Victoria Mitchell Avdiu is a seasoned international development professional with more than 16 years of leadership experience advancing U.S. foreign assistance goals across complex political, economic, and humanitarian contexts. As a former U.S. diplomat with USAID, she has held pivotal roles in mission strategy, international communications, and program development and management in challenging environments, including Belarus, Egypt, and Pakistan. Her work has consistently centered on amplifying local voices, building resilient systems, and creating inclusive spaces for collaboration.

Victoria blends deep technical knowledge in governance, civil society, and human rights with a proven ability to manage interagency coordination, policy engagement, and crisis response. She led USAID Belarus during a time of historic upheaval, coordinating cross-sectoral support to pro-democracy actors while maintaining operational continuity under extreme pressure. She also played a critical role in shaping communications and strategic messaging for USAID's Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA), where she designed and facilitated trainings that strengthened the skills of more than 90 Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) professionals across three regions.

In addition to her field and headquarters experience, Victoria is an ICF-certified coach (ACC) with specialized training in team coaching, transformational leadership, and inclusive facilitation. Her coaching and consulting clients range from multilateral institutions and government agencies to NGOs and grassroots organizations. Her strengths lie in guiding teams through change, fostering leadership development, and helping organizations unlock greater clarity and cohesion in their internal and external communications.

Victoria is particularly passionate about equity, belonging, and the power of storytelling in global development. She is the author of The Radical Art of Reclaiming Community, a forthcoming book that explores how intentional connection can serve as a radical act of resistance in fractured societies. A creative thinker and skilled communicator, she often bridges the worlds of diplomacy, strategy, and narrative to drive results that are both practical and transformational.

Now based in Angola and available for short- or long-term consulting engagements, Victoria offers support in program strategy, budgeting, stakeholder engagement, team development, strategic communications, and adaptive leadership. She speaks English and French, and has working knowledge of Portuguese, Arabic, and Russian.

Whether advising country teams, designing learning initiatives, or supporting high-level negotiations, Victoria brings curiosity, warmth, and integrity to every partnership. She is particularly interested in projects that center local leadership, elevate underrepresented voices, and take a systems-thinking approach