Mr. Onishchenko started his public service career at the age of 21 as an elected member of the municipal council in his hometown of Kingisepp near Leningrad, Russia. From 2005- 2011 he coordinated local social development projects funded by the Netherlands government and was responsible for the regional outreach campaign of the project "Strengthening Access to Justice for the Poor in the Russian Federation" supported by the World Bank. In 2011 he joined the Eurasian Development Bank as the Leading Specialist at the Centre for Integration Studies, focusing on social and economic transition in the former Soviet countries. He also served as the Managing Editor of the quarterly Journal of the Eurasian Economic Integration. Mr. Onishchenko is Vice Chair of the Russian Red Cross Society in Leningrad region where he oversees humanitarian aid work, programs for children, youth and socially unprotected populations. He holds a specialist degree in public relations from the Institute of Foreign Economic Relations in Saint Petersburg and is pursuing his Ph.D. in political studies. During his fellowship at the Humphrey School he intends to explore the work of prominent federal, regional and local watchdogs and investigative human rights nongovernmental organizations aimed at developing a strong and vibrant civil society.