Welcome New Development Coordinator: Sophie Pauken
Sophie Pauken is an international development professional with five years of experience managing multi-million-dollar, USAID-funded programs across the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. Her work focuses on providing the operational backbone for complex global initiatives, including program implementation, compliance, finance, and contract administration, in support of sectors such as WASH and primary education.
Prior to joining WE, Sophie served as a Program Manager at Chemonics International within the East and Southern Africa Department, where she managed a $45 million USAID-funded WASH program in Ethiopia. In this role, she worked closely with donors, field teams, and partners to ensure strong operational performance and program delivery in complex environments.
Earlier in her career, Sophie worked at Winrock International as a Senior Associate on the Human Rights, Education, and Women’s Empowerment team. There, she supported programs focused on ending child labor and expanding access to primary education for girls across multiple country contexts. Her work required close coordination with field offices and international partners to support implementation in fragile and resource-constrained settings.
Sophie has lived and worked in Lebanon, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia, and Bangladesh, experiences that continue to shape her commitment to serving underserved communities. She believes deeply that everyone deserves the right to a safe, dignified, and poverty-free life and brings this values-driven approach to her work at WE.
Sophie lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and their rescue puppy. Outside of work, she enjoys training for half marathons, triathlons, and HYROX races, spending time outdoors, and reading. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, with a concentration in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, from Miami University.