Aleksandra Cherkasenko
Berlin
Summary
Human Rights Lawyer & Advocate, Strategist, Grant Maker, Manager
With over 14 years of experience as a human rights lawyer, advocate, and a grantmaker, I bring a wealth of expertise. I have a proven track record of advocating for human rights in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, grantmaking, monitoring and evaluation of grantees and their work. I led on work aiming at protecting the rights of activists, tackling the challenges of digital authoritarianism and human rights in closed societies. My career spans roles at the Araminta Advisers, Open Society Foundations and the Open Society Justice Initiative, where I specialized in strategic litigation and international advocacy. I am fluent in English, Russian, and speak German.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Program Manager
Araminta Advisers
06.2024 - Current
- Develop and lead programming on closed societies, Central Asia, advocacy and digital authoritarianism
- Together with local partners conduct international advocacy in Brussels, Berlin and with International Financial Institutions
- Develop contingency, protection and organizational strategies for local partners in Eastern Europe and Central Asia based on strategy meetings
- Manage fellows and enhance their analytical and advocacy products
- Fundraising and writing analytical reports about civic space
- Cultivating strong relationships with external partners, ensuring effective collaboration on joint projects and initiatives.
Team Manager
Open Society Foundations
01.2023 - 05.2024
- Led teams in developing and implementing strategies focused on human rights protection, safety and security of activists, and combating digital authoritarianism
- Managed grantmaking processes and coordinated activities across closed societies, in Ukraine and Central Asia.
- Conducted comprehensive organizational reviews and grant recommendations for key grantees of the program, and managed relationships with partners and other donors.
- Developed a high-performing team by recruiting top talent, providing ongoing training, and fostering a positive work environment.
Acting Unit Manager/Senior Program Officer
Open Society Foundations
04.2022 - 01.2023
- Oversaw a unit, developed strategies, and managed the implementation of human rights and closed societies portfolios activities
- Focused on strategizing, advocacy and grantmaking on human rights protection, safety and security of activists, and digital authoritarianism.
- Led coordination of the Ukraine Emergency Fund
- Co-led coordination and grantmaking of the Recovery pillar of the 25M Ukraine Democracy Fund
- Conducted evaluation of potential grantees and developed synergies and learning among partners.
Senior Program Officer
Open Society Foundations
05.2021 - 04.2022
- Led grantmaking, strategy development, and project monitoring for Eurasia Program’s human rights portfolios, including criminal justice, digital authoritarianism, housing rights, and protection of activists.
- Developed evaluation assessments of potential grantees, analyzed weak and strong sides, developed recommendations for improving organizational and financial health partners.
- Built strong relationships with cross-regional teams, including on Latin America, Africa and South East Asia through effective communication and collaboration.
Program Officer - Eurasia Program
Open Society Foundations
01.2016 - 05.2021
- Managed grantmaking, strategy development, and project monitoring for Eurasia Program’s human rights portfolio
- Developed and managed cross-thematic work with a focus on housing rights, combatting torture, defending civic space and supporting civil society in closed societies.
Associate Legal Officer - Central Asia
Open Society Foundations
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Managed Legal Remedies for Torture project, overseeing national litigation, and using international mechanisms for defending human rights.
- Developed submissions to UN Treaty Bodies and conducted advocacy with UN mechanisms and OSCE
- Advocated and litigated for implementation of UN Treaty Bodies decisions at national level. Achieved the first winning cases on partial implementation of the UN HRC decisions.
- Participated in intergovernmental working groups, shared international experience
- Conducted trainings for judges and prosecutors on implementation of UN Human Rights Committee views.
- Conducted comprehensive research to support legal proceedings, formulate defenses, and initiate legal action.
Legal Protection Officer
Danish Refugee Council
09.2011 - 01.2012
- Assisted in legal registration of property rights for victims of racial conflict in Osh in 2010
- Developed legal brochures to raise awareness of communities about property rights
- Managed databases of rights holders and statuses of their protection
- Supported statistical and narrative reporting, and assisted in developing reports for donors.
Associate Legal Clinic Director
American University of Central Asia
01.2009 - 03.2010
- Coordinated work of students of Legal clinic on providing free legal aid to vulnerable groups of population
- Provided legal analysis and consultations on civil, criminal, and labor law issues,
- Represented clients in court.
Education
Certificate in Strategy Execution -
Harvard Business School Online
Online05.2024
LLM, International Business Law - Law
Central European University
Budapest, Hungary01.2011
Bachelor’s in Law -
American University of Central Asia
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan01.2010
Skills
- Strategy Development
- Grantmaking
- Project Monitoring and Evaluation
- Human Rights Advocacy
- Capacity Building
- Digital Authoritarianism
- Strategic Litigation
- International Advocacy
- Multilingual: English, Russian, German
- Strong analytical skills
- Training and mentoring
- Staff Leadership
Relevant experience
At the Open Society Foundations, I co-led grantmaking initiatives focused on Ukraine’s recovery, accountability, and emergency support to activists during the war. My responsibilities included evaluating potential grantees, writing eligibility assessments, and reviewing reports. I also coordinated with other donors to support Ukrainian organizations. With over eight years of experience as a grant-maker, I have authored numerous organizational assessments, ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation in challenging environments.
Timeline
Senior Program Manager
Araminta Advisers
06.2024 - Current
Team Manager
Open Society Foundations
01.2023 - 05.2024
Acting Unit Manager/Senior Program Officer
Open Society Foundations
04.2022 - 01.2023
Senior Program Officer
Open Society Foundations
05.2021 - 04.2022
Program Officer - Eurasia Program
Open Society Foundations
01.2016 - 05.2021
Associate Legal Officer - Central Asia
Open Society Foundations
01.2012 - 01.2016
Legal Protection Officer
Danish Refugee Council
09.2011 - 01.2012
Associate Legal Clinic Director
American University of Central Asia
01.2009 - 03.2010
Certificate in Strategy Execution -
Harvard Business School Online
LLM, International Business Law - Law
Central European University
Bachelor’s in Law -
American University of Central Asia
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