Saumaun Heiat is a graduate of the Elliott School of International Affairs having received his M.A. in International Affairs with a focus on International Development and Middle East Studies. Saumaun currently works as a Senior Associate at Chemonics International on the USAID-Iraq Durable Communities and Economic Opportunities (DCEO/Tahfeez) Project. Saumaun previously worked as a Program Support Officer at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangladesh from 2017 – 2018, where he worked to support Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazaar during and after the 2017 Rohingya Crisis as well as families displaced from coastal areas of Bangladesh. Saumaun also completed two humanitarian response fellowships while at the Elliott School with Save the Children and Project Concern International. He also enjoys writing pieces on climate migration and conflict-displacement issues within Iran and the respective region.
What is your current position? What have you learned since you began?
Currently I am working at Chemonics International as a Senior Associate on the USAID-Iraq Durable Communities and Economic Opportunities (DCEO/TAHFEEZ) Project. DCEO works to help Iraq’s vulnerable communities primarily in post-ISIS territories become more adaptive, resolve conflict, and enhance livelihoods through local private sector growth and job creation. Working within the Project Management Unit (PMU) of DCEO, I’ve learned how important cross-cultural communication is through working as a liaise between our implementing project office in Erbil and USAID as our client. Working to be a bridge between USAID expectations and the dynamic realities of project implementation in Iraq, I’ve really been challenged on how to balance on-the-ground needs of a large-scale project while maintaining compliance with a public sector partner.
What professional organization, websites, or events would you recommend for students interested in your field, and why?
I would definitely recommend the @uninternships Instagram page which consistently posts opportunities, some of which are paid, for abroad postings in both headquarters and project offices in a range of contexts. My first exposure to the humanitarian/development field began as an internship with the International Organization for Migration (IOM-UN Migration Agency) in Bangladesh which later led to a full-time consultancy, and that was by far the experience that taught me the most about the international development field prior to my Elliott School experience.
What was the most valuable thing you learned during your time at the Elliott School course?
I found the most valuable thing I learned during my time at the Elliott School was that you’re only going to go as far as the network of friends, colleagues, and mentors around you, and so for me it was important to maintain and contribute to these personal and professional relationships as much as I could. Whether it was forming a study group, sharing interesting research or technical topics with professors, or passing on research or work opportunities with classmates/colleagues, these actions only cemented my network and kept me motivated to pursue my career goals alongside my peers.
What part of your career do you find most challenging and how do you stay motivated?
I find the more administrative-heavy tasks such as managing field-office personnel and budgeting that are more outside the technical working themes of DCEO are more-often the most difficult and sometimes the most necessary aspect of my work. Administrative work is a huge part of project management, and often it makes you feel disconnected from the results-based work of the project, but motivation comes from reminding yourself that these kinds of tasks are so crucial to ensuring support for your field staff and keeping your project implementation in line with compliance rules.
What is your favorite memory/story from your time at the Elliott School?
A road-trip with my classmates/best buds to Shenandoah and every time we all went to The Green Zone.
If you could throw a parade of any caliber, what type of parade would it be?
A house music parade or any parade with house music.
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The #ElliottProud profile series is managed by the Elliott School Office of Graduate Admissions and highlights graduate program alumni to answer common questions posed by prospective, incoming, and current students. For more information on this series or to submit questions, e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at esiagrad@gwu.edu.
The views expressed by students profiled do not necessarily represent those of organizations they work for, are affiliated with, or the Elliott School of International Affairs.
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