Antonetta Hamandishe is the Chief of Party for Democracy International’s USAID-supported Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA) in Liberia. She brings more than 10 years of experience in community development programming, program management, electoral governance, and democracy. Ms. Hamandishe has a notable background working closely with diverse government stakeholders, development partners, and donors. Her work spans several countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Somalia, Zambia, Guyana, and Liberia, with a strong emphasis on human rights, election monitoring, conflict assessment, gender-responsive political processes, and strengthening democratic institutions.

Throughout her career, Ms. Hamandishe has successfully managed complex electoral support programs across Africa, working closely with civil society and election management bodies. Additionally, she has provided technical support to the electoral units and observer missions of intergovernmental bodies like the African Union, ECOWAS, EAC, and SADC. Her ability to navigate intricate political landscapes has solidified her reputation as an effective advocate for democratic governance. Ms. Hamandishe has designed and led high-level platforms for monitoring election violence, such as Election and Women’s Situation Rooms. She is skilled in participatory learning methods, including the BRIDGE module and Reflect Methodology. She has a proven track record of managing complex grants in immediate post-conflict areas, successfully navigating difficult partnerships to achieve results. Her focus is always on the shared desire to meet the project’s objective. Ms. Hamandishe also conducts in-depth political, social, and economic analyses to guide evidence-based program implementation strategies.

As a dedicated feminist and scholar, Ms. Hamandishe’s research focuses on women’s political participation, electoral gender quotas, and conflict resolution. Her additional research interests include the intersection of resources and politics, transitional justice, and conflict management. She recently collaborated with civil society organization (CSO) networks to manage election conflict monitoring and women empowerment project in Somalia, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing CSO capacity and promoting electoral integrity. Additionally, she led a long-term election monitoring project in Liberia with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, which was guided by her research interests.

Ms. Hamandishe is pursuing a Ph.D. in Peace, Governance, and Development at UPEACE, focusing on the gender dimensions of women’s political participation in post-conflict societies. She holds multiple master’s degrees in international relations, human rights, peace, and development and professional Executive Certificate in Programme and Project Monitoring and Evaluation.