Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic
Fatma el Zahraa Kotkat

Fatma el Zahraa Kotkat

Mediterranean Youth In Action (MYA) Specialist
Alexandria

Summary

With over a 15 years of work in international organisations and working with civil society, youth and art professionals, my career is anchored in fostering intercultural dialogue and strengthening civil society networks and youth and arts project management. At the Anna Lindh Foundation, I have been working on youth community driven actions, arts and culture projects, strategic network profiling as my main contributions. Civil Society Networks are at the Heart of what I do passionately at the Anna Lindh Foundation. The roles that I assumed internally at the ALF, including that of Interim Civil Society Team Coordination, have honed my skills in crafting narratives that resonate with stakeholders and contributed to the orchestration of ALF strategic orientations and intercultural dialogue programmes, while also effecting small but steady and impactful change in our Networks.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
6
6
Languages

Work History

Mediterranean Youth in Action (MYA) Specialist

The Anna Lindh Foundation
07.2025 - Current
  • Lead on project design and grant support for youth-led initiatives across the Euro-Med region.
  • Deliver mentoring sessions to improve project design and implementation quality.
  • Support contracting processes and follow through with implementation tracking under an EU-funded project.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals on time and within budget.

Senior Country Desk Officer

The Anna Lindh Foundation
04.2022 - Current
  • Support the Civil Society Manager in drawing up the strategy for the development of the National Networks of civil society organizations, members of the ALF, and in implementing the ALF Multiannual Work Programmes. This includes developing criteria, identifying modalities, defining and writing terms of reference, concept notes, and calculating financial envelopes.
  • Act as a country/network focal point for a certain number of networks. This entails developing strategic network data profiles and analytical reports, while ensuring the overall technical compliance of the implementation carried out by these networks in relation to the signed contracts, keeping the relevant databases updated, and regularly reporting to the Civil Society Manager.
  • Contribute to and write up sections of the narrative reports (addressed to donor countries and the European Commission) covering the work packages managed by the Civil Society Team, in coordination with the Civil Society Team and the Quality Control Team.
  • Contribute to the evaluation process and support the team in all the administrative procedures and technical operations that need to be completed.
  • Coordinate work synergies with the Corporate Communication, Quality Control, Public Policies, and Fundraising Units to ensure the accessibility of any information or documentation these units might need to promote, give visibility to, and best present the work of the ALF Civil Society networks.
  • Work collaboratively with a cross-disciplinary approach with the Public Policies Unit and Regional Programme Team, proposing innovative views to ensure the ALF Secretariat's performance in serving its civil society networks and on the public policy front.
  • Carry out field missions related to specific meetings, events, or field assessments, and report on them.

Additional Responsibility - Interim Civil Society Team Coordination

Anna Lindh Foundation
04.2022 - 12.2022
  • Support the Executive Director (ED) in the preparation of Heads of Networks meetings and Board of Governors (BoG) preparation, following ED instructions.
  • Support the ED in the elaboration of the EU-funded Action Grant Phase VI (2022-2025).
  • Coordinate the Civil Society Team to provide the ED with elements to be considered for the newly designed Network Engagement Scheme (NES), the funding mechanism to support the ALF Networks.
  • Monitor and follow up on the reporting work related to the interim coordination support for the ALF Networks running between February and March 2022 (letters of intent signed to cover the coordination of the networks during that period). Coordinate the closure of the Network Management Support Scheme (network support between 2019 and 2021).
  • Provide elements for the completion of the narrative report of the ALF EU-funded Action Grant Phase V (2018-2021).
  • Management of the networks section of the ALF website.
  • Advising the Civil Society Team on specific communications with the HoNs, and other strategic matters.
  • Advise the ED and the team on matters related to the ALF Networks, strategic orientations, strategic communications, and documents.

Senior Networks Officer

Anna Lindh Foundation
01.2018 - 03.2022
  • Support the development of the strategy for the consolidation of the National Networks, and their participation in the program of the Foundation.
  • Support in defining the specific objectives, drafting the related concept notes, work plans, and budgets for the projects and activities assigned.
  • Supervise the overall implementation of the funding schemes designed for the financial support of the ALF Networks, from launching the schemes to awarding, contracting, monitoring, technical and financial reporting, and, lastly, closure.
  • Act as a focal point for the assigned national networks, within the framework of the internal focal point system applied by the unit, contributing to network analyses, technical assistance, and regular reporting.
  • Carry out missions to national networks, representing the Foundation in meetings and events related to the ALF networks, and reporting on them.
  • Assess project proposals, participate in evaluation committees, and elaborate technical progress reports in the framework of ALF funding schemes and grants.

Programmes and Networks Officer

Anna Lindh Foundation
05.2014 - 12.2017
  • Act as a focal point for the assigned national networks in the framework of the internal focal point system applied by the unit, contributing to network analyses, technical assistance, and regular reporting.
  • Carry out missions to national networks, representing the Foundation in meetings and events related to the ALF networks, and reporting about them.
  • Participate in evaluation committees, assess project proposals, participate in evaluation committees, and elaborate technical progress reports in the framework of ALF funding schemes and grants.
  • Focal point for the team to provide status updates to the Programmes and Networks Unit manager on the progress of contracts and reports.
  • Ensure the systematic compliance of information and reports to assess the results and impact of the Networks, and contribute to the reporting exercise and analysis of the required reports, in coordination with the Monitoring & Evaluation team.
  • Contribute to the implementation of communication and visibility tools for the National Networks and related activities, in close collaboration with the ALF communication team.

Assistant to the Executive Office

Anna Lindh Foundation
04.2012 - 04.2014
  • Contribute to the development of the organization’s institutional affairs, including the work of the President, Executive Director, and communication and media policy.
  • Coordinate the ALF Advisory Council meetings, including preparing the agendas for the meetings, the documentation, the meeting report, and ensuring follow-up on action points and recommendations.
  • Develop and manage the information and administration system of the Executive Office, including maintaining and updating the contact database related to the work of the President, Executive Director, National Civil Society Networks, and key institutional partners.
  • Ensure the information related to the overall work of the Executive Office is filed, up-to-date, and accessible to members of the office.
  • Assist the Head of the Executive Office in the coordination of the Executive Office, including the preparation and follow-up of the weekly staff meeting, updating the task manager system, and preparing presentations and dossiers on the institution’s key initiatives.
  • Update and maintain the shared calendar of the communication and institutional activities of the Anna Lindh Foundation.
  • Assist the Head of the Executive Office in the coordination of the Advisory Council, the elected consultative body of the Anna Lindh Foundation, including the preparation of annual meetings, and the management of logistical matters.
  • Coordinate the translation service of the office in English, French, and Arabic, in cooperation with the relevant service providers.
  • Translation, editing, and proofreading of press releases and web content.
  • Contribute to the development of institutional publications, such as the Anna Lindh Review and promotional materials, as well as the development of multimedia products for the Anna Lindh Networks.
  • Support the Press Office in keeping press records up to date and media monitoring activities.
  • Coordinating the participation of the Head of Office on international missions for the Anna Lindh Foundation, in coordination with relevant partners, including logistical and travel matters.

External Expert

Anna Lindh Foundation
12.2010 - 02.2012
  • Assist with and support the procedural work related to the launch, evaluation, and award of ALF contracts through calls and other grant schemes.
  • Assist with the preparatory work concerning contracts for the provision of ALF calls.
  • Assist with different daily administrative, financial, and budgetary matters.
  • Assisting with the follow-up and reporting on ALF contracts.
  • Verify financial reports and any other supporting documents related to ALF calls.
  • Maintain appropriate records, documents, contracts, and other documentation needed.

Senior Specialist

Bibliotheca Alexandrina
04.2008 - 11.2010
  • Approach potential donors of different nationalities (American, European, and Arab) in order to secure funds needed to implement specific projects to be carried out by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
  • Write project proposals.
  • Pitch relevant BA projects to matching donors.
  • Fill out application forms where they are part of a submission.
  • Create project budgets, project management, and evaluation tools.
  • Handle cooperation with the European Union, and explore the European Commission’s different programs in order to secure funding for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina's various projects.
  • Develop a fundraising strategy specifically tailored for cooperation with the EU, other multilateral donors, and bilateral cooperation agencies.
  • Regular scanning of EuropeAid, the European Commission’s Delegation to Egypt, as well as other European Commission websites, in order to locate relevant open and forecast calls for proposals.
  • Carry out online, email, and courier submissions to the European Commission as per their own rules.
  • Establish communication and dialogue with the Delegation to the European Union here in Egypt.
  • Write promotional material (e.g. organization profiles) to better promote the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in the European Community and increase its chances of participation in European funded projects.

Education

BA - Arts and Literature

University of Alexandria
06.2003 - 06.2007

Msc - International Relations

University of East London
02.2025 - Current

Skills

Microsoft Office

Certification

Project Management Professional Preparation Course

Timeline

Mediterranean Youth in Action (MYA) Specialist

The Anna Lindh Foundation
07.2025 - Current

Msc - International Relations

University of East London
02.2025 - Current

Additional Responsibility - Interim Civil Society Team Coordination

Anna Lindh Foundation
04.2022 - 12.2022

Senior Country Desk Officer

The Anna Lindh Foundation
04.2022 - Current

Senior Networks Officer

Anna Lindh Foundation
01.2018 - 03.2022

Project Management Professional Preparation Course

12-2017

Programmes and Networks Officer

Anna Lindh Foundation
05.2014 - 12.2017

Assistant to the Executive Office

Anna Lindh Foundation
04.2012 - 04.2014

External Expert

Anna Lindh Foundation
12.2010 - 02.2012

Senior Specialist

Bibliotheca Alexandrina
04.2008 - 11.2010

BA - Arts and Literature

University of Alexandria
06.2003 - 06.2007

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Fatma el Zahraa KotkatMediterranean Youth In Action (MYA) Specialist