlling the quality and efficiency of the team’s work.
- Liaised with relevant national and local working-level government contacts and partners.
- Supported volunteer engagement and empowered youth groups from diverse regions of the country to develop and implement their initiatives for embetterment of their communities.
- Collaborated with the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team and information management (IM) team to devise and implement an M&E plan for projects, incorporate the lessons learned into future projects, and adequately store project knowledge and deliverables for future use.
- Contributed to contracting and assisted in procurement of goods and services, including through follow up with relevant procurement and implementation colleagues, and contributed to financial tracking for projects within portfolio.
- Identified funding and partnership opportunities for youth and environment programming, and drafted concept notes and proposals for the project portfolio.
- Pursued relevant learning opportunities for myself and the portfolio team to ensure quality, innovative, and evidence-based programming.
- Organized and took part in youth- and environment-related events (e.g. meetings, presentations, discussions, visits, etc.).
Protection Associate
UNHCR Ukraine
Mariupol, Ukraine
04.2021 - 06.2021
- Worked closely with communities affected by conflict, listening to personal histories and lived experiences. Conducted assessments to identify protection needs of vulnerable populations.
- Contributed to documentation of testimonies for protection planning. Reported on protection issues impacting displaced individuals and communities.
- Liaised with community members and organisations to promote inclusion and dignity.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with stakeholders in humanitarian response.
Senior Protection Assistant
UNHCR Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
05.2013 - 03.2021
- Acted as the focal point on child protection and youth (refugees and asylum-seekers) with special focus on unaccompanied or separated children.
- Collaborated with governmental and non-governmental partners. Convoked and chaired Best Interests for a Child Committees, ensuring smooth cooperation with the key government authorities in the area of child protection, including the office of Ombudsperson on Child's rights.
- Provided guidance to NGO partners on the cases of unaccompanied or separated minors and refugee youth.
- Identified and implemented community-based projects on peaceful coexistence and community support.
- Led community work with asylum-seeking and refugee youth: reach-out and exploration of the livelihoods, self-reliance and integration opportunities. Raising awareness, coordination, capacity building through participation and organization of various communication forums, networks, etc.
Protection Associate
UNHCR Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
03.2012 - 04.2013
- Acted as the focal point on protection interventions, particularly related to cases of extradition and non-refoulement.
- Acted as the focal point for child protection, particularly focusing on unaccompanied and separated refugee and asylum-seeking children.
- Assisted in monitoring performance of legal implementing partners.
- Conducted interviews on refugee status determination, with special focus on particularly sensitive individual cases and adjudicated Mandate RSD cases.
Protection Assistant UNV
UNHCR Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
07.2011 - 03.2012
- Provided support to UNHCR’s NGO partners with registration and documentation of asylum seekers.
- Provided guidance to UNHCR’s NGO partners on legal counseling to asylum seekers and refugees.
- Updated and maintained electronic and paper files on individual cases.
- Conducted telephone and in-person counseling for persons for concern.
- Prepared and participated in training activities related to protection of asylum seekers and refugees.
- Assisted with the general functioning of the UNHCR Protection unit by providing reception, secretarial, administrative and interpretation/translation support as required.
Snr. Legal Counselor/Translator
HIAS
Kyiv, Ukraine
02.2009 - 07.2011
- Provided counseling to asylum seekers on the Ukrainian refugee law, and other relevant laws.
- Conducted registration of asylum-seekers, assisted with preparation of their asylum applications to Migration Service, including translation of documents.
- Conducted interviews of asylum-seekers and prepared initial assessments of their claims.
- Provided accompaniment and interpretation services (French-Ukrainian/Russian, English-Ukrainian/Russian, Spanish Ukrainian/Russian) at relevant state agencies.
- Prepared resettlement referrals.
- Cooperated with the ICRC on family tracing for minors.
- Cooperated with the IOM on voluntary repatriation.
Legal Counsellor / Translator
HIAS Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine
10.2007 - 02.2009
- Provided counseling to asylum seekers on the Ukrainian refugee law, and other relevant laws.
- Conducted registration of asylum-seekers, assisted with preparation of their asylum applications, including translation of documents.
- Interviewed asylum-seekers and prepared initial assessments of their claims.
- Provided interpretation services (French-Ukrainian/Russian, English-Ukrainian/Russian, Spanish Ukrainian/Russian) at relevant state agencies.
Volunteer
L`Arche
Trosly-Breuil, France
09.2005 - 07.2007
- Assisted to people with a learning disability through organizing their work and leisure.
- Monitored accommodation conditions and medical treatment.
Education
MA Philology - Spanish & English
Kyiv National Linguistic University
Kyiv, Ukraine 09.2004 - 07.2005
BA Philology - Spanish and English
Kyiv National Linguistic University
Kyiv, Ukraine 09.2000 - 07.2004
Skills
- Project Management Project planning, delivery and evaluation
- Coordination and supervision of project teams
- Stakeholder engagement and partner liaison
- Volunteer recruitment, support and training
- Budget management and responsability
- Evaluation and Reporting
- Capacity building Educational resource development
- Interviewing techniques Oral history and testimony documentation
- Multilingual Communication
- Safeguarding and ethical practice
LANGUAGES
Ukrainian
Native
English
Fluent
French
Advanced
Spanish
Fluent
Russian
Fluent
Polish
Intermediate
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
National Project Officer
IOM Ukraine
01.2023 - 08.2025
Portfolio Specialist (Youth and Environment)
IOM Ukraine
07.2021 - 12.2022
Protection Associate
UNHCR Ukraine
04.2021 - 06.2021
Senior Protection Assistant
UNHCR Ukraine
05.2013 - 03.2021
Protection Associate
UNHCR Ukraine
03.2012 - 04.2013
Protection Assistant UNV
UNHCR Ukraine
07.2011 - 03.2012
Snr. Legal Counselor/Translator
HIAS
02.2009 - 07.2011
Legal Counsellor / Translator
HIAS Ukraine
10.2007 - 02.2009
Volunteer
L`Arche
09.2005 - 07.2007
MA Philology - Spanish & English
Kyiv National Linguistic University
09.2004 - 07.2005
BA Philology - Spanish and English
Kyiv National Linguistic University
09.2000 - 07.2004