Kia Guarino, MSPH, MA

Member

Kia Guarino joined the Global Policy & Advocacy team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) in January 2017 and is currently Program Officer for Family Planning on Program Advocacy & Communications. Prior to BMGF, Kia consulted in Washington, D.C. with Albright Stonebridge Group on Health and Life Sciences and was the Director of Policy & Sustainability at a boutique firm focused on human rights in global corporate supply chains. In 2015, Kia joined the BMGF Polio team as a graduate intern focused on innovative methodologies using satellite imaging to inform population data denominators. In addition, she co-authored and published a systematic analysis on the relationship between violence/political uncertainty and delayed polio eradication.

Previously, Kia worked with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) on Human Resources for Health in partnership with the Rwandan and Liberian governments. From 2010-13, she was Program Manager for Africa with Operation Smile, based in the region and working across Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, the DRC, Rwanda, Namibia, Malawi, and South
Africa. Kia holds a MSPH in Global Health, International Health Systems from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and a MA in International Development and Economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, with a minor focus on Social Entrepreneurship and Business

‍

We are an ambitious and dynamic team of public health and development practitioners eager to develop new tools, knowledge, ideas, and methods to improve lives across the globe.

The Center for Research & International Development (CenRID) is a global nonprofit organization based in New York, NY that focuses on development research and project implementation.

Our purpose is to implement evidence-based interventions and conduct high-quality research aimed at discovering new knowledge to improve the education and healthcare delivery and access for vulnerable populations.

Our Mission

Our Vision

To use data driven research to improve healthcare delivery and access, and education for vulnerable populations and communities.

CenRID envisions a world where everyone attains the right to a high quality of life.

Integrity

Honesty and integrity are the nucleus of our identity. They are the foundation of every successful and impactful intervention we implement. We remain steadfast to doing the right thing for the individuals and communities with which we work, and ensuring that our research methods and program interventions adhere to the highest ethical standards.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We are transparent and we expect to be held accountable by the communities we serve and our donors; it is how we earn their trust. We will always take responsibility for our actions and address any missteps. We are an ambitious organization and we will learn as we grow.

PrOGRAM SUSTAINABILITY

We conduct a readiness assessment prior to each program or intervention. This implementation approach enables us to develop an intervention strategy that is reflective of the priority needs, concerns, and views of the community, which in turn empowers the community to take ownership of program or intervention

partnership

We believe effective teamwork and collaboration maximizes each partner's expertise and capabilities, and thus drives positive results.

Innovation

We enthusiastically pursue innovative knowledge, ideas, tools, and methods that would catalyze the achievement of our project goals.

respect & cultural sensitivity

Our goal is to modify behaviors, not cultures. We strive to ensure that our program delivery methods are culturally compatible.

OUR TEAM

Our dedicated leadership team is made up of experts who are committed to our mission and vision.