I'm Ilona Dorji, a Finnish–Swiss professional, married to a Bhutanese national and mother of three children.
For over 15 years, I have dedicated my expertise to humanitarian aid, international development, and human rights. My career has taken me to Africa, Asia, and Europe working with leading organisations such as UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, the EU, Caritas and the Red Cross.
This rich and diverse experience has given me a deep understanding of the human, cultural, and strategic challenges faced by professionals in the sector.
Balancing mobility, commitment, and personal well-being.
Building an international career while managing frequent relocations and family life can feel like a real challenge. I know this firsthand —because I've lived it. From one assignment to the next, across countries and continents. I've learned how to pursue professional ambitions without giving up on personal stability. I've learned to protect my vocation while nurturing my family life.
This deep experience of both field realities and human dynamics is what I bring into every coaching session.
Designing, evaluating, and strengthening high-impact projects.
I founded "Frontline Evaluators" to support organizations in designing, monitoring, evaluating, and improving their humanitarian and development programmes. Through rigorous approaches in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), as well as capacity strengthening, I help make projects more effective—rooted in real needs and backed by evidence.
My approach combines strategic thinking, structured methodology, and a strong understanding of field realities.
From human causes to animal welfare.
Today, I am part of the effective altruism community and actively involved in the High Impact Professionals (HIP)program. I am also exploring ways to transfer my skills to the independent animal welfare sector.
Why? Because I deeply believe that helping the most vulnerable—whether human or animal—is where our commitment can have the greatest impact.
My vision of aid is global, ethical, and interconnected.
First-hand experience of career coaching.
My approach is also enriched by my own journey as a coachee. I had the opportunity to follow a career advisory program with The Barrett Group, which helped me better understand the needs, doubts, and expectations of professionals working in demanding international environments.
This dual perspective—as both coach and coachee—deepens my approach, making it more human, empathetic, and realistic.
A strategic, intercultural, and results-driven approach.
What makes my coaching unique is my ability to navigate complexity with ease :
I combine strategic vision with strong field experience. My intercultural communication skills, analytical rigour, and focus on tangible results are key strengths I bring to every person I support.
Ready to collaborate for lasting change.
I'm excited to work with individuals and organizations who share a vision of deep transformation.
My goal: to contribute to projects that promote a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world—whether through supporting vulnerable communities, advancing animal welfare, or protecting the environment.
If you too aspire to make a real difference, I would be delighted to support you on that journey.
Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work for—or in close collaboration with—numerous humanitarian organizations, international institutions, and development cooperation agencies, both in Switzerland and abroad.
Among them: Caritas, the Red Cross, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNDP, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Lutheran World Federation, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Switzerland, the Global Fund, the European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management, Finn Church Aid, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
These diverse and enriching experiences have given me a concrete understanding of the expectations, dynamics, and values that define the humanitarian and international sectors.
Today, I bring this expertise to support individuals who wish to build their own high-impact careers.
These images reflect an active presence at the heart of humanitarian realities.
Encounters with local communities, exchanges with field partners, and collaboration with institutional actors—each experience has deepened my understanding of the human, cultural, and logistical challenges specific to operational contexts.
They illustrate daily commitment, the diversity of missions, and the richness of collaboration in service of high-impact projects.
Final reflections and commitments to advance ECW's new Strategic Plan (2023–2026).