Fellows

Amira holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery from University of Khartoum and a Master’s of Public Health in Global Health – Leadership, Management and Policy from University of Washington. Amira currently works as a health officer supervisor for the Project for Strengthening Peace through the Improvement of Public Services in Darfur States. She is also a member of the University of Washington (UW) assessment team for the upcoming partnership project between UW and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) that aims to strengthen FMoH capacity leadership and management and implementation science. Previously Amira worked with UNDP-Global Fund (GF) as a national consultant supporting FMOH implementation of the current Health System Strengthening (HSS) project. During her work as HIV specialist with UNDP-GF she carried out a situation analysis and proposed the first HIV/AIDS service intervention package targeting Internally Displaced Population (IDPs) in Sudan to be implemented in Darfur states. Throughout her eight years of experience Amira recognized that most of the health problems in Sudan are attributed to weakness of the health system. Hence, she started to focus her efforts on strengthening the health system through provision of technical support to FMOH in different programs. The experience she has working with health system in Sudan enabled her to develop a good understanding of productive solutions. She is also interested in development of leadership, management skills in public health, health system strengthening, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health.

Host Organization: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)

Role at Host Organization: Amira will be using her skills in quantitative data analysis and program monitoring and evaluation for supporting ongoing projects and providing input into the design of new research studies across the Gender, Population and Development portfolio. She will also deepen her skills in data analysis, research design, scientific writing, and business development.

Esam has seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Sudan University of Science and Technology in Sudan.
Most recently Esam worked for the American Refugee Committee (ARC) INGO as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program Manager responsible for planning and managing the implementation of water supply, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion activities in Darfur, Sudan. He assisted both IDPS and host communities to access safe water, adequate sanitation facilities and good hygiene services. At the same time, he engages in volunteer work with local civil society organizations to promote and maintain social peace and a culture of acceptance of others among local communities. Previously, Esam worked with United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) to help vulnerable communities affected by conflicts to access clean water and improved sanitation and hygiene services. He identified the needs of the communities, designed projects, supervised, and monitored the implementation of such programs. Through these years of experience, he gained strong skills in planning, effective coordination, and proposal writing. Esam enjoys focusing on topics of humanitarian relief and development of local communities, and demonstrated great efforts to strengthen the civil society sector and empower youths in his country to effectively contribute in restoring peace and development.

Host Organization: Community Options, Inc.

Role at Host Organization: Esam will assist with establishing new employment programs, developing training programs for new employees, finding new funding sources, development of the Community Options Board Advisory Committee and finding volunteer opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Hythem has eight years of extensive experience with three years of experience in grant management in the nonprofit sector. He earned a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology in Sudan. As a Program Coordinator with Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Hythem was responsible for developing and managing the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Report (PMER) basic tools in accordance with NCA global PMER. Hythem was also the country gender focal point for NCA Sudan. Previously, Hythem has worked with AECOM International Sudan (AIS) under the USAID- funded project Sudan Transition and Conflict Mitigation (STCM) project. During his works as a Grants Specialist with AIS, Hythem was a member of the grant management team that had managed almost 50 different grants per year in different sectors that include but are not limited to; livelihood, water, infrastructure, capacity building, conflict mitigation, and exchange visits. Through his work with different international organizations such as Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), AECOM International Sudan (AIS), and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Hythem has gained skills in proposal writing, project management, report writing, gender mainstreaming, and monitoring and evaluation. Hythem has strong passion for building the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to play a stronger role in positive social changes.

Host Organization: Nexus Fund

Role at Host Organization: Hythem will utilize his experience conducting research and managing projects to build up the innovation lab and grants program and find ways to support civil society in countries at risk of mass atrocities. He will support the fundraising director in their efforts and build Nexus Fund’s capacity to liaise with grantees.

Mayada Abdelazim has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She is a graduate of Economics with a major in Development from the University of Khartoum. She obtained her Masters in Development studies from The University of Medical Sciences and Technology. She is the co-founder of the SheLearns initiative, which has supported female education in Sudan since February 2012. Mayada has had in-depth experience in women’s rights in Sudan and the horn of Africa, as a projects assistant at SIHA. She worked to enhance the capacity of women at the grassroots level, supporting them to organize themselves in cooperatives to improve their livelihood and gain access to rights. Mayada also worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a researcher on missing persons in Darfur. Mayada is interested in finding ways to link macroeconomic interventions and the development of local communities, by creating cost effective, pro-poor strategies.

Host Organization: Mentor Capital Network

Role at Host Organization: Mayada will expand interaction with entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors (collecting and telling stories, performing due-diligence for investors, and identifying where to further support them). She will also identify potential new opportunities for collaboration.

Nabeel has three years of nonprofit experience focusing on elections, public health, and youth development. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Sudan University of Science and Technology. As an interpreter with the Carter Center’s International Election and Referendum Observation Mission in Sudan, he accompanied international election observers monitoring voter registration and polling centers in South Kurdufan state’s electoral process. Previously, Nabeel worked with a team of Carter Center conflict resolution experts to survey the town of Kadugli, South Kurdufan prior to the Referendum on South Sudan’s independence. After attending a workshop on AIDS and other STDs, Nabeel has volunteered to advance health education and promote adolescent reproductive health awareness with UNICEF and the Center for HIV/AIDS in Sudan. He participated in a campaign visiting different high schools and universities to hold seminars and talks on the subject. Additionally, Nabeel served as a volunteer English teacher for adults and kids at several institutes including the English Cultural Center, Future Leaders Primary School, and Sudan International Grammar School in Khartoum. Through these experiences, he developed an understanding of how NGOs function and strong project coordination and implementation skills. Nabeel is particularly passionate about gender issues, environment, and youth empowerment.

Host Organization: Voice of America

Role at Host Organization: Nabil will be working with VOA staff to identify and research stories in Sudan and South Sudan that are of interest to our audience, and will be called up to conduct interviews. He will expand his skills in journalistic and storytelling and put together his own radio pieces. In addition, Nabil will be supporting the editorial process for a daily radio program.

Nadia Taha is a journalist working for Ahyin and Nuba Reports in Nairobi, Kenya. As a trained lawyer, Nadia holds an LLB from Nilein University in Khartoum, Sudan. With Ahyin and Nuba Reports, Nadia works as the Director of Communications. In addition to being the public face of the organization, Nadia has gained skills in video production, social media marketing, and an in-depth understanding of political and social dynamics of Sudan’s conflict zones. Nadia has also worked as an associated producer and researcher for VICE on two projects. The first was a film about Darfur refugees, and the second was about the Chadian army fighting Boko Haram. This has helped strengthen Nadia’s skills. Nadia previously worked with Sudan Radio Service based in Nairobi. She introduced a program specifically covering women’s issues in Sudan that deal with human rights, legal issues, gender concerns, war crimes, and female education. This program was broadcasted to Darfur and the rest of Sudan each Friday. Nadia was also a lead actor in the Al-Dawahi series, a radio drama series that tackles issues such as human rights, rape in the Darfur conflict, early marriage and the role of the UN in peace in Darfur. She has been instrumental in getting radio programs produced by the Sudan Radio Service to be rebroadcast on an FM station in eastern Chad, which broadcasts to several Darfur refugee camps located in that country.

Host Organization: Voice of America

 Role at Host Organization: Nadia will serve with VOA staff to identify and research news and feature stories in Sudan and South Sudan that are of interest to the target audience, and will be called upon to conduct interviews. She will expand her skills in journalism and storytelling and produce radio reports for international broadcast and/or digital content for the voanews.com/southsudan website. In addition, Nadia will support the editorial process of planning daily news coverage, and be expected to participate actively in daily news meetings.

Dr. Shahd Osman obtained her MBBS from Ahfad University for Women, and an MSc. In Epidemiology from the American University of Beirut. Shahd also has a fellowship in Health Sciences Education and a PGC in Research Ethics. She has been working for the past year as an Educational Quality specialist at the Public Health Institute, Federal Ministry of Health. Her current position enables her to participate in setting standards, auditing and evaluating the educational process. During the past seven years Dr. Shahd has been involved in many educational programs both at part time and full time basis. Currently she is also a lecturer of Public Health Ethics and Epidemiology at Ahfad University and Al-Neelin University in Sudan. Upon her graduation and working several years in the clinical field, Shahd has recognized that many of the dilemmas she and her colleagues face are complex ethical issues associated with minimal contextual research to provide solutions for her community. Consequently she sought a career in Epidemiology and grew an interest in Ethics. Dr. Shahd has many activities including research, mentoring students, coordinating and facilitating workshops (mainly in health sciences education, research ethics and evidence based medicine). She has apparent leadership skills and aims at promoting leadership among her peers and in her surroundings, Shahd is a recognized Heymann fellow (i.e. Fellow of the IANPHI Leadership Academy). She has special interest in Non-communicable diseases research, Public health, Research ethics and development of human resources for health.

Host Organization: Women’s Refugee Commission

Role at Host Organization: Shahd will join the reproductive health team to support their work on adolescent reproductive health, disaster risk reduction, and community based SRH interventions. Shahd’s fellowship has been developed to bring a greater capacity for research to the SRH team as well as expertise from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where much of the current SRH work is being implemented.

Souad has four years of experience with nonprofit work, which she began in 2007 after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She has worked in the education sector for almost three years as Education Officer and as Education Training Coordinator with the Nuba Relief Rehabilitation and Development Organization. Souad also worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer briefly before becoming a communication officer for Save the Children in South Kordofan in Sudan. Souad has worked closely with community members and government authorities to provide resources for the vulnerable groups of people most affected by conflicts. Souad is an advocate for child rights through her work in several campaigns like the right to education, the right to proper health, and the right to a home and security.

Host Organization : PVBLIC Foundation

Fellow’s role at PVBLIC Foundation
Souad will serve as the Communications & Events Coordinator, overseeing NEXUS Global Youth Summit at the UN and PVBLIC’s “UN Media for Social Impact Summit”. She will also coordinate the UN Media Coalition, spearheading PVBLIC’s social media strategy and outreach to grantees.