Veronica Ahlenback is a Principal Consultant in SDDirect’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) portfolio, with a decade of experience providing technical advice and leadership on the design, implementation and evaluation of GBV programmes across development and humanitarian contexts.
Currently, Veronica provides technical advisory support to the Southeast Asia GBV Prevention Platform, contributing to capacity exchange, evidence generation and advocacy to strengthen primary prevention in the region. She also provides technical, research and evaluation support to GBV prevention pilots in Syria. In addition, she plays a key role in delivering research and advisory support through the UK Government funded Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Helpdesk, producing rapid evidence syntheses and technical guidance to inform policy and programming across diverse contexts.
Veronica has contributed to major global guidance and evidence products, including the RESPECT Implementation Package for Preventing Violence against Women, and to evaluations of global GBV initiatives, including the Spotlight Initiative.
Earlier in her career, she worked with UN agencies and non-governmental organisations across Southeast Asia, South Asia and Southern Africa, specialising in qualitative and participatory research. Her work is grounded in a strong focus on intersectionality, including violence affecting LGBTQI+ communities, and she is committed to advancing inclusive approaches that reach structurally marginalised populations.
Veronica holds an MA in International Development and Management (LUMID) from Lund University and a BA in Global Studies from the University of Gothenburg.
Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking and skiing – ideally followed by a good cup of coffee.
