United Nations University-MERIT

Maastricht University

Universidad de Los Andes

Charlemagne College - Lyceum Rolduc

Programme Management Officer at United Nations

United Nations

Programme Management Officer

• Supporting the DPO/DPET/Evaluation Team’s work in the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Planning and Performance Assessment System (CPAS) to strengthen mandate implementation of peacekeeping operations
• Focal point for CPAS implementation in UNMIK, UNFICYP, UNMISS, MONUSCO and UNMOGIP — supporting those missions in conducting context mappings/stakeholder analyses, developing log-frames for planning and performance assessment purposes, setting up data collection, conducting evaluations/performance assessments and reporting on results and achievements
• Leading the development of online training modules and guidance used for CPAS trainings; regularly providing training to peacekeeping staff in the field and at UN Headquarters
• Field visits to DRC (MONUSCO), Kosovo (UNMIK), Cyprus (UNFICYP), Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and Syria (UNDOF)

Associate Evaluation Officer

• Applying econometric analyses, conducting multi-level factor analysis to determine determinants of income disparity and poverty in Burkina Faso, using a four-level decomposition to distinguish between household, community, provincial and regional factors to identify the most vulnerable 
• Designing various cash transfer schemes and conducting micro-simulations to assess their targeting accuracy and cost-effectiveness
• After defending the thesis, I contributed to a paper by the World Bank’s Social Protection team on “the way forward for social safety nets in Burkina Faso” (see below)

The World Bank

Master Thesis Researcher

• Responsible for monitoring stabilization projects in eastern DRC (Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu), and for coordinating local partners (UNHABITAT, IOM, UNDP, FAO) implementing those projects under the umbrella of the International Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (ISSSS) which supports the transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding in the DRC)
• Setting up a data collection/management system and a data collection, analysis and visualization platform 
• Designing and conducting trainings for implementing partners on survey design, data collection, analysis and interpretation
• Consolidating and visualizing data, and analyzing political and related developments and trends in the priority areas, and contributing to reports informing donors and other stakeholders on key results and achievements
• Designing and updating log-frames (definition of results, setting indicators and benchmarks) and harmonizing log-frames of implementing partners
• Field visits to MONUSCO field offices in Beni, Bunia and Bukavu

UNDP

Monitoring And Evaluation Specialist

• As part of MONUSCO’s Stabilization Support Unit (SSU) responsible for monitoring stabilization projects in eastern DRC (Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu), and for coordinating local partners (UNHABITAT, IOM, UNDP, FAO) implementing those projects under the umbrella of the International Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (ISSSS) which supports the transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding in the DRC)
• Setting up a data collection/management system and a data collection, analysis and visualization platform 
• Designing and conducting trainings for implementing partners on survey design, data collection, analysis and interpretation
• Consolidating and visualizing data, and analyzing political and related developments and trends in the priority areas, and contributing to reports informing donors and other stakeholders on key results and achievements
• Designing and updating log-frames (definition of results, setting indicators and benchmarks) and harmonizing log-frames of implementing partners
• Field visits to MONUSCO field offices in Beni, Bunia and Bukavu

MONUSCO

Monitoring And Evaluation Consultant

• Reviewing and monitoring political economic developments in Saudi Arabia, and the wider Gulf region, and providing assessments and briefings to senior officials at the embassy and at the ministry in The Hague
• Supporting cooperation with other foreign representations in Saudi Arabia
• Organizing and coordinating a trade mission for a Dutch delegation with various high-level visits (incl. a meeting with CEO Saudi Aramco)
• Conducting research on opportunities to foster trade between the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia; formulating and analyzing policy proposals 
• Supporting a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening renewable energy efforts in Saudi Arabia
• Field visits to Dammam, Khobar and Jubail

Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

Junior Economic Officer

The United Nations Student Association Maastricht is an academic, non-profit organization, with 400 members in the field of international politics. The association aims to bring the UN spirit to the Maastricht student community and does so by organizing career events, MUNs, debates, etc. 

In my function as President, I was responsible for the following tasks (among others):
• Leading and coordinating the Heads of Committees;
• Chairing weekly board meetings;
• Final decision-maker in terms of annual agenda, events and reports;
• Final responsibility for managing the yearly budget of approximately €100,000;
• Head representation (both to Maastricht University and UN- and EU-affiliates);
• Host (including a welcome speech) of EuroMUN , the second-largest Model United Nations in Continental Europe;
• Rewriting the statutes in order to allow for further growth of the association.

United Nations Student Association (UNSA) Maastricht

President

As an intern with the data science team of the Department of Business Intelligence (Business Improvement & Change), I was responsible for the following tasks:

• Analyzing data from various communication channels (Facebook, Twitter) using both R and Golden SQL;
• Applying text data mining techniques;
• Creating a connection between visits to the public website (no log-in) and customer IDs, based on IPs and connection time. This connection was used for further analysis;
• Visualization in Microsoft Power BI Desktop;
• Presentation of findings to the Marketing Director.

Intern Business Intelligence

As an active member of the Volunteering Network Team, the main goal was to negotiate the conditions under which UNSA volunteers would be volunteering abroad, as well as providing them with a cultural workshop and assistance where needed. 

• Setting up agreements between NGOs and UNSA;
• Attending weekly meetings;
• Contact person for ALDA (Belgium, France, Italy and Macedonia) and Tikari (Peru);
• Organizing an information market to promote NGOs to volunteers.

Development Committee Member

As a promoteamer I helped out at the School of Business and Economics during e.g. Bachelor and Master Open Days, thereby representing my own study track.

• Giving presentations on what the Bachelor/Master program Econometrics & Operations Research entails;
• Organizing guided tours for first-year Bachelor/Master students to get acquainted with Maastricht and the university.

Maastricht University School of Business and Economics

Promoteamer

As the Vice-President of the study association SCOPE | Vectum with about 300 members, my main responsibilities lay within the association its external affairs.

• Acquisition of new and retainment of existing sponsors;
• Company visits to pitch about the association;
• Weekly board meetings;
• Supporting fellow board members in organization of (weekly) activities, etc.;
• Leading the External Affairs committee and the German External Affairs committee;
• Organizing a Case Day for 50 econometricians (4 participating companies);
• Support the organization of a Business Trip (5 days, 5 companies, 30 econometricians);
• Advisory Board position in the SCOPE | Symposium, organized jointly by the SCOPE associations and the School of Business and Economics.

SCOPE | Vectum

Vice-President & External Affairs

As a member of the External Affairs committee I was responsible for contacting companies in E&OR related fields (strategy, consultancy) and organizing a Case Day in Maastricht for 40 E&OR students with 4 participating companies.

Committee Member

Tutoring students currently in their preparatory scientific education (VWO) and other types of secondary education.

• Mathematics (A/B/C/D), Chemistry, Physics, Ancient Greek, Economics and French.

Bram Vandermeulen