Open To Work
Berta Fernández Alfaro
Director, Manager, Head
Bern,BE
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience at United Nations, excelling in strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and operational oversight. Proven track record in securing funding and driving innovation in migration governance. Adept at fostering collaboration and empowering teams, I successfully positioned IOM within key policy dialogues, building capacities, thereby enhancing institutional resilience and accountability. Multilingual communicator with a focus on sustainable development.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief of Mission
IOM
Bern
06.2021 - Current
- Led the development of IOM Switzerland’s first Country Strategy (2023–2026) and its 2025 update, aligning national and regional priorities with the 2030 Agenda.
- Organized high-level meetings between Swiss Government and the Director General and Deputy Directors for global fundraising purposes.
- Strengthened IOM’s institutional presence within the UN system, government, and private-sector ecosystems, driving foresight and innovation initiatives.
- Secured bilateral and multilateral funding from Swiss (SEM, FDFA, SDC) and Liechtenstein donors for IOM Bern, and facilitated access for IOM missions in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- Enhanced cooperation with private sector actors to reduce labor exploitation and advance regular pathways and skills mobility frameworks.
- Positioned IOM within Swiss and regional policy dialogues on migration, return, humanitarian and development issues.
- Engaged in high-level advocacy in parliamentary commissions, UN coordination fora, and SDGs conference events in Geneva (e.g. AI for Good, Sustainable Development, Financing Development).
- Curated a series of five mobile exhibitions (2024) marking IOM’s 30th anniversary in Switzerland, leveraging public–private sponsorships and museum collaborations to strengthen social inclusion narratives at city level.
- Managed organizational restructuring to empower women leaders and enhance accountability.
- Fostered a results-based culture emphasizing integrity, learning, and cross-team collaboration.
Senior Project Manager
IOM
Brussels
10.2016 - 05.2021
- Directed EU-funded EUR 38 million Facility across EU Member States and Third Countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, The Gambia, Turkey, etc.), building partnerships with DG HOME, EEAS, DEVCO and Frontex.
- Strengthened institutional coordination with Global Migration Data and Analysis Center and IOM Policy Division, ensuring knowledge transfer and harmonized implementation.
- Mobilized co-funding from Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland; co-design of regional readmission facilities (Balkans - WBCAP, Global Readmission Facility in Copenhagen).
- Represented IOM at intergovernmental fora (IGC Geneva, Prague and Rabat Processes, MARRI Network in Balkans), promoting policy dialogue on migration governance and sustainable partnerships.
Visiting Senior Lecturer
Institute European Studies, University of Malta
Msida
09.2014 - 09.2016
- Delivered intellectual and practical leadership for master’s and bachelor’s level programs involving EU migration, asylum law and migration flows in the Mediterranean.
- Conducted in-depth research and presented key findings at international conferences, workshops, EU intercultural cities network and film festivals.
- Published four papers (Jean Monnet Chair series) with Academics.
- Developed lecturing curriculum; mentored peers and 60 students.
- Institute for European Studies. Website: https://www.um.edu.mt/europeanstudies
Integration Expert
Expertise France
Santiago
12.2014 - 02.2015
- Provided strategic technical advice to mainstream migrant integration policy in FOSIS (Fondo de Solidaridad e Inversión Social) in Chile.
- Revised Chilean social protection policy and legal documents, and transferable European best practices on integration principles and indicators.
- Drafted report based on government stakeholder interviews in Santiago and Antofagasta.
- Facilitated inter-institutional integration workshops for Chilean officials, IOM, and UNHCR.
- EUROSociAL Programme. Website: https://www.expertisefrance.fr
Migration & Development Expert
WYG INTERNATIONAL
Brussels
04.2013 - 06.2014
- Strategically advised teams regarding migration policy, law, remittances frameworks, labor migration agreements, data collection, analysis and sharing, and diaspora policies.
- Instrumental in missions to Geneva and Stockholm for the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), building relationships in Haiti with UN agencies, and delivering national workshops on development planning.
- Crucial role in building capacities of government officials in 12 pilot ACP countries for this Facility financed by the DEVCO (European Development Fund), now DG INTPA.
- Knowledge management of Facility results in both English and French.
- Intra-ACP Migration Facility. Website: https://www.wyg.com
Regional Programme Coordinator
ILO
Managua
06.2011 - 06.2012
- Orchestrated regional dialogue among government officials, trade unions and employers, creating national tripartite coordination committees in two migration corridors (Nicaragua-Costa Rica-Panama, and Haiti-Dominican Republic).
- Liaised with EU Delegation for regular updates on this EU (AENEAS) funded project.
- Led technical dialogues on social security, skills certification, and gender and human rights-based approach to policy making.
- Launched projects in five countries from assembling highly skilled teams and coordinating business plans to training key stakeholders.
Chief of Mission
IOM
Managua
04.2008 - 06.2011
- Managed a USD 12M portfolio spanning migration and development, anti-trafficking, health, and disaster relief (UN/CERF).
- Strengthened collaboration with UNCT, contributing to the Common Country Analysis and Human Development Report aligned with UNSDCF priorities, and Human Rights Universal Periodic Review.
- Secured funding from IDB, IFAD, World Bank, and the Mexican Government for regional conferences and projects linking migration, remittances, and sustainable livelihoods.
- Promoted migration governance through policy dialogues and conferences (Puebla Process, and OCAM); co-produced national migration profile supporting evidence-based policymaking.
Regional Project Officer
IOM
Washington, DC
06.2002 - 03.2008
- Established IOM’s Caribbean Unit at Regional Office, forging partnerships with OAS, IDB, CARICOM, PRM and USAID.
- Implemented regional projects on migration management, migration data sharing, contingency planning for mass outflows (UNHCR), trafficking prevention, mobile populations and health inclusion.
- Co-edited academic publications on human rights of migrants, and coordinated a high-level hemispheric anti-trafficking campaign with the IDB and Ricky Martin Foundation, enhancing visibility of human mobility issues across the Americas.
Regional Project Assistant
IOM
San Jose
05.2000 - 05.2002
- Implemented program to integrate migrant children in education system after Hurricane Mitch (USAID, Ministry of Education), which had an infrastructure component.
- Developed and managed information campaign on labour rights of domestic workers in Costa Rica (ILO, Social Security Institute, and Association of Domestic Workers), and information campaign on disaster reduction (PAHO, UNDRR, Radio Netherlands Training Center, and CEPREDENAC).
- Achievements: Central American Radio Soap Opera ‘Tiempos de Huracanes’ recognized as best practice in International Conference on Disasters in Japan (2005). Association of Domestic Workers went on to change unfair labor law articles (2008). Ministry of Education continued project after USAID funding was exhausted.
Project Assistant
Valencian Federation of Worker Co-operatives
Valencia
10.1998 - 12.1999
- Designed and implemented European Social Fund projects fostering social and economic development, targeting unemployed women and youth using the worker co-operative model.
- Organized study visits to Nordic countries for technical exchanges.
Trainee
European Commission
Brussels
09.1995 - 02.1996
- Legal department of General Directorate VI (Agriculture): European products with protected denomination of origin (PDO).
Education
Post-Graduate Diploma - Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries
University of Leicester
United Kingdom08-2026
Masters in Law - EU Community Law
Universidad Autónoma De Madrid
Madrid, Spain06-1998
Law Degree - Law
University of Valencia & Mainz
Valecia, Spain07-1994
Skills
- Strategic Partnerships & Resource Mobilization
- Cultural Diplomacy, Museums and Heritage
- Advocacy & Policy Positioning
- Sustainable Development & Circular Economy
- UN Interagency Coordination (UNCT)
- Leadership & Team Empowerment
- Knowledge Management
- Accountability & Compliance
- Innovation in Partnerships
- Multilingual Communication
- Institutional reform and resilience building
- Coaching & Mentoring
- Migration governance & Data interpretation
- Policy analysis & Strategic planning
- Project management & Performance evaluation
- Complex Problem-solving
Certification
• IOM Leadership Programme (2024)
• Brene Brown, Dare to Lead (2023)
• Women and Leadership in the UN (2021)
• Harvard Strategic Thinking (2020)
• ILO Labour Migration Academy (2011)
• Brene Brown, Dare to Lead (2023)
• Women and Leadership in the UN (2021)
• Harvard Strategic Thinking (2020)
• ILO Labour Migration Academy (2011)
Affiliations And Volunteer Work
- Global Staff Association Committee, IOM, 2018-2024
- Mentor at UN Together Mentoring Programme, 2022-2024
- Chair of Board of Directors, Verdala International School, Malta, 2015-2016
- Maltese Spanish Chamber of Commerce, 2015-2016
- Member of Intercultural Support Network, Valletta Living Together, 2014-2016
- Kiva, Crowdfunding loans to foster financial access in developing countries, 2008-present
- Yoga Alliance (RYT 200 hours), Washington, DC 2006-present
- Spanish Teacher for Refugees, Spanish Red Cross, 1995
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
French
Upper Intermediate (B2)
B2
Spanish
Native
Native
Portuguese
Intermediate (B1)
B1
German
Advanced (C1)
C1
Italian
Intermediate (B1)
B1
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief of Mission
IOM
06.2021 - Current
Senior Project Manager
IOM
10.2016 - 05.2021
Integration Expert
Expertise France
12.2014 - 02.2015
Visiting Senior Lecturer
Institute European Studies, University of Malta
09.2014 - 09.2016
Migration & Development Expert
WYG INTERNATIONAL
04.2013 - 06.2014
Regional Programme Coordinator
ILO
06.2011 - 06.2012
Chief of Mission
IOM
04.2008 - 06.2011
Regional Project Officer
IOM
06.2002 - 03.2008
Regional Project Assistant
IOM
05.2000 - 05.2002
Project Assistant
Valencian Federation of Worker Co-operatives
10.1998 - 12.1999
Trainee
European Commission
09.1995 - 02.1996
Post-Graduate Diploma - Socially Engaged Practice in Museums and Galleries
University of Leicester
Masters in Law - EU Community Law
Universidad Autónoma De Madrid
Law Degree - Law
University of Valencia & Mainz