This webinar addresses building a program budget using the Stevens Initiative’s template, the U.S. government uniform guidance and allowable costs, and regulations for administering a federal award. More information about the 2022 Virtual Exchange Grant Competition can be found here.

Omar Alsawalha is a Finance and Operations Manager at the Stevens Initiative, where he oversees the Initiative’s financial, operational, and contractual functions. Omar’s areas of expertise include U.S. federal government awards, United Nations and foundations funding, and contracts and affiliation agreements with U.S. state and local governments. Prior to joining the Initiative, Omar served for more than six years as Finance Officer with iMMAP Inc., an international humanitarian assistance non-profit organization. Previously, he served as Procurement Administrator with the United Nations World Food Programme’s Regional Emergency Office, which focused on the crisis in Syria. Omar, originally from Jordan, holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in commercial law.

Andie Shafer is a Program Manager at the Stevens Initiative, where she oversees the Initiative’s grant portfolio. During her time with the Initiative, Andie has supported over 40 virtual exchange programs and brings a bird’s-eye view of the virtual exchange landscape to her work with partners. Andie also supports the evaluation of grant programs and helps practitioners build capacity to scale their programming. Andie previously worked with the Aspen Institute’s Middle East Program, where she focused on education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship in North Africa. Andie spent time on the Obama reelection campaign in 2012, advancing events for the President, prior to her time at the Aspen Institute. Andie, a proud Michigander, holds a B.A. in public policy from the University of Michigan. She is based in Seattle.