An Interview with Paul George (MAHA '18)

Grants Partnership Coordinator for ACF in Jordan

As the Syrian crisis grows, life on the ground for humanitarian workers becomes more difficult, as Paul George shares in this short Q&A.

Please tell us about the work you are currently doing.
I am working in Jordan with a humanitarian organization that works primarily with Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians. The Syria crisis has turned into another protracted humanitarian crisis, and the prospect of a safe return for refugees is distant. In this environment, funding for meeting the needs of the groups affected by this continues to shrink, forcing us toward difficult choices when choosing where to intervene. The most rewarding part of the work is when we are able to leverage effective programming to donors and replicate impactful interventions.

How did your experience at Fletcher prepare you for this role?
The MAHA program gave me the opportunity to widen my perspective of humanitarianism and recognize the trends in the sector occurring globally. It helped me focus my career and move into an international position. The academic rigor the program instilled in my humanitarian lens is also something that continues to shape my decisions.

How do you recognize World Humanitarian Day?
World Humanitarian Day makes me think of the rapidly changing nature but growing size of the humanitarian crisis across the world, and the relative insignificance of what we are able to do.