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Egypt

The American University in Cairo

MISSION

Serve as the leading provider of knowledge and resources for strengthening philanthropic practice in the Arab region.

Ayah Munir

Ayah Munir

Senior Program Specialist

After earning her bachelor degree in Economics and Political Science from Cairo University; Major; Political Science. Ayah Munir entered the development sector, when she started an internship in the Population Council.

After that she started working at the John D. Gerhart Center in 2018. She found her passion in dealing with youth full of enthusiasm and energy. She dealt with hundreds of students throughout various projects. She started as a junior specialist at Tashbeek II Program with the partnership of the United States Institute of Peace. Tashbeek II aimed to engage a cohort of 100 university students in an online course as well as in-person exchange sessions that focused on providing knowledge and concepts in the area of conflict resolution and peaceful thinking.

Then in 2020 she worked as a Senior Specialist at the Strengthening Egypt’s Family Planning Program Youth Competition, which aims to encourage 64 university students in strengthening Egypt’s family planning system and creating family planning awareness through innovative ideas.

In 2022, she started working with the team of the Lazord Fellowship, witnessing the journey of 12 fellows, and in parallel she is now managing the Maan Regional Competition, which holds an annual competition for Egyptian University Students tackling different social causes.

Osama Samir

Osama Samir

Senior Program Specialist

Osama Samir is a Social Entrepreneurship and Youth Development advisor with a strong background in business administration. Osama graduated from the Lazord Fellowship in 2017. He also holds a Diploma in Project Management from American University in Cairo. Previously, he was the Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at PwC Egypt, where he worked with several youth organizations and multinational cooperations to raise awareness of blood donation and sustainability. Additionally, Osama is interested in youth development, social entrepreneurship, and SMEs coaching and he participated in several other projects funded by international organizations like USAID, Care International, Handicap International, GIZ Egypt, USIP, and MitOst. Currently, Osama is the Senior Lazord Fellowship Specialist at the Gerhart Center of the American University in Cairo, where he works to empower youth who are interested in the development sector to pursue their passion.

Pakiname Mamdouh

Pakiname Mamdouh

Senior Manager, Civic Engagement Unit

Pakiname holds an MA degree in Political Science from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut. Her studies have allowed her to develop an in-depth understanding of development needs of the region to complement her professional experience in the field.

She is currently working as the Head of the Civic Engagement Unit, at the John D. Gerhart center at the American University in Cairo. Her work involves developing and advancing the Units’ programs nationally and regionally, and conducting strategic planning including outreach, partnerships, and fundraising. Her main role is leading the efforts of institutionalizing civic education and social change and scaling it both nationally and regionally.

She worked for almost 8 years as a Senior Development Specialist in Charge of Cooperation with European Countries in the Cabinet of the Minister of International Cooperation. As an assistant to the Minister her responsibilities included acting as a coordinator and a focal point with European Countries' Embassies in Egypt, as well as European agencies of development in addition to conducting research in relevance to development aid and cooperation between Egypt and European Countries. She was also responsible for monitoring and assessing development projects carried out with European partners.

Her work at the Ministry – a focal point of Egypt’s bilateral and economic relations – helped her build an insight of the different work systems of Egypt's donors. Besides, liaising between relevant line ministries and the donors’ community helped her maintain connection with multiple donors and international development agencies. Equally important, her work has involved regular representation of the Ministry at events held for coordinating cooperation between Egypt and European Countries, including Joint Committees for economic, scientific and technical cooperation, seminars, forums and conferences. Pakiname was also handling the NGO’s file, which is one of the confidential files at the Ministry, through the coordination with all the concerned authorities regarding the work of the Egyptian and Foreign NGO’s in Egypt.

Her experience at the Cabinet of the Minister of International Cooperation, not only did her job tasks focus on research and analysis but was also entrusted with the preparation of talking points, speeches and all the Minister’s correspondence, as well as providing strategic and technical opinion to the Minister about matters relevant to international development and economic cooperation.

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Jordan

INJAZ

MISSION

To inspire and prepare youth to become productive members of their society and accelerate the development of the national economy.

Safa Hijazeen

Safa Hijazeen

Executive Director

Safa Hijazeen is the Executive Director of INJAZ Entrepreneurship and mySTARTUP Incubator. Safa has worked on teams and led SMEs in Jordan and Dubai that involve working with youth, entrepreneurs, and impact investors and he is a firm believer in the power of innovation to create social and economic opportunities. He holds an MBA with emphasis on Human Resource Management and Strategic Leadership and BSc in Business Technology from US universities.

Thuria Ibrahime

Thuria Ibrahime

Job Placement Supervisor

Thuria graduated with a Master's degree in Human Rights and Development from Jordan University. Thuria decided to pursue a career where she could have an impact and be part of the change in Jordan and the region. She has over nine years of experience in civic engagement, peacebuilding, sexual and reproductive health, employment, and youth empowerment in Jordan and the region. She is a member of the International Aids Society and several international and national networks and organizations advocating for human and women’s rights.

Thuria believes that one of the most important things is that we have to reach in our community women’s rights, which made her a co-founder of Feminist Collective and a believer in women’s rights.

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Tunisia

UTIL

MISSION

Founded in 2011, UTIL is dedicated to engaging youth and women in public life, fighting government corruption, and ensuring economic opportunity for youth as a means to combat radicalization.

Ali Cherif

Ali Cherif

Program Officer

Ali has over 7 years of experience in civic engagement, youth employability, good governance, and fighting violence. He joined the UTIL organization as a fellow for the Lazord Fellowship Program in 2015.

He has a master's degree in computer science from the Higher Institute of Computer Science and Management, and is currently working on his dissertation to obtain his second master's in good governance and anti-corruption.

Ali is a Lazord Fellowship Alumnus, Local Development Program Facilitator, and Workplace Success Program Alumnus with EFE Organization, and graduated from the Tunisian School of Politics in 2017.

Ali has a passion for reading, traveling, traditional and classical Arabic music, and sports!

Moez Ali

Moez Ali

President

Tunisian civil society key actor focusing on Human Rights, countering violent extremism and corruption. Co-Founder and President of the Union of Independent Tunisians for Freedom (UTIL), created after the Tunisian uprising which played a central role in the national democratic transition. UTIL works very closely with youth, women and regional NGO’s on democratic awareness, citizenship awareness and involvement of women and youth in the public life. Moez is also the founder of the Tunisian Association Front, coordinator of the Tunisian Civil Coalition Against Corruption and coordinator of the Tunisian Civil Coalition Against Terrorism. He was awarded a certificate of completion for the Strategic management of NGO leaders Program, in 2015, from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education. He is the General Manager of MA & Consulting since 2005. Moez Ali has also held positions in the US government administration and private companies.