Stefanie Harter
Senior Manager - Governance, Public Finance And Democracy
Berlin
Summary
Strategic-thinking, results-oriented manager with extensive expertise in East European affairs and international cooperation. Proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and to lead change processes with a strong commitment to democracy, human rights, and effective governance.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Head of Unit "Governance and Human Rights"
German Agency for International Cooperation
09.2023 - Current
- Introduction of a service unit, intensive support for the transformation process and support for the OR process for the department
- Personnel management, budget planning and controlling
- Support and advice for projects on strategic and personnel policy issues
- Development and application for new projects in close cooperation with the BMZ and AA and further development of programme content
- Co-coordination of the excellence theme "Just Digital Governance"
- Representative on the Sounding Board of the USE "Partnership Management of GIZ"
- Relationship management with various stakeholders from civil society, political foundations and other donors and experts
Country Director Moscow/Russian Federation
Heinrich Böll Foundation e.V.
05.2020 - 08.2023
- Remote management of the team in Moscow, partner contacts, project development
- Coordination with the Bundestag parliamentary group
- Moderation of and participation in political events
- Dissolution of the office, logistically, politically, administratively, personnel
- Establishment of a new exile office in Vienna, association registration, establishment of a quasi-international organisation, strategy development, reorientation
- Press and media relations, on repression, civil society, and the start of the war, dissolution of Memorial International and the foundation's office
- Coordination with embassy and political foundations
- - Cooperation with OSCE/Vienna
Cluster Coordinator "Good Governance, Decentralisation and Security"
GIZ, Tunisia
08.2017 - 04.2020
- 14 projects in the areas of administrative reform and decentralisation, youth and security sector reform, with corresponding personnel and budget responsibility
- Reporting - Relations with the Tunisian government, local government representatives, civil society representatives, political foundations and other donors and experts
- Development and application for new projects in close cooperation with the BMZ
- Representing GIZ at conferences and public events
- Analysing political developments in the country
Head of the Liaison Office to the Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Justice
GIZ, Berlin
02.2013 - 07.2017
- Negotiating cooperation agreements, including taxation, secondments, international legal protection
- Contributing to the development of new programmes and project approaches in the areas of security sector reform, administrative and judicial reform, and cross-border cooperation
- Organising exchange formats between ministries and GIZ, preparing new GIZ country directors
- Analysing political trends, budget developments, participating in the guideline process on conflict prevention, peace promotion and stabilisation
- Participating in conferences, representing GIZ at political and international events
- Temporary leave of absence to work on setting up the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZoiS)
Director
AgenZ/GIZ
- Responsible for political communication, cooperation with the Polish Solidarity Fund in the Eastern Partnership countries, implementation of AA projects in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova
- Development of new and innovative instruments in international cooperation (e.g. gaming)
- Cooperation with the Bertelsmann Foundation (Transformation Thinkers)
- Support for GIZ projects abroad in political communication
Project manager for civil society, media and public finances
EUROPEAN UNION – Delegation of the European Commission in Ukraine
09.2010 - 01.2013
- Responsible for project implementation, preparation of budget support programmes in the area of "good governance and democratisation" and monitoring of grant programmes in the areas of media freedom, human rights and electoral legislation
- Contribution to EU policy formulation in selected areas
- Donor coordination and strategy development
- Representation of the EU at official occasions, conferences and events
- Coordination with civil society representatives and non-state actors
- Participation in meetings of Schengen/EU Member States
- Evaluation of project applications and project selection
- Temporary group management of 10 sector and project managers
Head of the sector programme "Public Finance, Administrative Reform and Decentralisation"
GIZ
05.2009 - 09.2010
- Responsible for advising the BMZ in this area in transition and developing countries
- Management of a team of researchers and project staff
- Preparation of policy papers and concepts in the areas of public finance (especially taxation, budget reform, good financial governance), administrative and civil service law reforms, and transparency initiatives (EITI)
- Participation in conferences and workshops, commenting on international initiatives
Project manager/political officer
EUROPEAN UNION - Delegation of the European Commission to the Russian Federation
06.2004 - 01.2009
- Responsible for projects in the areas of administrative reform, anti-corruption, and cooperation with Interpol, the Council of Europe, IOM and UNODC
- Management and supervision of the sector portfolio of approx. €30 million, including preparation of contract content, creation of contract documents, reporting, budget control, donor coordination, network building with Russian and European think tanks
- Preparation and participation in consular meetings and the EU-Russia visa dialogue; contribution to monitoring the visa facilitation agreement
- Monitoring and analysis of political and legal developments in the Russian Federation
- Close cooperation with Russian partner authorities, training institutions and international organisations
- Preparation and evaluation of project tenders
- Participation and presentation of the EU at conferences, workshops and coordination with the EU-RF political dialogue
Project manager
GIZ
12.2000 - 02.2004
- Responsible for project development and implementation in the CIS
- Research for project and country background information, writing technical offers, personnel recruitment, negotiations with cooperation partners, scientific back-stopping
- Project management, including budget tracking, personnel support, project progress monitoring, contact maintenance
- Travel to Central Asia, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia
- Organisation of study trips
Policy Advisor
German Institute for Economic Research (DIW, Berlin)/Russian Ministry for Federal and Regional Affairs and Migration Policy
07.2000 - 11.2000
- Long-term expert in the EU-funded project "Regional Policy to Address Economic, Social and Legal Asymmetries in the Russian Federation"
- Responsible for final editing of advisory documents, legal texts, reporting, organisation of and participation in events and awareness-raising events
Seminar leader
Institute for Eastern European Studies, Free University of Berlin
02.2000 - 02.2000
- Seminar leader for social policy in the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation (environmental policy, pension and health systems, youth, migration, economic development)
Research assistant
Federal Institute for International and Eastern European Studies (BIOST)
09.1997 - 05.2000
- Research project "Economic Elites in Russia", responsible for
- Providing expertise on issues of Russian armaments policy/production
- Providing expertise in the areas of Russian science and research policy, high technology, telecommunications and Internet regulation
- Field research in Moscow and the regions
- Publication of an anthology entitled "The Russian economic space"
- Organisation of conferences and events on regional science topics
- Contributions to scientific conferences, anthologies and publication series
Scientific assistant
University of Dortmund, Chair of International Business Management and Institute for Environmental Protection
01.1989 - 01.1993
Education
PhD - Economics/East European Studies
University of Birmingham
Birmingham01-1998
Master of Arts - (Transitional) economics, politics and history of the Soviet Union, Russia and Eastern Europe
University of London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies
London01-1994
Diploma in Economics - Economics
University of Dortmund
Dortmund01-1993
Intermediate Diploma - Economic
University of Konstanz
Konstanz01-1989
Skills
Proficient in analytical and strategic thinking
Policy consulting experience
Strong change management experience
Managerial and leadership qualities
Extensive experience in programme and project development
Diplomatic, good negotiation skills in a multicultural environment
Proactive, good team player and able to work independently
Flexible, resilient and adaptable
Timeline
Head of Unit "Governance and Human Rights"
German Agency for International Cooperation
09.2023 - Current
Country Director Moscow/Russian Federation
Heinrich Böll Foundation e.V.
05.2020 - 08.2023
Cluster Coordinator "Good Governance, Decentralisation and Security"
GIZ, Tunisia
08.2017 - 04.2020
Head of the Liaison Office to the Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Justice
GIZ, Berlin
02.2013 - 07.2017
Project manager for civil society, media and public finances
EUROPEAN UNION – Delegation of the European Commission in Ukraine
09.2010 - 01.2013
Head of the sector programme "Public Finance, Administrative Reform and Decentralisation"
GIZ
05.2009 - 09.2010
Project manager/political officer
EUROPEAN UNION - Delegation of the European Commission to the Russian Federation
06.2004 - 01.2009
Project manager
GIZ
12.2000 - 02.2004
Policy Advisor
German Institute for Economic Research (DIW, Berlin)/Russian Ministry for Federal and Regional Affairs and Migration Policy
07.2000 - 11.2000
Seminar leader
Institute for Eastern European Studies, Free University of Berlin
02.2000 - 02.2000
Research assistant
Federal Institute for International and Eastern European Studies (BIOST)
09.1997 - 05.2000
Scientific assistant
University of Dortmund, Chair of International Business Management and Institute for Environmental Protection
01.1989 - 01.1993
Master of Arts - (Transitional) economics, politics and history of the Soviet Union, Russia and Eastern Europe
University of London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies
Intermediate Diploma - Economic
University of Konstanz
Director
AgenZ/GIZ
PhD - Economics/East European Studies
University of Birmingham
Diploma in Economics - Economics
University of Dortmund