About BALA Consulting
BALA Consulting offers a customised service that supports clients to identify problems and provides
well thought out and tangible solutions. It has a proven commitment to high standards and represents
nearly twenty years of progressively responsible experience in international affairs, with the United
Nations system and specifically with UNICEF. It brings experiences across five continents and a respect
for different political, cultural and social contexts and combines this with a solid understanding of the
mandate of agencies it provides services to.
Strategic partnerships with the private sector, international development agencies, academic
institutions and experts in specific disciplines complement its work on a needs basis. These ever
expanding networks enable BALA Consulting to draw globally upon specialist areas of knowledge as
well as funding sources ensuring a more evidence-based, better resourced and comprehensive service.
BALA Consulting specialises in strategic planning, programme design, evaluation, fundraising, reporting
and training. It is based in Sydney, Australia, however it operates both virtually and in-country to
provide timely services catering to the needs of clients globally but with a focus on the East Asia and
Pacific region.
Sumithra Bala, who grew up in England but now lives with her family in Sydney, founded the
company in 2004, following a ten year career with UNICEF. She is a development professional with
nearly 20 years of international experience in the humanitarian and development field. She holds
a Master of Science degree in Social Policy (Melbourne, Australia) and an undergraduate honours
degree in International Development (Sussex, UK). She has a proven track record in programme and
organisational design as well as management (including human resources), evaluation and fundraising.
Sumithra also has experience in humanitarian response and recovery as well as working in a number
of fragile states such as DPR Korea and Sierra Leone and a demonstrated understanding of UN humanitarian reform.
In addition, she has an in depth knowledge of the UN and UNICEF’s system's policies and procedures,
including humanitarian response mechanisms. She has evaluated numerous UN country, sub regional
and regional programmes documenting best practices, challenges and lessons learnt, including looking
at humanitarian situations, such as Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
(2008).
Sumithra is a well-recognised facilitator and trainer, focusing specifically on basic writing skills,
reporting and proposal development and fundraising techniques. She has a special interest in
assisting organizations to professionalise their fundraising efforts and assists them develop innovative
partnership strategies with international aid agencies, IFIs, governments, the private sector, academic
institutions and more broadly civil society that enhance and support their programmatic work. She has
assisted in raising millions of dollars for UN agencies particularly UNICEF country programmes during
her career as a fundraising professional.
Full CV attached
UNICEF Myanmar's response following cyclone Nargis - Best practices and lessons learnt (2009)
Collaborate with us
BALA Consulting is open to new partners and skilled consultants. If you are interested in collaborating
with us, please contact us by email: info@balaconsulting.com