Mona Mariano
Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Senior Advisor, East Asia
Mona Mariano is the Senior Advisor for Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) at World Vision East Asia, where she leads strategic efforts to embed inclusive and rights-based approaches across development and humanitarian programming in the region.
With nearly two decades of experience in international development, Mona works at the intersection of gender equality, child rights, and systems transformation. She provides strategic leadership on integrating GEDSI principles across thematic sectors, including child protection, climate action, health, and livelihoods, ensuring programs are designed to address structural inequalities and reach the most marginalized children and communities.
At World Vision, Mona has played a key role in advancing regional gender equality and inclusion targets, strengthening internal systems for accountability, and building partnerships that elevate inclusive development across East Asia. She has also contributed to global strategy and guidance on children’s rights and meaningful participation, helping shape approaches that place children, women, and marginalized groups at the center of development solutions.
Before joining World Vision, Mona held senior leadership roles with Plan International Philippines, most recently serving as Country Programme Manager for Gender and Inclusion, and with Save the Children Philippines, where she led programs on Child Protection and Child Rights Governance. Her work has consistently focused on influencing policy, strengthening partnerships, and supporting locally driven change.
Mona actively engages with regional and global policy platforms, collaborating with institutions including ASEAN, UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, and development partners such as the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She contributes to regional initiatives including the Asia-Pacific Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) Working Group and the Asia Pacific Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, and supports the promotion of regional guidance such as the ASEAN Protection, Gender, and Inclusion Guidelines. She is also a frequent contributor to regional dialogues, research, and publications on issues including child protection, online safety, child marriage, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), inclusive climate action, and gender-transformative programming.
Mona holds a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Gender, Development, and Human Rights from the University for Peace Human Rights Centre.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Gender Equality, Disability & Social Inclusion
Child rights & Protection Systems
Inclusive Development Strategy
