Maryna

Maryna Ryzhkova
Business Development and Resources Acquisition Director
Citizenship: Ukraine | Current Residence: Warsaw, Poland
Email: [открыть контакты](см. выше в блоке «контактная информация») | Phone: [открыть контакты](см. выше в блоке «контактная информация»)| LinkedIn: Maryna Ryzhkova | LinkedIn

Profile
Senior leader with 15+ years of experience, directing multi-country operations, advancing business development and shaping high-level policy dialogue. Recognized for forging strategic partnerships with governments, development banks, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector to deliver collective impact. Strong record of mobilizing resources, leading project design, and ensuring organizational performance through evidence-based decision-making and capacity building. Skilled in high-level representation and diplomacy at regional and global platforms.

Core Competencies
• Humanitarian & Development Operations Leadership
• Strategic Partnerships & Positioning
• Resource Mobilization & Donor Engagement
• Organizational Performance & Capacity Strengthening
• Policy Influence & Advocacy
• Evidence-Based Decision-Making & Data-Driven Insights
• Private Sector Engagement

Education
• Profession Certificate in Microfinance, Microfinance Association, 2025
• Certificate in Finance, Kyiv School of Economics, 2020
• Certificate in Human Resources Management, Kyiv School of Economics, 2019
• Master’s in English and German, Gorlivka State Institute of Foreign Languages, 1999
• Bachelor in Business Administration and Management, Amridge University, 1996

Professional Experience
VisionFund International – global
Resource Development and Management Lead (Fundraising & Equity Financing for a microfinance Fintech)
May 2024 – Present
• Reporting to Global Resources Mobilization Director, spearheading grant resources development and strategic partnerships to establish a new non-bank financial institution supporting internally displaced persons, returnees, women, veterans, and smallholder farmers micro and small business with financial education and access to finance through digital based solutions.
• Leading international stakeholder outreach and aligning operations with Ukraine’s economic recovery and financial inclusion frameworks.
• Designing performance metrics and risk-adjusted funding proposals to drive sustainable enterprise growth and job creation.
• Prepared proposals and obtained funding from institutional and private donors: FCDO, BMZ, Aktion Deautchalnd Hilfe (ADH), ICDF Taiwan, Council of Europe Development Bank, IFC, PROPARCO, IOM, WFP, World Vision private funding and many more for around 18M USD (with 6M being loan finance and 400K of Technical Assistance)
HIAS International – Poland
Director of Programs, Europe
Oct 2023 – May 2024
• Oversaw multi-country programs (Poland, Romania, Moldova, Greece, Belgium, Ukraine) on refugee livelihoods and protection.
• Designed and scaled interventions on economic inclusion, gender-based violence prevention, and psychosocial support.
• Forged partnerships with municipalities, NGOs, and EU bodies, ensuring program alignment with regional policy standards.
• Prepared proposals and obtained funding from GFFO, EU CERV, EU INTRA multi-country programs for around 7M USD
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) – Poland
Grants and Partnerships Manager
Dec 2022 – Apr 2023
• Managed multi-country humanitarian projects (Poland, Moldova, Romania), strengthening donor compliance and delivery in legal aid, education, protection, and livelihoods.
• Built institutional grant systems, reporting tools, and fundraising strategies.
• Engaged institutional donors (UNHCR, IOM, EU, NMFA, GFFO, EEA), contributing to NRC’s regional funding strategy.
• Prepared proposals and obtained multi-year and multi-country program funding from GFFO, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Porticus and other for around 14M USD
Mercy Corps – Ukraine
Senior Coordinator, Grants and Partnerships
Mar 2022 – Dec 2022
• Coordinated emergency and recovery response in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and Moldova.
• Oversaw projects on cash assistance, startup grants, vocational training, and employment placement.
• Ensured donor compliance and capacity building for local partners, working with ministries and civil society.
• Participated in proposal preparation and coordinated local partners engagement for BHA Cash Consortium for 100M USD, FCDO for 10M pounds and SDC for 3M CHF
Naftogaz of Ukraine – Ukraine
Human Resources Development Program Manager
Jan 2019 – Aug 2021
• Led Canada-funded project on HR and re-skilling reform at Ukraine’s largest state-owned enterprise (73 000 staff)
• Designed workforce upskilling programs, aligning with national education and employment strategies. Supervised several teams: 1 Canadian and 2 Ukrainian Universities and a Federation of Oil and Gas Employers of Ukraine.
• Partnered with donors, private sector, and government to integrate HR reforms into national frameworks.
• Prepared proposals and obtained funding from GAC, USAID, EU NEAR, Japan Embassy and a sovereign loan for 10M Euro from Spanish government and Siemens, Schlumberger and Naftograz group companies for the 40M USD 3 years project
Chemonics International – Ukraine
Grants Unit Manager (USAID Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative)
Jul 2017 – Jan 2019
• Directed grants portfolio in conflict-affected regions, improving citizen access to services through new administrative service centers.
• Supported digital learning and workforce training initiatives for public servants.
• Coordinated with local authorities, civil society, and USAID teams to ensure program impact.
• Prepared grant applications and ensured efficient grant management of 68 projects for total amount of 14M in 2 years program
Terre des Hommes Foundation – Ukraine
Project Manager / Head of Field Office
Dec 2015 – Jun 2017
• Led food assistance, livelihood, protection and recovery programs in Eastern Ukraine, supporting displaced populations with psychosocial and child welfare services, food parcels distribution and cash assistance.
• Coordinated with UN clusters, municipalities, and education officials to align response priorities.
• Managed donor-funded proposals (UNICEF, SIDA, ECHO, Swiss Solidarity and WFP) and supervised local teams (30 staff)

Languages
• Ukrainian – Native
• English – Fluent
• Russian – Fluent

Selected Achievements
• Secured multi-donor and private sector funding for humanitarian and recovery programs across Europe and Ukraine.
• Coordinated emergency responses reaching millions of displaced persons across Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, and Romania.
• Influenced policy and practice on livelihoods and protection through engagement with EU, UN agencies, government and private partners, and development banks.
• Established institutional systems for grant management and performance monitoring, increasing efficiency and compliance.
• Led economic inclusion initiatives linking financial access, training, and job creation for vulnerable populations.