Sonia Ben Haji

Sonia Ben Hajji is an international consultant specializing in civil society development, entrepreneurship ecosystems, organizational capacity strengthening, and donor-funded program management. With more than 13 years of professional experience across Tunisia, North Africa, and the broader MENA region, she has supported civil society organizations, social enterprises, entrepreneurs, and development actors in designing sustainable solutions to complex social and economic challenges.

Based in Tunisia, Sonia has built her career around one core belief: empowering local actors is the most effective way to create lasting impact. Throughout her professional journey, she has worked alongside NGOs, entrepreneurs, community leaders, public institutions, and international organizations to strengthen capacities, unlock opportunities, and transform ideas into tangible results.

Holding a Master of Science in Technology Management from Marshall University in the United States and a Bachelor's degree in Finance from IHEC Carthage, Sonia combines strategic thinking with hands-on implementation experience. Her expertise spans entrepreneurship development, organizational strengthening, fundraising, project design, monitoring and evaluation, financial management, and partnership development.

Over the years, she has collaborated with a wide range of international organizations and development partners, including UN agencies, international NGOs, foundations, research institutions, and government bodies. Her work has focused on entrepreneurship, youth employability, women's economic empowerment, social innovation, migration, climate resilience, and community development.

A significant part of Sonia’s work involves helping organizations access funding and build sustainable growth strategies. She has supported numerous NGOs and social enterprises in developing successful project proposals, establishing strategic partnerships, and designing programs that respond to both community needs and donor priorities. Her ability to bridge local realities with international development frameworks has made her a trusted advisor for organizations seeking to increase their impact and sustainability.

Entrepreneurship remains at the heart of her professional journey. She has designed, managed, and supported programs that have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses strengthen their skills, access financing opportunities, and grow their ventures. She is particularly passionate about supporting women and young people in building resilient and innovative businesses that contribute to local economic development.

Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Sonia held leadership positions at CEED Tunisia, one of the country's leading entrepreneurship support organizations. There, she contributed to the implementation and expansion of large-scale entrepreneurship programs that supported more than 1,200 entrepreneurs and SMEs. This experience provided her with a deep understanding of ecosystem building, stakeholder engagement, and impact-driven program management.

Today, Sonia works across the MENA region as a consultant, trainer, and advisor, supporting organizations and entrepreneurs in navigating an increasingly complex development landscape. More recently, she has developed a strong interest in the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and digital innovation for the nonprofit and entrepreneurship sectors, exploring how emerging technologies can improve organizational effectiveness, resource mobilization, and social impact.

Through her work, Sonia continues to connect people, ideas, and opportunities, helping organizations and entrepreneurs build solutions that are not only innovative, but also sustainable, inclusive, and locally rooted.