Over twenty-five years' presence in boardrooms and at policy tables.
I help think tanks, UN agencies and private-sector clients read complex political and economic environments — and devise and implement actionable strategies.
Researching and interpreting complex political, economic, development and security dynamics, and turning them into clear findings, recommendations and policy advice.
Managing programmes and projects end-to-end — from initial conceptualisation and design through implementation, monitoring and evaluation — with budgets, forecasts, financial analysis and results frameworks for projects and portfolios exceeding US$50 million.
Building effective organisations with tailored governance frameworks and board charters, organisational structures and reporting lines, HR policy, and the streamlining of processes and resource allocation — including across multi-jurisdiction teams.
Delivering work in politically sensitive and conflict-affected environments — Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine and across the wider region — often in direct, front-line roles.
Selected engagements, grouped by area of expertise.
Policy analysis & advisory
Co-authorship of Saudi Arabia's Voluntary National Review, presented to the UN High-Level Political Forum, with analysis and visualisation of national SDG and financial data.
UNDP Saudi Arabia · 2023
Review of UN communications strategy for an incoming Resident Coordinator, with a bespoke tool to measure UN visibility across national media.
UN RCO Ukraine · 2022
UN policy papers building a common UN position on Ukraine's reform priorities — land reform, the labour code, health, migration and gender-based violence — including key messages and policy recommendations for senior government counterparts, UN partners and the donor community.
UN RCO Ukraine · 2020
Governance & organisational development
Organisational structure, reporting lines, approval matrix and HR policy for a team operating across three continents and multiple fields of development, transition and peacebuilding expertise.
DT Institute, USA · 2025
Governance framework, board charter and HR policy for an internationally operating NGO with staff contracted across several legal jurisdictions.
PEFC, Switzerland · 2024–25
Strategic plan and governance framework for a peacebuilding and mediation think-and-do tank operating across Europe, Asia and Africa.
Inclusive Peace, Switzerland · 2023–24
Programme design & financing
Project Appraisal Report for an AfDB-funded US$30m health-infrastructure and peacebuilding programme — budgets, cost-effectiveness analysis, fragility and risk frameworks, and timelines.
UNDP Sudan · 2026
Development of Concept Note, Programme Paper and data tool for the Soccer for Development & Peace Programme — part of the Sudan Peacemaking, Peacebuilding and Stabilization Programme.
UNDP Sudan · 2023
Research and policy design for a community-oriented policing programme across Kabul police districts, including perception and impact surveys and the development of trust- and confidence-building COP strategies.
UNDP Afghanistan · 2021
Private-sector leadership
Delivery of major projects for Rezayat and Prime Projects — hotels and large-scale turn-key infrastructure in Baku, southern Iran and the Caribbean; later a luxury hotel chain, a private-island resort, the Seychelles Development Fund and a Kenyan wildlife conservancy.
Project management · 1998–2014
Ventures built and launched from the ground up at the Concept Group — a publishing house including the UAE's first evening newspaper, and a logistics and FMCG distribution business.
Start-up · 2003–2010
Executive and advisory board roles at the Concept Group, Edulink and Inside Consulting Partners — policy and investment analysis across energy, property, banking, healthcare, education and tax.
Boardroom · 2003–present
Easy to work with, patient, capable of integrating comments from multiple sources into coherent, concise documents. Good at analysing and summarising data. He delivered high quality products on time, fully meeting expectations.
Osnat Lubrani — UN Resident Coordinator Ukraine / UNDP / UN Women
Christian’s strengths are clearly demonstrated in his ability to go deep in understanding the topic, to make sure that the deliverable is reflecting the target audience and goals. He understands the time pressure and demonstrates dedication to meet deadlines without any compromise to the quality.
Thair Shraideh — Resident Representative a.i., UNDP Sudan
Christian’s ability to understand public policy and embed financial acumen has tremendously helped ICP Capital in its strategic direction.
Bobby Rakhit — Founder and Managing Director, ICP Capital, UAE
Christian has demonstrated exceptional professionalism. His ability to deliver high-quality work consistently and on time has been commendable. His independence and proactive approach have significantly contributed to the smooth and efficient progress of our projects.
Giulia Ferraro — Head of Operations, Inclusive Peace, Geneva
Christian was integral to the evolution of the Concept Group. He was the knowledge source for any new initiative and an active partner in implementation. In one word — inspiring.
Ramesh Menon — CEO, Brand Form, UAE
Assignments in more than twenty countries across five regions.
UAE · Saudi Arabia · Iran
Azerbaijan · Kazakhstan · Turkmenistan
Sudan · Kenya · Angola · Seychelles
Ukraine · Kosovo · Albania · Russia
Afghanistan · China · South Korea · Thailand
Jamaica
Information in accordance with §§ 24 and 25 of the Austrian Media Act (Mediengesetz).
Media owner and publisher: aap – Agentur für Angewandte Politikberatung
Kundmanngasse 9/13, 1030 Vienna, Austria
office@aap.world · +43 676 565 2350
Managing director: Christian Franzelin
Company registration number: 558661
Court of registration: Handelsgericht Wien, Marxergasse 1a, 1030 Vienna
VAT (UID) number: ATU77293956
Registered office: Vienna, Austria
Business purpose: Public Relations and Public Affairs
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