Senior Adviser - Middle East and North Africa
UNICEF
مجموع سنوات الخبرة :34 years, 2 أشهر
To provide strategic analysis, advice and programmatic support to 20 countries covered by the Middle East and North Africa region.
To lead UNICEF's work in Libya, and to oversee and manage the humanitarian and development programs in terms of human resources, financial management and programmatic impact.
for Research and Training - Dubai.
Visiting professor and lecturer of International Law, strategic planning, development and cultural diversity at Sultan Qaboos University (College of Education), La Sagesse University - Beirut (NGO Management Master Program), Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (Law School), Higher School of Magistracy in Algeria (since 2001), Higher Judicial Institutes in Dubai and Libya and other academic institutions.
Independent Evaluator since 2011for Iraq Foundation, a US-based NGO implementing significant projects in Iraq.
Concepts, Approaches and Implementation, developed for the Arab Council for Childhood and Development based in Cairo, and presented at a regional conference in Riyadh.
2012 Capacity Development Assessment of the Child Protection Sector in Bhutan, developed for UNICEF - Bhutan
2012 Child Labour Handbook for labour inspectors, developed for the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources in Bhutan, supported by UNICEF
2012
Independent Evaluation study of the two-year nationwide project titled Interfaith Cooperation Project, implemented by Iraq Foundation
2012 “A Roadmap for the Legal Reform of Children’s Related Legislation in Libya”, developed for UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Affairs in Libya
2001 Strengthening the Mechanisms of Protecting Children in Armed Conflicts, presented at the conference held by UNICEF, ESCWA and UNESCO at the UN House-Beirut in April 2001
2001 Comparative Study between the Iraqi Juvenile Care Law and the UN standards of Juvenile Justice, prepared for UNICEF-Iraq
2000 Teaching Methods and Modern Learning Techniques, prepared for CERD
1997 Plan of Action for the Survival, Protection and Development of the Child, prepared with a team at the Higher Council for Childhood and submitted to UNICEF Headquarters in New York
1997 Incorporating Women’s and Child Rights into Curricula of Law Schools, co-authored with Dr. Ghassan Rabah for the regional conference organised by UNICEF-MENARO and the Lebanese University
1996 National Plan of Action for the Welfare of Childhood, First official Lebanese report on childhood submitted to the League of Arab States in Cairo (in cooperation with different ministries and CSOs)
1996 Juvenile Justice, analytical study of the legislation and the condition of detention centres in Lebanon
1996 Situation Analysis on Childhood and Youth in Lebanon, Co-authored with Dr. Hashem Al Husseini for ACCD and the International Youth Foundation (IYF)
1995 Child Labour; Reality and Hope, Higher Council for Childhood in Lebanon
1994 Comparative Study between the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Lebanese Legislation, officially adopted by the Higher Council for Childhood as the national study and consequently submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child along with the Initial CRC Report
Supervised many research, including-
•Inter-agency Child Protection Assessment in 13 Governorates of Iraq post war in 2003, conducted by IRC, Save the Children US and UK, Christian Children’s Fund and World Vision, funded and managed by UNICEF .
•Children and Women Vulnerability to HIV in Bangladesh; International researcher Dr. Susan Hunter and local researcher Dr. Inamul Haq, UNICEF publication.
•Realizing the Best Interests of the Child through Family Justice Judgements; 20 research papers conducted by 20 family/personal affairs judges in Algeria, developed under the partnership between the Higher School of Magistracy and UNICEF.
Reviewed many research and training manuals, including-
•Child Protection Strategic Framework, Sawon Hong and Richard Bridel, UNICEF publication.
•Juvenile Justice Training Manual titled “Noor”, published in Arabic by Penal Reform International.
X. PUBLISHED BOOKS
1999 Women’s Rights: International Conventions and Popular Culture, officially launched by the Lebanese Women’s Council. Co-authored with Mr. Walid Abdo.
2000 National and Civic Education, six texbooks for the 3r, 6th and 9th grades. Published by the Educational Centre for Research and Development (CERD). Co-authored with a group.
2001 Child Rights: The Historical Evolution, launched by the Lebanese Union for Child Welfare. Arabic version came out in 2001; English version came out in 2002; and translated and published in Bangla in 2012.
Adviser - Social Policy and Strategic Planning: responsible for significant contributions to the establishment of the Community Development Authority and its specialized agencies, including the blueprint, the strategic plans and the annual work plans, in addition to the organizational structure and the recruitment plan. In addition, assumed a leading role in setting the sectoral social policies and the harmonization of existing social mechanisms with the adopted new policies;
Added tasks:
CEO a.i. of the Research, Policy and Strategy Sector; and
Legal Advisor, responsible for overseeing all kinds of Agreements, MOUS and contracts (human resources, coorporate, etc.)
Responsible for child protection in five Gulf countries (Bahrain, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE);
Responsible for the project on Repatriation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of children involved in camel racing in the UAE, including the design of the community-based projects, along with UNICEF staff in Bangladesh, Mauritania, Pakistan and Sudan for the reintegration of children used as camel jockeys in their families and communities.
UNICEF - Bangladesh
Developed with the team a new five-year strategic plan for child protection in Bangladesh with corresponding human resources structure;
Lead the process of supporting the establishment of a birth registration system in Bangladesh;
Lead the process of establishing an MOU on child trafficking between India and Bangladesh;
Chaired for two years the National Roundtable on juvenile justice;
Lead the process of a nationwide programme on adolescents’ development, including a behavioural change monitoring plan;
Supervised many studies, including the national study on vulnerability of women and children to HIV in Bangladesh;
Focal person on child participation with the South Asia regional office and HQ’s;
Member of the Country Management Team, and participated in the development and approval of a human resources structure of 270 staff members;
Chairperson for 2 years of the Appointment and Placement Committee (APC) for UNICEF Bangladesh; Vice-chairperson of the Contract Review Committee; and member of the M&E Advisory Group.
UNICEF - Iraq: To lead the UNICEF's programmed in Iraq in the field of child protection, and to act as a member of the Country Management Team, in addition to other statutory and non-statutory committees.
Lead the process of designing and launching the Child Friendly Schools initiative in Iraq;
Lead the Girls’ Education project in Basra;
Initiated and significantly contributed to the incorporation of child rights into the curricula of the Teachers’ College in Baghdad;
Lead the process of the juvenile justice reform project;
Under inter-country cooperation, supported UNICEF offices in Oman, Algeria, Gulf Area and Jordan in the areas of juvenile justice, child labour, preparation of reports to the C/CRC, drafting of child rights laws and preparation of national strategies on child rights.
CONSULTANCIES (detailed list of consultancies available upon request)
Worked as a consultant in numerous countries for international, regional and national organizations in the areas of human rights, child protection, women’s rights, child rights, legal reform, justice for children, social policy, education, incorporation of rights into curricula, counter human trafficking, strategic planning, cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue and other related fields. Also worked as an independent evaluator of major projects.
IX. RESEARCH
2013 Women’s Rights: a series of Articles published on the Website of the Iraq Foundation, covering international standards, Arab constitutions, Achievements in Arab countries, Networking, Advocacy and Partnerships building.
2012 National Action Plan to eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon; commissioned by ILO-ROAS, and prepared through close consultations with the members of the National Steering Committee against Child Labour and other government and non-governmental bodies.
Responsible for the implementation of regional and local training programmes, which included legal cadres, media professionals, NGOs members, and others;
Responsible to review and coordinate the work of 6 project coordinators;
Responsible to maintain positive, accountable and constant relations with donors of the Centre;
Responsible to exercise oversight of funding proposals prepared by the project coordinators;
Responsible to maintain positive and close relations with other human rights NGOs, in Lebanon and in the region.
Co-author of the new curriculum of national and civic education;
Co-author of three training manuals on conflict management for the National Teachers’ College (Ministry of Education)
Master trainer on 1) new teaching/learning methods; 2) conflict management, 3) human rights; and 3) child rights.
Expert member of the Committee on Incorporation of Child Rights into the new school textbook.
Coalition for the elimination of all kinds of discrimination against women, Chairperson of the awareness and training committee
To provide legal oversight of all social affairs related legal issues, agreements and contracts.
To provide legal strategic guidance and advice on all social legislation initiatives and draft laws.
To represent the Ministry of Social Affairs at the Specialized Parliamentarian Committees in relation to all social affairs related draft laws.
Special experience in social protection and labour and social security laws due to representing the Ministry of Social Affairs at the Lebanese Parliament and witnessing the drafting debates, including amendments related to employment of people with disabilities, vocational training, etc.
As a legal adviser to the Ministry of Social Affairs, participated in the resolution of numerous cases where staff needed legal support, in addition to providing legal counsel and advice to staff on a permanent basis
Higher Council for Childhood in Lebanon (HCC)
Responsible, along with the team, for shaping the vision and strategic objectives of the HCC
Responsible for the preparation of the organizational chart of the HCC
Responsible for the preparation of reports to be submitted at international and regional levels
Member of the following National Committees-
•Committee on the preparation of the Statute of the Higher Council for Childhood
•Parliamentary Committee on the Rights of the Child
•National Committee on Eradication of Literacy
•National Committee for Street Children
•National Committee on Child Labour
•National Steering Committee on Early Childhood
Lebanese Union for Child Welfare, Member of the Board of Directors and chairperson of the education committee
Union for the Protection of Juveniles in Lebanon, Member of the Executive Board and chairperson of the social affairs committee
Represented the state of Lebanon in official capacity upon the decision of the Council of Ministers at both the UN and the League of Arab States, including: The CRC hearings of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Geneva, May 1996); Meeting on “Social Security” held by the League of Arab States (Cairo, May 1996); and Meeting of the Higher Technical Committee for Arab Child Affairs held by the League of Arab States (Cairo, May 95, May 96, June 97, June 98 and June 2000).
Elected chairperson of the Higher Technical Committee for Arab Child Affairs in the League of Arab States for its fourth session
To teach Civil Law, Contracts Law, and Commercial Law for 1st and 2nd year university level students.
Law, Contracts Law and Commercial Law at the Institute of National Education (university level), Lebanon
history and civic education at grades 6 to8, at the School of National Education, Lebanon.
Thunderbird University of Global Management, Certificate of nine months/five modules online-programme on Leadership.
Doctorate Degree in International Law with highest honors (très honorable avec félicitations du Jury)
Mention Summa Cum Laude (highest honors)
Studied 1. Human Rights Education, 2. Law and Politics of the UN, 3. Conflict Resolution, 4. Human Rights Advocacy, 5. Fundraising for NGOs, 6, Media and Human Rights.
Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, four years study of public and private Law
courses: Primary, preparatory and secondary