The Team
Over the years we have grown an enthusiastic team of talented and dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds, responsible for managing Action for Development’s projects in Switzerland and Afghanistan. All staff members work on a volunteer basis, lending their expertise pro-bono so all funds invested in our organisation can go directly towards helping people of Afghanistan in need.
Zohra Kaihan
Operations Manager
She taught English at Said Jamaluddin Afghan Institute from 2003 to 2004 and has been working since 2013 as an Operation Manager with Action for Development.
Dr. Zabi Rahimi
Training Coordinator and Midwife Trainer
He is a pediatrician born in Kabul in 1966. After graduating from Kabul University, he has worked for various international organizations including USAID.
He has been working as Training Coordinator and Master Trainer for Action for Development’s project on training of midwives since 2014.
Sania Nezami
Coordinator for the School for Street Children Project
She studied at the Afghan Technical Vocational Institute. She works as the School Coordinator for Action for Development’s Street Children Back to School Project.
Her role is to coordinate the activities between the Geneva office and the school in Kabul.
Haroon Noori
Administration/Finance Officer
He has a Bachelor’s degree in history and sociology from the University of Kabul. He also has a diploma in accounting and management. Before joining Action for Development, he held various positions with Action contre la Faim, as a translator and English teacher, as an accountant, and working in logistics and supply. He brings this experience to his role as administration and finance officer..
Health & Nutrition
Zahra Al-Amine
Programme Development Officer (Health & Nutrition)
Zahra holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the American University of Beirut (AUB). She has experience in Nutrition research as well as monitoring and evaluation and program adaptation in low resource settings.
Before joining Action for Development, Zahra worked with World Food Program (WFP) in Lebanon as well as with World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, where she supported the emergency health interventions unit in fragile, conflict affected and vulnerable settings. Zahra has worked a lot with vulnerable populations including orphanage children, refugees and detainees in Lebanon as well as in Sri Lanka. She is passionate about children’s health, nutrition, and advocating for their rights. At Action for Development, Zahra is currently working to develop funding proposals; in addition, she will develop M&E tools and training materials for girls and women in Afghanistan as part of the health and nutrition program.
Finance
Efrina Ndindi
Finance Officer
Communications
Katarina Vehovar
Communication Officer
Katarina is a young professional with a background in EU foreign policy, human rights, and international security. Since joining Action for Development in January 2026, she has been focussing on advocacy, outreach, and partnership-building with donors, UN agencies as well as other NGOs.
Previously, Katarina worked at the EU Delegation to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, NATO, and the European Parliament. She holds Masters' degrees in International Security as well as Russian & Eurasian Politics & Economics from Sciences Po Paris and King's College London, both completed with distinction in 2021.
Akiko Kasagi
Communications Officer
Akiko Kasagi is a communications professional with an international background spanning Europe and Japan. She has worked with organizations across the private, nonprofit, academic, and international sports sectors, supporting international outreach, stakeholder engagement, and cross cultural collaboration. She holds an Executive MBA in Strategic Marketing from the University of Geneva.
Since joining Action for Development in 2026 as a Communications Officer, Akiko has been supporting external communications and partnership outreach for the organization's education, health, and humanitarian initiatives. She is particularly interested in initiatives that connect community based programmes with broader conversations around inclusion, access to education and healthcare, and peacebuilding.
Shinsil Lee
Communications Officer
Shinsil Lee is a communications and international development professional with experience across corporate, nonprofit, and creative sectors. Her background includes stakeholder communications, project coordination, digital marketing, risk management, and cross-cultural collaboration. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in International Management at Geneva Business School.
Since 2026, Shinsil has been supporting communications, donor engagement, and community outreach initiatives related to education, health, and humanitarian programmes. She is particularly interested in projects that connect community-based initiatives with broader conversations around inclusion, mental health awareness, peacebuilding, and access to education and healthcare.
Francesca Tavola
Communications Officer
Francesca Tavola has a background in international relations, human rights, and humanitarian project coordination. She holds a Master's degree in International Relations, with a focus on the MENA region. Since joining Action for Development in 2026 as an Education Officer, she has been supporting education and community-based initiatives, contributing to refugee-focused project development, reporting, partner mapping, fundraising, and outreach with local organizations in Geneva.
Previously, she gained experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and later worked with a Geneva-based NGO on projects related to education, child protection, mental health, and psychosocial support. She is particularly interested in initiatives that promote access to education, inclusion, and opportunities for vulnerable children and young people.
Linda Muthee
Communications Officer
Linda Muthee is a communications professional with a background in journalism, digital communications, and strategic storytelling. She has experience supporting communications across nonprofit and international organisations, with a focus on digital engagement, content development, and translating complex programmes and impact into clear, audience-focused narratives.
Since joining Action for Development in 2026 as a Communications Officer, Linda has been leading website operations and external communications, developing and implementing social media strategies, and managing the organisation's digital channels. She also creates and edits content that communicates the organisation's programmes, initiatives, and impact to diverse audiences. She is particularly interested in using strategic communications and digital storytelling to amplify social impact, strengthen audience engagement, and connect organisations with the communities they serve.
Human Resources
Margarita Schmit
Human Resource Officer
Margarita is an HR Officer at Action for Development, with over ten years of experience in international coordination and human resources. Since joining the organization, she has been responsible for recruitment, onboarding, and administrative staff management, while contributing to the development of organizational processes and external partnerships.
She has worked across multiple countries and sectors, combining expertise in HR, communication, and humanitarian action. She is particularly committed to supporting education and development initiatives for vulnerable populations, with a strong focus on international collaboration.
Education
Elaine Malloy
Education Program Officer
Elaine is an experienced public health commissioning professional with over 20 years of international experience across the UK, US, and Switzerland, working to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children, young people, and their families. She holds an MSc in Health Sciences from the University of Bristol and has undertaken extensive postgraduate training in commissioning, procurement, management, and coaching.
Since joining Action for Development in 2022, Elaine has coordinated the Health Programme and led key maternal health and wellbeing initiatives. Her work has supported the expansion of the organisation's continuing professional development programmes for health professionals in low-resource settings, as well as the launch of a dedicated inpatient, midwife-led service within the Comprehensive Health Centre in Kabul.
Caroline Lanhi
Education Programme Officer
Caroline Lanhi is a communications and project management professional with more than 15 years of experience in journalism, public communications, and international development. She holds a Master's degree in Contemporary Culture Studies and has built a multidisciplinary career spanning government institutions, nonprofit organizations, media platforms, and international initiatives in Brazil and Switzerland.
Since December 2024, Caroline has been serving as Education Programme Officer at Action for Development in Geneva, supporting education initiatives and community-based programmes focused on vulnerable children. In this role, she contributes to programme monitoring, donor reporting, partnership development, and fundraising. She is particularly interested in initiatives that promote access to education, gender equality, and social inclusion through collaborative and community-driven approaches.
Nina Salma Chatila
Program Manager
A qualified primary school educator with extensive experience supporting children in international and multilingual learning environments. Since 2013, she has worked as a Teacher in private schools in France and Geneva, where she runs classroom teaching, leads small-group activities, adapts learning approaches to individual needs, and promotes a safe and stimulating learning environment. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Years Education from Mälardalen University and a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management from Södertörn University. Nina is a native Swedish speaker and is highly proficient in English and French with proficiency in Arabic. She currently serves as Board Secretary of Action for Development, reflecting her strong commitment to improving access to quality education for vulnerable children and supporting humanitarian initiatives. Through her professional experience and voluntary engagement, Nina is particularly passionate about child-centred education, inclusive learning, and contributing to programmes that create meaningful opportunities for children and communities affected by vulnerability and crisis.
Program & Health
Fanny Bauer
Program Manager
With over 15 years of experience in programme management, advocacy, and capacity building, Fanny has led numerous initiatives in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on human rights, children's rights, and public health. Her professional background includes roles with the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN agencies, and various international NGOs, where she has supported civil society organisations to strengthen their advocacy and organisational effectiveness.
Fanny has designed and implemented strategies addressing inequities and promoting the rights of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children in conflict-affected areas. She firmly believes in the power of access to health, education, and sport as foundations for resilience and empowerment. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and an MBA. Fluent in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German, Fanny brings a global outlook and a steadfast commitment to inclusive development and lasting social change.
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