Yousra Cherif

Yousra Cherif has over four years of experience in building capacities for local NGOs and monitoring and evaluation of public policies in Mauritania.  Currently, she works with a local think-tank called “Mauritanie-Perspectives” who works to find innovative ways to strengthen the participation of civil society in the implementation, monitoring and accountability of public policy program in the fight against poverty in Mauritania, with a focus on health, education, women and youth.  Yousra’s academic background is in the Economics of Development, and she earned a degree from the University of Paris 10.  Upon completion of the Washington Fellowship, Yousra Cherifplans to implement intensive advocacy training on public policies in other areas and to sensitize the youth on the importance of accountability in Public sector management and governance.  Long term, she hopes to create a youth council that monitors social accountability mechanisms. Yousra was one of 100 Fellows competitively selected to participate in an 8-week internship in the United States following the Mandela Washington Fellowship(Africa) academic institute.  She interned at the U.S. Department of Transportation in August-September 2014.