Afsana Hye

Afsana has a broad range of experiences in the NGO and international development space, and has lived and worked in Japan, Haiti, and Bangladesh. Most recently, she oversaw and managed the strategic rollout and implementation of a women’s empowerment training program throughout the supply chain of a US-based global retail brand, helping to sensitize improved working conditions and better work standards in the vendor factory bases. Prior to that, she has served in a number of roles with leading development actors including a consultancy with the Water Energy for Food (WE4F) Grand Challenge at USAID where she researched innovative sustainable agricultural enterprises at the nexus of water, energy, and food in West Africa. She has also been involved in grant portfolio assessment and support at Open Society Foundations and grants administration at RSF Social Finance, both active players in the philanthropic and social finance space. She is an avid women’s rights advocate and believes in grassroots power and self-determination. Afsana received her M.A. in Sustainable International Development from The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and a BA in English and History from Wesleyan University. Her interests include traveling, volunteering, reading and a love for art and people.