I build and lead teams that deliver in environments many find difficult to navigate – fragmented governance, competing stakeholders, and high political stakes.
As Senior Portfolio Manager at GIZ, I oversee more than 30 projects operating in 23 countries, multiple governance systems, and with a diverse donor base. My work sits at the intersection of strategy and execution: translating high-level political agendas into delivery structures, managing organisational risk, and keeping senior stakeholders aligned through change. I advise leadership at one of the world’s largest international cooperation agencies on portfolio performance and institutional transformation.
Earlier in my career I held coordination roles in Brussels and southern Africa, working across regional institutions, government ministries, and civil society. These experiences shaped my practical understanding of how decisions actually get made in complex, multinational systems.
I hold a distinction-level MA in Global Security and Strategy at SOAS University of London and a first-class MA (Hons) in International Relations and History from the University of Dundee.
I’m at my best in environments where the map doesn’t exist yet – building the structures, relationships, and processes that let organisations move forward despite ambiguity.
All views are mine. They do not necessarily reflect those of GIZ or any other organisation.
Felix Youngman 