International Consultants

Dawn Erickson, MPA, SPHR
Financial and Organizational Development Consultant

Dawn is currently serving PARSA as a Consultant for Financial and Organizational Development.  She has a Masters degree in Public Administration and a Bachelors degree in Communications with an emphasis on public relations. She worked for a city government in Texas in the capacity of Economic Development Director and assisted with the implementation of initiatives that created a 70% increase in sales tax revenue from 2000 to 2003 and a continued increase in property tax revenue. Dawn’s expertise includes city management, grant writing, journalism, public relations, marketing, micro-enterprise programs, product development, program management and integrated economic initiatives.

Her management experience includes the oversight of communication functions encompassing public access cable channels, Internet sites, print media, presentations, special events and other related functions. Her nonprofit experience encompasses activities ranging from consulting to setting up nonprofit organizational structures with by-laws; serving on boards and commissions; fund-raising; and working in all capacities needed for the success of specific programs and organizations.

Dawn’s consulting projects in Afghanistan include the development of awareness raising materials, training materials and related reports for the Foundation of Culture and Civil Society (FCCS) UNDP Afghanistan National Development Strategy project for eight provinces; the Civil Society Empowerment Programme Collective Review Report for the European Commission and UN-HABITAT; and the Baseline Survey Report of Afghan Civil Society Organizations for Aga Khan Foundation.  Additional consulting includes assisting Rights and Democracy in the development of a multi-year women’s rights project proposal for the Canadian International Development Agency including budgeting, target group identification, risk analysis and detailing main project components using Results-Based Management; and conducting partner evaluations.

Dawn is part of the Hayward-Ghazni Sister City Committee and is a Cofounder of Advocates for Afghanistan which develops and mentors programs that are partnered with existing nonprofit organizations to implement programs for education, women, and families in Afghanistan. Raised in Afghanistan in the 1960's and 1970's, she has a unique historical perspective and an appreciation for the Afghan people. Dawn has been participating in the reconstruction of Afghanistan since 2002.