Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 18 years of experience in humanitarian responses and international development, the expert specializes in community resilience, displacement, and stabilization projects. Leadership roles include Co-Founder and Principal Consultant at MENA Development Valley, where responsibilities have included managing diverse teams and complex projects. The expert has led initiatives in capacity building, advisory support, and policy recommendations across the Middle East, collaborating with local and international stakeholders to deliver impactful results in crisis settings. They have authored numerous publications, showcasing expertise in managing and executing projects effectively.

Project experience and donor exposure

With a background in collaborating with international donors such as the EU, FCDO, USAID, UN, and Agence Française de Développement, the expert has been involved in project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building. Their work covers areas like governance, livelihoods, and humanitarian aid, spanning regional and national projects across the Middle East, including Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan. The focus has been on crisis response, refugee empowerment, and socio-economic development, demonstrating a strong ability to manage and execute donor-funded initiatives effectively.

Sectors and geographic focus

Previously held roles such as Regional Director, MEAL Specialist, and Senior International Expert, the expert has worked extensively in sectors including humanitarian aid, emergency response, monitoring and evaluation, democratization, public administration, institutional development, and capacity building. Their cross-cutting expertise includes policy development and humanitarian advocacy. The geographic scope of their work covers the Middle East and North Africa, addressing complex socio-economic and political challenges. They possess deep familiarity with regional governance, cultural dynamics, and development issues, having worked on numerous long-term assignments focused on crisis response and capacity building.

Languages and education

Fluent in Arabic and English, the expert utilizes these languages extensively in professional settings across the Middle East and internationally. They have engaged in in-country work, collaborated with multilingual teams, and conducted research and evaluations in diverse linguistic environments. Educationally, the expert is pursuing a Ph.D. in International Relations, focusing on Humanitarianism, Displacement, and Migration Studies at the University of St Andrews, UK. They hold an MSc in Economics and Development from the University of Reading, UK, an MBA in Business Administration and Organizational Management from the Higher Institute of Business Administration, Syria, and a BSc in Economics from the University of Damascus, Syria.