Melissa Horn Albuja is the Lead Protection Sector Advisor for OFDA where she provides technical guidance across the full spectrum of protection sector programming and coordinates OFDA’s protection activities within and outside of the USG.  She has over fifteen years' experience in international development and humanitarian affairs. Prior to joining OFDA, she was the Gender-Based Violence and Child Protection Advisor at the U.S Mission to the United Nations in Geneva with the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. In that position, she led various initiatives, including the Ambassador's Future She Deserves initiative to advance gender equality and ensure that the protection and empowerment of women and girls is central to Geneva’s multilateral and multi-agency work.

Prior to working with PRM in Geneva, she worked with the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children with postings in Liberia, Sudan, and Burundi, specializing in Child and Youth Protection and Development. 

Melissa holds a master’s degree in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, and speaks French and Spanish.