Government of India MPA Fellows

The Indian MPA Fellowship Program was initiated by the Indian Government for the purpose of offering leadership development opportunities to top officers in public service position in the government of India.

• Kanhuraj Bagate
• Sunil Kumar
• Siddhartha Singh Longjam

• Fadia Fawaz Afashe
• Sandra Ayoo
• Iqbal Detho
• Graciela Guzman
• Jun Sup Han
• Mushfig Jafarov
• Muhammad Quraish Khan
• Anupam Kishore
• Katti Maria Martinez Meija
• Shaymaa Reyad
• Zuliati Rohman
• Mandibaye Sioudina
• Lundi Siwundla
• Muhammad Tahir
• Akuele (Fernanda) Tounou-Akue

• Olga Reshetova

U. K. Fulbright for Public Affairs

The bi-national United States-United Kingdom Fulbright Commission offers this Fellowship each year to an outstanding U. K. civil servant for study and research at the Humphrey School. The purpose of the fellowship is to promote collaboration between the United Kingdom and the United States.

• Mark Boother

Kanhuraj Bagate
Mr. Kanhuraj Bagate is currently Deputy Inspector General of Registration and Deputy Controller of Stamps in the state of Maharashtra, India, responsible for revenue collection related to property transactions and contracts. Previously he supervised elections for Indian Parliament, State Legislative Assembly, local self government, and cooperative societies.  For the state of Maharashtra he has also worked on a program to resettle people affected by irrigation and infrastructure development projects. In the housing department he worked for slum improvement projects for both rural and urban communities, including Mumbai. His academic background is in agriculture, law, and business. During his fellowship year, Mr. Bagate will pursue a Master of Public Affairs degree.

Sunil Kumar
Mr. Sunil Kumar is currently Joint Secretary, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in New  Delhi.  He leads a team implementing regulations and formulating policy issues in the matter of induction of State Service Officers to the All India Services. He played a key role in the framing of guidelines for empanelment of police officers by the UPSC for appointment as Heads of Police Forces in the State Governments. Previous to the UPSC, he was a Divisional Forest Officer, working on watershed development issues, administration of scientific management of forest areas, and enforcement of laws and the protection of forests and wildlife under India’s conservation acts. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. During his fellowship year, Mr. Kumar will pursue a Master of Public Affairs degree.

Siddhartha Singh Longjam
Mr. Siddhartha Singh Longjam belongs to the Indian Audit & Accounts Department of the Government of India. He is a certified auditor in Information Systems Auditing and Internal Auditing, and has ten years of experience in carrying out audits of various Government Departments in India. He was a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for excellence in Public Administration in 2008, for being a team member in pioneering Information Systems Audit initiatives. He completed a five year deputation as a Director in the Ministry of Steel in July 2011, where he looked after the issues of coordination, restructuring and mergers, and corporate social responsibilities of Steel Public Sector Companies. He also handled the concerns of the ship recycling industry in India. He is committed to contributing towards more accountable and better governance, and a more citizen centric and citizen friendly government in India. He holds a Master of Science degree in Physics from the University of Delhi. During his fellowship year, Mr. Singh will pursue a Master of Public Affairs degree.

Fadia Fawaz Afashe
Syria
Ms. Fadia Afashe is a women’s rights activist. She is currently the Director of the Minister of Culture’s Private Office in Damascus, Syria with the responsibility of managing all administrative aspects of the Ministry. She has a passionate commitment to human rights issues with a goal to become an effective decision-maker in Syria and change the perception of women’s roles in her society. She received a Master in Administration Science from the French-Syrian institute (INA) in Damascus and a Bachelors degree in Criminal Law from Damascus University School of Law. In addition, she is a professional artist. During her fellowship year, Ms. Afashe will focus on, public policy, international affairs, community development, women’s rights, and human rights.

Sandra Ayoo
Uganda
Ms. Sandra Ayoo is a gender equality activist with over 17 years experience in development work. She is currently the Director of the research organization Dominion African Institute of Peace Studies, and is a gender, peace, and security consultant. She recently led the process of developing a National Policy for Peace Building and Conflict Prevention for the Government of Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Rural Development from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Social Administration from Makerere University in Kampala. During her fellowship year, Ms. Ayoo will focus on public policy analysis with a focus on human trafficking in conflict situations, violence against women, and the role of non-governmental organizations in shaping public policy.

Iqbal Detho
Pakistan
Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho is currently National Manager (Child Rights) for the Society for Protection of Rights of Child (SPARC) in Karachi, in association with Amnesty International, Pakistan. He is passionate about human rights, particularly child rights. His goal is the prevention of forced marriages, honor killing, and child and bonded labor. He has published studies on the issue of tribal and traditional justice in Pakistan. He received a Master of Science in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and a Master of Arts in Sociology from the Shah Abdul Latif University in Khairpur, Pakistan. During his fellowship year, Mr. Detho will focus on human rights, law, and criminal justice.

Graciela Guzmán
Argentina
Ms. Graciela Guzman is the Director of Alumni, Placement and Fundraising at the Universidad de San Andres in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has increased the funds raised to support a scholarship program for underprivileged and talented young people to attend college. She is responsible for career and placement services among alumni and students. Her goal is to provide access to education and employment for Argentina´s poor to create social capital and  end the cycle of poverty. She has a BA in Communication from Universidad de Buenos Aires and a Master of Business Administration from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires. During her fellowship year, Ms. Guzman will focus on management of non-profit organizations, fundraising, social leadership and poverty reduction.

Jun Sup Han
South Korea
Mr. Jun Sup Han has served in the Korean National Police for the last 10 years, from leading a rural police patrol unit to working in the Police headquarters in Seoul, S. Korea. He is currently a task force leader in the intelligence bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, responsible for strategic security planning for events such as the recent G20 Seoul Summit 2010. He has a strong interest in global security management, and in creating preventative action plans and “perfect and peaceful” countermeasures for violent protest and terrorism that may occur in connection with international events. He earned a degree in Police Administration from the Korea National Police University. During his fellowship year, Mr. Han will focus on police intelligence and counter-terrorism strategies, and global security management.

Mushfig Jafarov
Azerbaijan
Mr. Mushfig Jafarov is a founder and current Program Manager for the NGO “Bridge to the Future” Youth Public Union in Ganja, Azerbaijan where he directs their Youth Employment Resource Center and coordinates their Youth Employment Strategy Program, with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the International Labor Organization. He has 10 years of experience working in non-profit organizations aimed at democratic reform and the development of a strong civil society. He received his Master’s degree in Engineering, Economics, and Management from the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University in Ganja, Azerbaijan. During his fellowship year, Mr. Jafarov will focus on non-profit management, fundraising, social entrepreneurship, and human resource management.

Muhammad Quraish Khan
Pakistan
Mr. Muhammad Quraish Khan is currently the Police Chief for district Nowshera at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with responsibilities for recruitment, training, placement, and promotion. He also served as Deputy Secretary of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department in Peshawar where he worked as Head of the Provincial Crisis Management Center. His 10 years on the police force included responsibilities of public policy analysis, vis-à-vis policing, counter terrorism, public safety, internally displaced persons, and private security companies. Mr. Khan is committed to evolving effective strategic responses to terrorism. He received a Master in Criminology and Criminal Justice from King's College London, UK. During his fellowship year, he will focus on criminal justice, human rights, transnational policing, counter terrorism, and human trafficking.

Anupam Kishore
India
Mr. Anupam Kishore is Deputy General Manger with the Reserve Bank of India, currently on deputation as Additional Secretary, Department of Finance and the Director of Public-Private-Partnership for the Government of Goa, India. With over 15 years of professional experience in the fields of financial regulation, policy planning and governance, he is dedicated to empowering the poor in India through Public-Private-Partnerships in public health, sanitation, infrastructure and environmental protection. He received a Law Degree and a Master of Science in Geology from Patna University in Bihar, India. He is also a recipient of the prestigious British Chevening Gurukul Scholarship and an alumnus of London School of Economics. During his fellowship year, Mr. Kishore will focus on leadership development, public administration, public-private partnership models, and financial management .

Katti Maria Martinez Mejia
Honduras
Ms. Katti María Martínez Mejía has worked for the last five years with the Honduran government’s Ministry of Finance, in the Project Management Unit that oversees a portfolio of projects and programs for public investment that are funded either by international organizations or through the local budget. Previous to this, she worked for the authorized Coca Cola bottler and subsidiary of Cervecería Hondureña S.A., SABMILLER in Honduras. She has a Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering, and a MA in Project Administration from the National Autonomous University of Honduras in Tegucigalpa. During her fellowship year, Ms. Martínez Mejía will focus on public policy analysis, program monitoring and evaluation, and public-private partnerships.

Shaymaa Reyad
Egypt
Ms. Shaymaa Reyad is a political researcher and team leader in the Policy Unit of the Egyptian Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center, a distinguished think tank in Egypt, whose primary mission is to support decision-makers on issues of economic, social, and political reform. Her goal is to connect citizen concerns and the actions of Egypt’s politicians and its national institutions. Her main focus is on youth empowerment, political participation for women, and civic engagement in the decision making process. Her long-term goal is to be a minister of Education in 2020. She received a Master’s degree in Political Science from Cairo University. During her fellowship year, Ms. Reyad will focus on public speaking, negotiation skills, use of new media, and qualitative methods in conducting social science research.

Lundi Siwundla
South Africa
Mr. Lundi Siwundla is currently a Public Education Specialist at the Masimanyane Women’s Support Center in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. He has considerable experience in volunteerism, project management, and individual and group counseling for civil society and local government.  His expertise is in prevention and advocacy in the areas of violence against women and children, human trafficking, and sexual reproductive health and rights of women and girls, including HIV and AIDS. His objective is to empower people to participate as active citizens in political and economic issues to fight corruption, poverty, unemployment, and crimes against women and children. He received a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Fort Hare in East London, South Africa. During his fellowship year, Mr. Siwundla will focus on public policy formulation and implementation, women’s rights, and gender equality and violence issues.

Muhammad Tahir
Pakistan
Mr. Muhammad Tahir is currently working as a Senior Superintendent of Police for the National Highways and Motorway Police in Pakistan. Previously he worked as a District Police Chief, engaged with the prevention and detection of crime and administration of financial and human resources. He received a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Manchester, UK and a Master of Business Administration from the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi, Pakistan, He aims to work for improving the culture, ethics and training of police in Pakistan. During his fellowship year, Mr. Tahir plans to focus on learning the due process of law, the theoretical and practical aspects of criminal and judicial systems, and the various mechanisms of Human Rights.

Akuélé (Fernanda) Tounou-Akue
Togo
Ms. FernandaTounou-Akue is currently Director of Administration and Human Resources at WAGES, a microfinance institution in Lome, Togo. She has 14 years of experience and focus on the needs of women. She has conducted financial trainings for rural and illiterate women in the running of their daily business. She is dedicated to promoting women in development, with a focus on providing them with necessary tools to improve their businesses.  She received a Master of Science degree in Economics and Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Littoral-Opale Coast in Lome, Togo. During her fellowship year, Ms. Tounou-Akue will focus on human resource management, microfinance institutions, and women’s development.

Olga Reshetova
Ukraine
Ms. Olga Reshetova has worked as a secondary school English teacher, a Spanish teacher, and as quality assurance team manager and HR manager with the company Provina, Inc. Her work as a member of such international NGOs as Rotaract Club in Simferopol and The Club for Young Leaders at the Heidelberg Center has focused on environmental protection, inclusive education for physically challenged children, and humanitarian aid to homeless people. Within these organizations, Ms. Reshetova has coordinated projects to help orphans and children with leukemia. She also volunteers for Foundation for Freedom, working to develop trust, mutual understanding, and tolerance among different ethnic groups living in her home region of Crimea. She also has taken an active role in projects to reform the Ukrainian educational system and provide information about gender issues. She received a master’s degree with honors in English language and literature from Taurida National V.I. Vernadsky University in Ukraine. During her fellowship, Ms. Reshetova will pursue a Master of Public Policy degree.

Mark Boother
Mr. Mark Boother has worked in the British Criminal Justice System in a wide variety of roles for 30 years. He has BA in social science (Deviancy) and is a qualified Social worker. After working as a probation officer in inner London he was involved in research into substance misuse before becoming the manager of an Approved Probation hostel.  He held a number of management positions and then became a strategic manager of services for children who had offended. He is currently employed as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Probation, and has specialized in inspections on prolific offenders and electronic monitoring. He has acted as an advisor to the Governments of Bulgaria and Chile. He intends to study services for offenders and their Governance arrangements in Minnesota during his fellowship.